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Annie Wersching, Who Played Borg Queen on ‘Star Trek: Picard,’ Dies at 45

Ms. Wersching was best known for playing the Borg Queen on the Paramount+ “Star Trek” series. She was also on the television series “24,” “Bosch” and “Timeless.”

By Livia Albeck-Ripka

The actress Annie Wersching, best known for her roles in positions of authority on television series like “Star Trek: Picard,” “24,” “Bosch” and “Timeless,” died on Sunday in Los Angeles. She was 45.

The cause was cancer, her publicist, Craig Schneider, said in a statement. He noted that even after Ms. Wersching was diagnosed in 2020, she continued her acting work, playing the Borg Queen on the second season of “Picard,” a “Star Trek” spinoff on Paramount+, as well as the serial killer Rosalind Dyer on the ABC crime series “The Rookie.”

Ms. Wersching was also known for playing Julia Brasher, a police officer on the Amazon series “Bosch,” and Emma Whitmore, an engineer, on the NBC series “Timeless.” On Fox’s “24,” about a counterterrorism team that protects the United States from potential attacks, she played the F.B.I. special agent Renee Walker, which she once called “a dream role.”

“She gets to experience so much action and do so many stunts; she is so cool,” Ms. Werschling told Alive St. Louis magazine in 2009. “Plus, I can relate to her; in real life, I’m not too much of a girly girl.”

Ms. Wersching also provided the voice for the character Tess in The Last of Us , a 2013 video game that has recently been adapted into a television series on HBO, with Anna Torv as Tess.

In an interview on the Paramount+ show “The Ready Room,” Ms. Wersching described playing the Borg Queen as “certainly a little intimidating.” She noted that she had familiarized herself with the role and those who had previously played it before going forward with her own interpretation and performance. “It’s such an iconic role,” she said. “I’m incredibly excited to have everyone see.”

Ms. Wersching was born on March 28, 1977, and raised in St. Louis. Her parents, Sandy and Frank Wersching, were involved in the local arts community. Her father died when she was 12.

Annie spent her youth competing in Irish dance with the St. Louis Celtic Stepdancers. She graduated from Crossroads College Preparatory School in 1995 and received a B.F.A. in musical theater from Millikin University in Decatur, Ill., in 1999. She had intended to make a career in theater but changed her mind after she was on tour with a musical in Los Angeles and went to a live taping of the sitcom “Stark Raving Mad.”

“I thought, ‘This is the best of both worlds — they are performing like it’s theater with the audience interaction, but you are on TV,’” she told Edge magazine. “This is the dream.”

She moved to Los Angeles in 2001.

She is survived by her husband, Stephen Full, whom she married in 2009, and three children, Freddie, Ozzie and Archie Full.

“There is a cavernous hole in the soul of this family today,” Mr. Full said in a statement. “But she left us the tools to fill it. She found wonder in the simplest moment. She didn’t require music to dance. She taught us not to wait for adventure to find you.”

Mr. Full noted that whenever he and his sons left their house, Ms. Wersching would shout “Bye!” until they were out of earshot.

“I can still hear it ringing,” he added.

Amisha Padnani contributed reporting.

Livia Albeck-Ripka is a reporter for The Times based in California. She was previously a reporter in the Australia bureau. More about Livia Albeck-Ripka

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Annie Wersching Dies; ‘Star Trek: Picard’ Borg Queen Actress Was 45

| January 29, 2023 | By: TrekMovie.com Staff 32 comments so far

Sunday brings shocking news that Annie Wersching passed away. First reported on social media, the news was confirmed by Wersching’s family. She played the Borg Queen in the second season of Star Trek: Picard .

RIP Wersching

According to reports Wersching died of cancer after learning of her diagnosis in 2020. Even after getting the news, the actress continued to work, with her recurring role in the second season of Star Trek: Picard as the Borg Queen being one of her final parts.

Allison Pill as Jurati and Annie Wersching as Borg Queen

In a statement (via Deadline ) Wersching’s husband said: “There is a cavernous hole in the soul of this family today. But she left us the tools to fill it. She found wonder in the simplest moment. She didn’t require music to dance. She taught us not to wait for adventure to find you. ‘Go find it. It’s everywhere.’ And find it we shall.”

Wersching may best be known for her role as FBI agent Renee Walker in two seasons of 24 . She also had regular roles on Bosch  and Runaways as well as recurring roles in Timeless and The Vampire Diaries . Her final roles were in Picard and a recurring role on The Rookie .

