Photography by Mark Binks
We had the ultimate delight to interview actress Arista Arhin who is currently starring as Young Michael Burnham in the current season of Star Trek Discovery airing now on CBS. Check out the interview below.
Hi, Arista! Thank you for granting the interview. Congrats on your role as Young Michael Burnham on CBS Star Trek Discovery. I’m geeking out because I grew up on Star Trek. [lol] It’s such an iconic series. Are you a fan of Star Trek?
Thank you! Before I got the role of Young Michael Burnham, I was aware of Star Trek, but I wouldn’t consider myself an expert. I was familiar with Captain Kirk, Spock, the Vulcan salute. Yet, when I did get the part and started researching Star Trek: The Original Series, I fell in love with the concept of exploring new worlds and civilizations, and it is such an honor and a humbling experience to be part of that legacy.
Tell us about playing Young Michael Burnham.
Young Michael Burnham appears in flashbacks during which adult Burnham revisits her childhood in hopes to find some of the answers or which provide the backdrop for a particular scene. As a child, Burnham was raised Vulcan, having been adopted by Spock’s parents, Sarek and Amanda, and that plays a very important part in her life. Young Burnham is a very smart, brave and risk-taking girl, which was very fun to play. In Season 2, we get to explore more of Burnham’s personal life, which I cannot wait for everyone to see.
Did you receive any pointers from Sonequa Martin-Green (Michael Burnham) in playing a younger version of her character?
From the beginning, Sonequa and I had a very strong connection and formed a bond where I would always be able to ask her for help not only with Burnham, but for other characters too. Burnham’s childhood was very complicated, and it was very important to me that I convey all those conflicting feelings flawlessly. The flashback scenes were very emotionally deep and quite challenging to portray, and Sonequa would always be there to help guide me through those emotions and actions. I consider myself very fortunate to have worked with her as she has given me some very useful pointers and taught me techniques that will forever stick with me.
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Was it a challenge to play a character in an iconic series?
It felt surreal and somewhat startling when I first got cast for the show knowing that I was now part of one of the most iconic TV shows of all time. When I first started filming, and because of the dramatic and emotional scenes that I had to deliver, I felt under pressure knowing the magnitude of the franchise and because I didn’t want to disappoint any long-time fans. Yet, with all the support from an incredible cast and crew and after a lot of positive feedback, I felt reassured and it really meant a lot to me to know that people enjoyed watching me on the show. I was thrilled to have been invited back to Season 2.
How did you get the role?
It was a very vigorous 3-month audition process during which I had 4 auditions. It was quite nerve-racking with all of the waiting, but it was all totally worth it. The most interesting part is that I did not know what I was actually auditioning for as the title of the show was kept secret. It was not until I received the script for my episode that I learned that it was Star Trek: Discovery. At that time, I was still not aware of the tremendous impact this role was going to have in my acting life.
Star Trek spans decades. Generations were raised on Star Trek. What has the overall experience been like?
It was very surreal knowing how large its fandom is, how much this show is loved, and how it relates to the Original Series. One of the coolest parts of my entire experience was meeting all the amazing actors on the show, such as Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Shazad Latif, James Frain, Ethan Peck, Jason Isaacs and others, who made me feel a part of the Discovery family and have made my time working on the show very enjoyable. Also, it was fantastic to work not only with fellow actors but with the entire crew who was extremely kind and caring towards me as a young actress. Funnily, one thing that really caught me off guard is how none of my friends knew about Star Trek, but all of their parents went crazy when they heard I was part of this iconic series.
When looking back on the production, what resonated with you the most and why?
One thing that has really stuck with me is knowing how committed and determined everyone was on the show. Not only the cast, but also the crew, the writers, and everyone else I met on set. I felt truly humbled and honored to be part of such a dedicated and hard-working group, and one of the things that will forever stick with me is to remain focused and equally committed to all the projects I’m working on.
What do you enjoy most about your character and role?
The thing that I admire most about Burnham has to be her determination and dedication to each task she takes on, and I am truly thankful to play such a daring and brave character. Young Burnham has done some things that I have never thought about doing, and I am thankful that I have gotten the chance to do so many cool things through this character.
Do you have anything else you would like to share about Young Michael Burnham?
In Season 2, the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery joins forces with Captain Christopher Pike, from the U.S.S. Enterprise, on a new mission to investigate seven mysterious red signals and the appearance of an unknown being called the Red Angel. While the crew must work together to unravel their meaning and origin, Michael Burnham is forced to face her past with the return of her estranged brother, Spock. So this season, among many interesting stories, we get to explore the possible reunion between Michael Burnham and her long-lost foster brother, Spock. I am so honored to be part of this amazing story-telling, and I am so excited for everyone to experience this journey with me. In the U.S., new episodes are streaming on CBS All Access on Thursdays at 8:30 PM ET/5:30PM PT, and in Canada on Thursdays at 8 PM ET on Space and streaming on Fridays at 8 PM ET on Crave. Internationally, you can catch it on Netflix on Fridays following the premiere.
You will also be starring as Alicia Windsor in the highly anticipated family comedy series Bajillionaires. It’s about a group of friends running a start-up out of their parent’s garage. The show is set to premiere this Spring 2019. What can you tell us?
My new show Bajillionaires is a brand new comedy which follows a group of neighborhood pals who run a start-up company out of one of the parent’s garage. They constantly come up with new inventions that will hopefully change the world for the better. The show promotes positive messages of friendship, believing in yourself and youth empowerment. My character, Alicia Windsor is the group’s newest member and the Chief Product Designer. She is a DIY engineering genius and coding savant, who constantly codes and comes up with new inventions and prototypes. She is also very secretive and mysterious and likes to keep her personal life to herself. I can’t wait for everyone to see her and the squad in action! The show is currently airing on Family Channel in Canada on Saturdays at 10:00 AM ET/PT, starting March 2nd, and it will soon be available on Universal Kids in the U.S., so stay tuned!
Do you have anything else you would like to share about your career?
Talking about my first role on a TV series, Odd Squad was my big break and a new experience for me. It was really fun working with an all-kid cast. Likewise, Bajillionaires was incredibly fun to film with an awesome cast that really got along well and bonded like a family. I am now looking forward to perhaps playing someone who is the complete opposite of me. I would love to play a high school bully or even a more disturbing role in a horror movie, for example. I have recently been watching horror movies that have intrigued me and I would definitely appreciate such a challenging role.
Thank you for chatting with me about your career. I hope we can catch up in the future for another interview.
Thank you so much and it was sooo much fun answering all of your questions! You can follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook via @aristaarhin to learn more about my upcoming projects! Thank you!
Featured Image Credit: Mark Binks.
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