Interview: Gabrielle Ruiz On T’Lyn Getting “Reckless” In ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Season 5

The Vulcan junior officer T’Lyn was a breakout character in the Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2 episode “wej Duj,” so much so that voice actress Gabrielle Ruiz returned, joining the USS Cerritos crew in season 4. T’Lyn has become part of the gang in season 5, including getting some new dimensions revealed in the latest episode, “The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel.” Before joining Lower Decks, Ruiz was best known for her work in musical theater including Broadway and as part of the main cast of the musical sitcom Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. She is also a fan of Trek and it was important to her to land the role in Lower Decks. TrekMovie had a chance to speak to the actress about how this week’s episode was right up her alley and more about Lower Decks season 5.

“The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel” feels tailor made for you. You’ve got lots of T’Lyn, a crazy ex-girlfriend, music saving the day and fandom. Did you get that sense when you first read saw the script?

When I read and recorded the episode, one-hundred percent, I concur. It was so much fun to read. It made me laugh just reading it, and then taking it off the page and giving at least three to five different vocal takes on each line. And I am so happy with how the final product has come through. Because I don’t see a lot – I mean maybe some sequences of the animation before it’s out on Paramount+. So when it finally premieres, I get to enjoy it all over again. It’s so enjoyable to be a voiceover actor in Star Trek.

Mike McMahan has talked about writing for to T’Lyn and how they spend a lot of time honing things to make her “as dry as possible.” And he has praised your “deadpan performance.” You have obviously done a lot of big broad stuff, so has it been a process for you to hone down to that deadpan?

For the audition, I remember when I did my voiceover audition for T’Lyn, I woke up the next morning and I could feel it. It was instinct. Let’s be T’Lyn here. It was INSTINCT that it wasn’t correct; it wasn’t right. And I told my husband, I got go back in my closet and record this again, because the nuance of what Vulcan is and what Leonard Nimoy created. And you evolve it and embrace the branches of all the other actors who have created this Vulcan iconic culture. It just wasn’t perfect. And I’m so glad that I did that, because I wanted to get the rhythm and the nuance, the speed, and then add the Mike McMahon writers, the comedy. And I’m so glad I did because I can trust that the comedy is there in the writing. It’s there on the page. And then I can envision and listen to my Leonard Nimoy, a little Spock on my shoulder. How would he say it? And it just completely comes together in the recording room.

You just showed how much of a fan you are. For this episode, T’Lyn is a fan, in this case of Krog…

That’s so funny.

How did you feel that fits with T’Lyn. How did you manifest – pardon the term “fangirl” – with being a Vulcan at the same time?

[Laughs] Well, that’s the thing about T’Lyn, she’s so reckless. She’s SO reckless for a Vulcan. She’s risky and dangerous with her emotions, like “How dare you even go there.” So I love the moment her fangirl squeal when she just goes [as T’Lyn] “Hmm,” and that’s it. And that’s what’s so funny about it. You get to see her squee, kind of squirm when she sees the poster of Krog. And then she explains how much of a big deal it is. And the moment that she has with him and he shares his mutual admiration for Vulcan culture is very emotional for me as an actor, because it’s such a beautiful arc for her to have that moment where she’s also being admired for herself.

T’Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) and Krog (Marcus Henderson) in “The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel.” (Paramount+)

In the previous episode [“Shades of Green”] we saw T’Lyn go out of her way to ingratiate herself with Rutherford, and in a sense trying to be more part of the team. So do you as Gabrielle feel like you are now the fifth Lower Decker in season 5?

I definitely have felt embraced before this season, for sure, as part of the gang. And I’m so grateful when I’m able to be added to the storylines. And also have a really strong pillar of impact to the core four, and that they also impact her and her choices. So I hadn’t had a chance with Rutherford. It had been a lot of Tendi and really great moments about who she is as a Vulcan. “She’s Vulcan as a motherfucker” with Mariner. But with Rutherford, he’s so wonderful and happy go lucky that she gets to have a moment and agree that she also misses Tendi. She also wants her around. I think it was a really cool friendship moment for her to take a step back, stay up all night like a Vulcan would, and disassemble and tear apart the ship, so that they have time to do that together. I thought that was quite adorable.

