Bella Shepard Discusses Genesis' Secret Fears in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1, Episode 7 - "Ko'Zeine"Star Trek: Starfleet Academy fans already love Bella Shepard and her character, Genesis Lythe. Genesis is the first Dar-Sha in Star Trek, and she is Starfleet royalty as the daughter of an Admiral. Genesis' hyper-competence, coolness under pressure, and kindness to her fellow cadets epitomize the best of Starfleet.

However, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 7 shows a new side to Genesis. With Starfleet Academy empty during a four-day holiday, Genesis manipulates Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta) into helping her hack into the USS Athena's bridge so that she can delete her own Starfleet recommendation letters. It turns out Genesis isn't quite the shining star she projects.

ScreenRant had the pleasure of chatting with Bella Shepard about playing the first Dar-Sha character in Starfleet, the truth about Genesis' secret fears, and the coolest spots in Starfleet Academy's sets. Bella also offers a hint of what's to come for Genesis in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2.

Bella Shepard Is Grateful That Genesis Has Become A Fan-Favorite

Bella Shepard is grateful that Genesis quickly became a fan-favorite. Lythe stands out among Starfleet Academy's cast of cadets because she embodies the smarts and abilities of a Starfleet Officer. Star Trek was part of Shepard's upbringing: "I've always loved the original series of Star Trek, and I've also really liked Next Gen. It always just reminds me of my family, because my family used to watch."

However, Bella approached Genesis with enthusiasm because she was creating an all-new character. Shepard says, "I kind of went in knowing that I was going to be playing a new species and a younger character. I kind of wanted to go into this with a very fresh mind or clean slate, in a way. I knew that Genesis was very, very much a leader and headstrong and confident in her own way. And I wanted that to kind of just be her outline."

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's late 32nd century setting gave Bella the leeway to do something new with Genesis: "I think because it's been so long since Starfleet Academy was a thing because of The Burn, all of these cadets and all of these teachers and everything, is very fresh, and it's very new because it's been so long. So, I really wanted to start over and just give her a fresh vibe."

Bella Shepard's Ups And Downs Of Playing Star Trek's First Dar-Sha

Thus far, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has revealed little about Genesis' species, the Dar-Sha, other than Commander Lura Thok (Gina Yashere) telling Cadet Lythe, “You use your eyes with the precision of a hengra.” Bella Shepard explains the positives and negatives of playing a Dar-Sha.

ScreenRant: What's the best part of being a Dar-Sha?

Bella Shepard: Playing a Dar-Sha has been fun. It's kind of like being at an amusement park, in a way, where there's just like endless little corners and rides to go on with this character. Because she's a species we've never met before until now, so I get to discover things myself, as well as create things and come up with new ideas. And it's a little bit scary, because sometimes I don't really know where to go or where to take things, but our writers have been really great at laying out a map for me and being really collaborative. So it's fun and scary at the same time.

ScreenRant: Is there a downside to playing a Dar-Sha?

Bella Shepard: I think the only downside would be that I don't get to see any others of my fellow species at the moment. Karim got to see other Klingons in season one, and George got to see other Khionians in season one. And right up until now, we haven't been able to see any other Dar-Sha. So it's kind of lonely. I guess that’s the downside, and also not having really a map or a layout of their culture or where to go. But it's fun because I get to just work from the ground up.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Episode 7 Reveals Genesis' Secret Fears

Genesis' secret that her confidence is a front, and she does everything "out of fear," was laid bare in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 7. Genesis hustles Caleb into helping her break into the USS Athena's bridge, revealing her daddy issues that Caleb thought were all BS.

However, Bella Shepard disagrees, "I think all of it was the truth. I think she kind of tries to backtrack a little bit by saying it was bullsh*t to conceal her cracks. Because her confidence is a defense mechanism, in a way. She uses her confidence to keep the group together and make her position at the school very distinctive."

Shepard further explains that Genesis' cool demeanor "is a shell, and it is a defense mechanism, because those flaws and those insecurities that she opens up to Caleb about are very much 100% real. Her plan didn't really go accordingly, so she kind of tried to backtrack a little bit to cover up her insecurities. But I think Caleb also knows that she really did mean what she said, and I think it makes their friendship stronger because of that as well."

