‘Star Trek: Discovery’s Sonequa Martin-Green Looks Back on Burnham’s Legacy in the Franchise

Sonequa Martin-Green‘s career has soared through a mix of top entertainment franchises and singular personal choices. After anchoring Star Trek: Discovery for five seasons — in a defining journey wherein her Michael Burnham rises to be named captain of Discovery in the Season 3 finale — she pivoted into recent independent films such as My Dead Friend Zoe, She Dances, and Sarah’s Oil. She also stepped into a starring role as Lena Silver in the popular procedural Boston Blue.

As Star Trek approaches its 60th anniversary, the focus turns naturally to captains and legacy — who they are, what they represent, and how they evolve. In this conversation, the 41-year-old Martin-Green reflects on Burnham’s place in that history, what she’s learned about leadership on and off screen, and why stories that “move the needle forward” will always guide her decisions.

Star Trek is now 60 years old. How would you characterize Burnham’s place in this rich legacy?