Mary Wiseman, renowned for her role as Ensign Sylvia Tilly in "Star Trek: Discovery," has become a prominent figure in the science fiction world. Wiseman's journey hasn't been without its challenges, particularly concerning body image and online criticism. Despite facing negativity, she has emerged as an advocate for body positivity and self-acceptance, inspiring fans and colleagues.
The Rise of Sylvia Tilly
Since its debut in 2017, 51 years after the franchise was born, "Star Trek: Discovery" has seen Tilly grow significantly in responsibility and confidence, and also in popularity. Mary Wiseman's portrayal of Ensign Sylvia Tilly has resonated deeply with audiences, making her a fan favorite. ScreenRant even ranked her as the "most likable" character on the show. Wiseman has expressed a strong connection with her character, stating, "I love her, and I feel very protective over her. I probably have never had such a deep relationship with a person I've played." Tilly is the longest-running role she’s ever performed.
Body Shaming and Online Criticism
Wiseman has faced an "uptick in body-shaming" directed at her and her character, especially during the third season of "Discovery." She acknowledged the personal impact of these attacks, stating, "I'm a person, I have a history, and bullying is totally a part of that. So it has been hard, and it's really hard to avoid because it pops up on all the [social media] accounts, or people comment on my posts with cruel, unscientific comments."
Despite the negativity, Wiseman has received immense support from fans and colleagues. Fellow "Star Trek" actor Kate Mulgrew offered words of encouragement, dismissing the "haters" and celebrating Wiseman's talent and enthusiasm.
Wiseman's Response: A Message of Love and Acceptance
Wiseman has used her platform to combat bullying and discrimination, sending a powerful message to her fans: "I love you, all of you, and you're perfect as designed. All of us deserve to occupy space, whether it's at work or out in public or on a starship. I'm proud to be here, and I am proud to wear my skin-tight costume and proud of my body. And I belong."
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She emphasized the importance of standing up for oneself and others who feel marginalized due to their appearance. She added, "I want to give that back because that's meant a lot to me, and there have been people who reached out to me, and I'm going to try to reach out more, especially people who are struggling with feeling like they don’t belong because they've been told their bodies aren't right in some way. I want to give voice to that.”
Mirror Universe: Playing "Killy"
Mary Wiseman had the opportunity to play a very different version of Tilly in the Mirror Universe. She portrayed the ruthless "Killy," a stark contrast to the nervous but brilliant Ensign Tilly. Wiseman's most famous line that first-time around was, “I'll cut out your tongue and use it to lick my boots!”
Wiseman drew inspiration from fantasy villains like Azula from "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and Harley Quinn. "I think that in a world that's so repressed and violent, violence becomes these people's only outlet for pleasure and release. That's kind of what I was playing with. It was so fun. I mean, it was just so fun!"
Wiseman acknowledged the significance of playing a powerful, confident character for her fans, especially "curvy women" who appreciate seeing a "full-figured, fat, curvy, chunky woman get to feel powerful and use that size to command authority."
Personal Life: Marriage and Support
Wiseman married her Julliard classmate, Noah Averbach-Katz, in March 2019. Their wedding ceremony included words from Chekhov from their first-ever scene together. Their romance blossomed after graduation despite the difficulty inherent in long-distance dating, Wiseman told her husband on their wedding day that “I promise when we’re apart I’ll still be tethered to you. Your name is written on my heart.”“Before you,” Averbach-Katz told his wife, “so much of myself was a mystery. You reached me. You unlocked me. You showed me how to be myself.”
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Averbach-Katz has been a source of support for Wiseman, even helping her prepare for her "Star Trek: Discovery" audition. He helped her conquer what actors in every Trek series have consistently struggled with, the creatively extrapolated scientific and technological dialogue long ago dubbed “technobabble,” through use of memorization. With his guidance, she also nailed the “look” of a Starfleet officer. “I was wearing this, literally, like ‘hippie dress’ with holes in it everywhere with my hair huge,” recalled Wiseman. “And he was like, ‘Absolutely not. You can't wear that. Get something with squared shoulders. Try to find something that's at least a little military feeling.’”
"Star Trek: Starfleet Academy"
Wiseman is set to appear in the upcoming series "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy," reprising her role as Tilly. This seemed odd, as Wiseman’s Tilly was a natural fit for the series; her character had already been established in Star Trek: Discovery as an instructor for the space-based Starfleet Academy before it re-opens on Earth to kick off the new series.
The Enduring Message of "Star Trek"
"Star Trek: Discovery," like the franchise as a whole, addresses contemporary issues such as immigration, fascism, autocracy, computer hacking, espionage, political upheaval, the environment, energy, disease, death, diversity, inclusion, and bullying. Wiseman's personal experiences with body shaming have allowed her to connect with these themes on a deeper level, using her role and her voice to promote acceptance and understanding.
Red Hair and the Evolution of "Redshirt"
Wiseman is the striking redhead who stars as acting First Officer and brilliant but overly loquacious Ensign Sylvia Tilly on the CBS All Access streaming series Star Trek: Discovery. Now, although it’s been statistically proven by a mathematician that “redshirts” aren’t any more likely to die, the myth lived on for decades. It was only when almost all of the major characters in the Star Trek films and in the TV series that followed the original started wearing red, that the color signified something other than a writer’s target on their back. Red was no longer a curse. Red now represented power, command and strength. And nobody in Star Trek rocks red locks like Mary Wiseman.
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