Bella Shepard & Sandro Rosta Had Fun Filming In An Empty Starfleet Academy Set

Bella Shepard and Sandro Rosta's scenes in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 7 were two-handers that displayed the chemistry between the actors and their characters. Shepard says being paired up with Rosta was, "so much fun. Sandro is the best to work with. He's such a good friend and such a great scene partner. I felt like we really held each other's hands throughout filming this, because it is a lot of pressure to take on a two-handed episode. And it was easy, because Sandro and I had each other, and I trust him, and I feel like he trusts me."

Bella also assures viewers that filming in Starfleet Academy's empty sets was as great as it looked: "It was fun to be able to have free rein of the Athena and walk around like we own the place. How often do cadets get to do that? So it was really fun and kind of chaotic. But that's how life goes. And our crew is also so amazing. We all got to be tight-knit and in close quarters together because it was a small cast and our crew, who were lovely. It was just so much fun. So much fun.

Bella Shepard Reveals If Genesis Is Looking For Her Own Love Interest

Genesis and Caleb acknowledge the spark of attraction between them, but Caleb has a girlfriend, Tarima Sadal (Zoë Steiner). While Genesis and Caleb could become an item in the future, Bella Shepard says, "Actually, I don't think Genesis is necessarily seeking a romantic partner. But, I mean, it's human nature to yearn for connection with other people. And I think she sees a lot of what she wishes she had in Caleb, in a way. He's so free and open, and I think she admires that about him. So I think she's just drawn to the things that she admires about Caleb."

Shepard further explains that Genesis seeks connections: "I think whether that's platonic or romantic, connection, in general, is very important to her, because she grew up on a starship, moving around, and maybe not having the most stable friends because of having to move so often. Now that she's finally in a place where she can stay in one spot with the same people, I think it's very important for her to hold onto the connections that she cares about."

Bella Shepard Reveals Her Favorite Places In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's Sets

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's sets are eye-popping and impressive. Starfleet Academy films at the Star Trek Stage at Pinewood Studios Toronto on the largest sets ever constructed for Star Trek. The USS Athena's atrium set alone is a multi-level marvel, and there are many other remarkable sets, like the classrooms, dorm rooms, and the starship's bridge.

ScreenRant: What’s your favorite place on the set?

Bella Shepard: Ooh, okay, I have a few nice ones I would say I love. Obviously, the atrium is stunning. But my favorite part about the atrium is the viewscreen over by the window, because we've seen it turn into so many things. We've seen Earth from the the window. We've seen the moon, we've seen other planets, other galaxies. We've seen warp speed through the window. So I love that it really just makes us feel like we're in space from the over there by the stairs, with the window.

Also in the atrium, I love the atrium ponds, because I've actually been in them a few times. And how fun is that? Like, you know, you're not supposed to be in there. So it's kind of fun to film something in the atrium ponds, because it feels sacrilegious in a way. It's like, ‘Ooh, I'm breaking the rules. I'm not supposed to be in here.’

And I also really like the the dorm sets. I feel like someone's room is very private and personal. And to be able to take a closer look at the dorm rooms and see little bits of the cadets’ personalities feels very, very personal and intimate. So I love anytime we're in there, because I feel like it's just another like peek behind the curtain and who the cadets really are.

ScreenRant: Of course, the bridge looks amazing, Genesis looked really good in the captain's chair. I gotta say, it feels like the shape of things to come for her.

Bella Shepard: I mean, yeah, of course. That's her dream.

Bella Shepard Teases A "Beautiful Journey" For Genesis In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 2

ScreenRant: I think you guys are done or nearly done shooting season two. Can you give us a sense of what sophomore year is like for Genesis?

Bella Shepard: Oh my gosh, sophomore year is so much fun. I would say it's crazier than the first year, and it's exciting, and it's freeing, and also very meaningful. Genesis goes on a very beautiful journey in season two, and I'm really, really excited for people to see that.

Check out our other Star Trek: Starfleet Academy interviews:

• Zoë Steiner and Sandro Rosta
• Tawny Newsome and Cirroc Lofton
• Kerrice Brooks
• Noga Landau and Karim Diané
• Oded Fehr