I don’t know if it was in the script, but did you notice that T’Lyn added a stick figure of herself to group of other four characters on the shuttle?

Somebody said that to me on X, on Twitter. And I didn’t see that, and so I went back and looked at it. And that is something Gabrielle would do [laughs], just write myself in! But again, it’s very, very T’Lyn. She has those instincts of camaraderie and friendship, and I just love that about her.

T’Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) with Tendi (Noel Wells) and Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) in “Shades of Green” (Paramount+)

Tawny [Newsome] and Jack [Quaid] have crossed over to live-action [SNW “Those Old Scientists”] and other voice actors have expressed their interest in following. Jack has talked the challenge of capturing Boimler’s physicality. Could you imagine doing T’Lyn, playing a Vulcan in live action? Is that something you like to do?

It was a surprise when fans at conventions would come up to me and tell me this, like, “You could do it!” And I was like, “Can I do it? You think I can?” I was completely surprised. I hadn’t thought of myself in that way. But as an actor, I think it’d be a fun challenge. I mean, I’m already brunette, so we know I could rock that black bob wig with the headband. But I would absolutely love to be Vulcan live-action. I think it’s definitely a master class in itself, a lot of pressure, but I would be up for the challenge, just like a Vulcan would. It’s quite logical that I would do that.

Going back to the season opener [“Dos Cerritos”], what do think of the fan theory that T’Lyn has actually been replaced by the alt universe T’Lyn? And would it make a difference?

[Laughs] I don’t think it would make a difference. I think she’s so logically sound and I think she knows exactly what she’s doing. Would she make an alternate decision? No, no, I don’t think it would make a difference. That’s a funny question.

Gabrielle Ruiz as T’Lyn and alt-T’Lyn in “Dos Cerritos (Paramount+)

You mentioned going to conventions, have you had a chance to speak to Tim Russ or Ethan Peck, as you are now part of an elite club..

I know, it’s kind of a big deal, isn’t it?

So has there been any sharing of tips with any of the other Vulcan actors?

No, trying to be cool this year. I’m a freshman at the cons. So I’m like, “Be cool man, don’t be super fan here.” Because like Jonathan Frakes?! Get out of here! He was just chilling in the green room, tired and wanted to have his quiet moment. And I’m with my cousin Romeo and he’s trying to talk to him and I’m like, “Romeo, get out of here… You cannot ruin this for me.” So I kicked my cousin out. And then [Jonathan and I] did a reading together and we rode the same car back to our hotel, and I was just able to just be chill and like an actor just shooting the shit and being cool. And he was wonderful. He is so nice and so kind. And I love that moment with someone that is such high celebrity and iconic in that way. The moment they walk in a room, it’s a gasp, which a lot of Star Trek actors are. And I get to just not treat them that way and let them know that I’m also part of the community and that I’m cool. So I think I did a good job. Let me know when you talk to him if he remembers me. [laughs]

Gabrielle Ruiz with Robert Picardo at NYCC Lower Decks reception (Getty/Paramount+)

Can you tease anything for T’Lyn for the rest of the season?

Just legacy characters. I’m so excited. I’m so excited that Lower Decks has already been so great at nailing callbacks and deep cuts and easter eggs. And we get to enjoy it. And then when you watch it again, you see more and you enjoy it even more. So it has that timeless stamp on it already. So you are going to enjoy that so much in the final season. Mike has had a wonderful opportunity – for streaming five seasons is great. And we got this great arc and this great story to finish. So I’m glad that we have time to enjoy that together.

T’Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) in “The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel.” (Paramount+)

Listen to full interview on All Access Star Trek podcast

This week’s episode of All Access Star Trek podcast featured audio from all of our recent Lower Decks interviews including Gabrielle Ruiz. Next week’s podcast episode will include our review of “The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel” along with episode 4. You can listen to the All Access Star Trek podcast at Apple , Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Or you can listen to the latest episode with Gabrielle Ruiz via the embed below…

The fifth and final season of Lower Decks debuted on Thursday, October 24 on Paramount+ in the U.S. and internationally. New episodes of the 10-episode-long season will drop every Thursday on the service leading up to the series finale on Thursday, December 19.

For more, check out our NYCC interview with series creator and showrunner Mike McMahan.

Keep up with news about the Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com.

NOTE: Interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.