She walked onto the bridge of the Enterprise and immediately stabbed a crew member. No preamble. No diplomatic pleasantries. Just raw, unadulterated entitlement. France Nuyen in Star Trek wasn't just another "alien of the week." She was a whirlwind.
Playing Elaan, the Dohlman of Elas, Nuyen delivered one of the most polarizing performances in the history of the Original Series (TOS). Some fans found her over-the-top. Others saw a masterclass in playing a woman burdened by an archaic, brutal culture.
The 1968 episode "Elaan of Troyius" is basically a sci-fi riff on The Taming of the Shrew. It’s messy. It’s loud. Honestly, by today's standards, it's pretty problematic. But you can't look away from Nuyen. Her presence is magnetic.
The Casting of a Legend
Gene Roddenberry didn't just want a pretty face for the role of Elaan. He needed someone with gravity. France Nuyen was already a massive star. She’d been the lead in The World of Suzie Wong on Broadway. She was a Golden Globe nominee.
When France Nuyen joined Star Trek, she brought a level of "Old Hollywood" prestige that the show desperately needed in its third season. Budget cuts were hitting hard. Sets were being reused. The show was fighting for its life. Nuyen’s involvement was a signal that Star Trek still had pull.
She had this incredible chemistry with William Shatner. It wasn't just the scripted romance. It was the way they played off each other's intensity. Shatner is famously "big" in his acting. Nuyen matched him beat for beat. She didn't let him own the screen.
Beyond the "Damsel" Trope
In the late 60s, female guest stars on Trek were often relegated to falling in love with Kirk and then fading into the background. Elaan was different. She was a warrior-queen. She hated Kirk. She hated the Federation.
Nuyen played her with a sharp edge. There’s a scene where she’s learning "manners" and she looks like she’s about to bite Kirk’s head off. It’s funny, sure, but Nuyen keeps a layer of genuine rage underneath. You actually believe she could lead a planet.
The Infamous "Tears of Elaan"
If you mention France Nuyen to a Trekkie, they’ll immediately bring up the tears. In the episode’s lore, Elasian women have biochemical tears. If a man touches them, he’s enslaved to them forever.
It’s a wild plot device.
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When Nuyen finally cries, and Kirk wipes the tear away, the stakes shift. We see Kirk—the man who always keeps his cool—descend into a literal chemical obsession. Nuyen’s performance shifts here, too. She goes from the "shrew" to someone genuinely confused by her own power over him.
Wardrobe and Visual Impact
We have to talk about the costumes. William Ware Theiss, the legendary Trek costume designer, went all out for Nuyen. The "glitter" outfit made of industrial Mylar is iconic. It looked like she was draped in shards of a mirror.
It was actually incredibly uncomfortable for her. Theiss’s designs were notorious for being difficult to wear, often requiring tape to keep things in place. Nuyen handled it like a pro. She moved with a grace that made the stiff, metallic fabric look fluid.
Many people don't realize that Nuyen’s look in this episode influenced dozens of sci-fi characters that followed. That "space-regal" aesthetic? She helped define it.
Why "Elaan of Troyius" is Hard to Watch Now
Look, we have to be honest. The episode hasn't aged perfectly. The central premise—that a "wild" woman needs a man to teach her how to be "civilized" through physical dominance—is cringey.
There’s a moment where Kirk basically spanks her. Yeah. It happened.
In 1968, this was played for laughs or seen as a "tough love" trope. In 2026, it feels like a relic of a very different era. However, France Nuyen’s performance actually saves some of these scenes. She doesn't play Elaan as a victim. She plays her as someone who is temporarily outmatched but never truly broken.
The Klingon Connection
This episode also gave us a deeper look at the Klingons. They were the ones pulling the strings, trying to stop the marriage between Elas and Troyius. While the Klingons in TOS didn't have the ridged foreheads we see in The Next Generation, they were still formidable.
