Uhura

Nyota Uhura is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise. She serves as the chief communications officer aboard the starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) in the original series (1966–1969). Portrayed by Nichelle Nichols, Uhura is widely regarded as one of the first Black women to appear in a non-stereotypical, leading role on American television, and her presence helped advance representation in science fiction and television.

On the Enterprise, Uhura oversees shipboard communications, signals intelligence, and linguistic liaison with alien species. The character is depicted as highly skilled in languages and signaling, and she often works closely with other bridge officers. Uhura appears in several Star Trek films featuring the original crew and, in the 2009 reboot and its sequels, is reimagined as a younger version portrayed by Zoe Saldana in a parallel timeline.

A notable moment in Star Trek history is the on-screen kiss between Uhura and Captain James T. Kirk during the 1968 episode Plato's Stepchildren, frequently cited as one of the first interracial kisses on American television. Nichols’s portrayal is credited with advancing opportunities for actors of color and inspiring interest in space exploration; she later participated in outreach efforts with NASA. The character remains a reference point for discussions of diversity in science fiction and Star Trek’s continuing canon across multiple series and films.