Nuyen’s character is caught in the middle of a Cold War-style proxy fight. The depth she brings to the political weight of her marriage—which she views as a death sentence for her freedom—is what gives the episode its soul. It's not just about a spoiled woman; it's about a ruler being sold for a peace treaty.
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France Nuyen's Legacy Outside the Uniform
Star Trek was just a blip in Nuyen’s career, but for fans, it’s a defining moment. She went on to do incredible work. She was in The Joy Luck Club. She became a psychological counselor.
She’s a fascinating human being.
Born in France to a French mother and a Vietnamese father, she grew up during the Nazi occupation. She knew real hardship. When she played characters like Elaan, who were fighting against being controlled, she was pulling from a deep well of personal experience.
- She was one of the first Asian actresses to reach leading-lady status in Hollywood.
- Her career spans over 50 years.
- She often chose roles that challenged the "Lotus Blossom" stereotype.
The Chemistry with Shatner
Shatner wrote about her in his memoirs. He noted her elegance and her "commanding" presence. Usually, Shatner is the center of the universe on set. With Nuyen, he had to share the light.
There’s a rumor that they didn't get along perfectly, mostly because both were very serious about their craft and had different approaches to the "physicality" of the roles. But that tension? It’s all on the screen. It makes the romance—as toxic as it is scripted—feel electric.
Real World Impact of the Episode
"Elaan of Troyius" is one of the few episodes that mentions the specific Dilithium crystal needs of the Enterprise in a way that drives the plot. Elas is rich in "common stones" that turn out to be high-grade Dilithium.
France Nuyen’s character literally wears the fuel that keeps the ship running.
It’s a metaphor that almost hits you over the head. She is the source of power. Without her (and her jewelry), the Enterprise would have been destroyed by the Klingon battlecruiser. Nuyen plays that realization—that she is more valuable than the Federation diplomats realized—with a smug, brilliant satisfaction.
How to Appreciate France Nuyen’s Work Today
If you’re going back to watch "Elaan of Troyius," don't just look at it as a piece of 60s camp. Watch Nuyen's eyes. She does more with a glance than most actors do with a page of dialogue.
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She managed to take a script that could have been a disaster and turned it into a character study. Elaan is lonely. She’s scared. She’s powerful. Nuyen hits all those notes simultaneously.
Common Misconceptions
People often think this was her only sci-fi role. It wasn't. She appeared in The Outer Limits and other genre shows. But the "Dohlman" is the one that stuck.
Another misconception is that she was "difficult" on set. In reality, she was a perfectionist. Coming from a theater background, she expected a level of professionalism that wasn't always present on a rushed TV schedule. She pushed for better takes. She wanted the character to have more agency.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to dive deeper into France Nuyen’s contribution to Star Trek and cinema, here is how to do it properly.
Watch the "Elaan of Troyius" Remastered Version
The original 1968 effects were a bit dated, but the remastered version cleans up the Klingon ship shots and the Dilithium glow. It allows Nuyen's costume—the "Mylar" dress—to really pop. You can see the intricate details of the fabric that were lost in standard definition.
Compare her to The Joy Luck Club
Watch her performance as Ying-Ying St. Clair. It’s a complete 180 from the fiery Elaan. It shows her incredible range and helps you appreciate the "bigness" she brought to Star Trek as a deliberate acting choice rather than just her natural style.
Read "Star Trek Memories" by William Shatner
Shatner gives some behind-the-scenes tidbits about the filming of this specific episode. It provides context on the grueling 3rd-season schedule and what it was like for a guest star of Nuyen’s caliber to step into that environment.
Explore the Soundtrack
The music for "Elaan of Troyius" was composed by Fred Steiner. He wrote a specific "Elaan" theme that is haunting and regal. Listen to how the music shifts when Nuyen enters a room; it’s one of the best examples of a character leitmotif in the series.
France Nuyen remains a towering figure in the Trek mythos. She wasn't just a guest; she was a force of nature that forced James T. Kirk to meet his match. Even decades later, her performance stands as a testament to the power of a great actor to elevate even the most "out there" science fiction concepts.