Annie Wersching attending Star Trek Day event in Los Angeles –  September 8, 2021

Trek community remembers Wersching

The surprising news of Wersching’s passing has generated an outpouring of condolences from the cast and crew of Star Trek: Picard … and beyond.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Jeri Ryan (@jerilryan)

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Alison Pill (@msalisonpill)

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by ☾𝑖𝑠𝑎 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠☽ (@isacamillebriones)

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Michelle Hurd (@realmichellehurd)

https://t.co/3UOp6iOc5n — Terry Matalas (@TerryMatalas) January 29, 2023

This was Annie Wersching pic.twitter.com/6KioDkIGct — daní ᱬ (@LtMenalippe) January 29, 2023

Just hearing of this now. Impossible to process. So much passion, energy and love for her work. Such a joy to work with. She loved this role so much and really had fun with it. Damn. pic.twitter.com/hQKqiAQoqh — Dave Blass (@DaveBlass) January 29, 2023

I just heard about this. Losing a member of the Trek fam is always heartbreaking. All of my love & condolences to the friends and family of #AnnieWersching . https://t.co/31rdtXPfKi — Anson Mount (@ansonmount) January 29, 2023

A true loss to our Trek family, and to television. May she rest in God’s peace. #RIP #AnnieWersching https://t.co/qyQvxwwOkc — Doug Jones (@actordougjones) January 29, 2023

TrekMovie offers our condolences to the friends and family of Annie Wersching.

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So sad, so talented, so young.

<cry emoji>

She was one of the most memorable parts of Picard so far. Condolences to her family and friends.

Wow this is so shocking! I guess she didn’t tell anyone and she looked fine when she was doing interviews for Picard. After going through the pandemic (which is still killing tons of people even though most have practically forgotten about it) it’s another reminder any of us can go at any time or age.

That’s why I’m retiring in 2 months, at 57. Life is short.

When my beloved mom-in-law was fighting Stage IV lung cancer (though she never smoked a day in her life), she was taking a specific immunotherapy drug for her cancer which was of a specific genetic type.

She didn’t slow down much at all during her remaining time until about a month or so before her end, when the cancer had mutated and the drug was consequently no longer effective. From there it was a quick and steep decline. Maybe that was the case with Ms. Wersching. : (

You have to admire someone who most likely knew their time was limited and still threw themselves into life with verve that she apparently have. I find it truly inspiring.

Very sad to learn of her passing. Her Borg Queen was the right combinations of playful, seductive, and terrifying.

I had a hard time believing this news. She was the best part of S2 of Picard. She was amazing and terrifying at the same time. My thoughts are with her family tonight.

She was one of the best parts of Picard Season 2 and brought greatness to the role.

Oh my god, I knew Annie. She was so nice. This is heartbreaking. I had no idea she was even sick. Those poor kids.

Very sad news. How awful for her young children to lose their mother. Her performance was a highlight of season 2 of Picard and knowing now what she was dealing with during filming it’s even more impressive. RIP.

Rough news, and hitting close to home, having lost my brother to cancer about seven weeks ago. MRNA research can’t find a cure/vastly superior treatments fast enough… :-(

I’m so sorry to hear that. There’s no right way to grieve, we just try to muddle through in our own ways and find a way to live with the scars but also the happy memories.

So sorry to hear this. Condolences to you and your family for your loss.

My sincerest condolences…

Very sad news. She was so young and talented and I’m sure her family and friends are absolutely devastated. RIP.

Can’t believe this, watched several interviews and she looked so full of good vibes and energy. Such an amazing actor playing the Queen. Her performance was one of the highlights of Picard Season 2.

Breaks my heart thinking about her kids. My condolences to her family and friends. R.I.P.

Loved her on “24,” “Bosch,” and “Picard.” That’s a very bright light that just went out. :(

This is so sad. Annie Wersching’s Borg Queen was brilliant … right up there with Alice Krige. The interplay between Wersching and Allison Pill made up the most exciting parts of those middle six episodes (of PIC S2). So very sad she’s gone.

That video of Annie had me laughing and crying at the same time. I was ALWAYS impressed by her work. SHE WILL BE MISSED.

Very sad news. I’m currently re-watching Picard S2 in the run up to S3 and she was terrific in her role as the Borg queen. Annie Wersching was an undisputed highlight of S2. I also remember she appeared in an episode of Enterprise.

The Queen is dead, Long live the Queen! This is so tragic and unexpectedly sad, she was only 45 years of age. May she rest in peace.

This is truly sad news. She was a great incarnation of the Borg Queen.

It reminds me of the early Trek movies when we lost so many guest stars at such a young age… Merritt Butrick, Persis Khambatta, Bibi Besch It’s hard to lose those great talents at 85, but 45… so, so utterly sad…

Agree and well observed about early Trek movie losses.

She took a character created by Alice Krige and played it with relish. Sad to hear of her passing.

This is sad news and very unexpected. Far too young for this to happen to anyone. Annie Wersching was one of those instantly recognisable familiar faces on television; always an excellent actress too. She was great on 24 and Timeless, and of course most recently our very own Star Trek.

Rest in Peace. My condolences to Annie’s family and friends.

Love, Love, Love Timeless. Probably my all time fave show. I wanted a new season. But without Annie it wouldn’t be the same.

So sad, so talented. So bee Hive Queen vibes… my Condolences to her Family and Friends

This is so sad. Rest in Peace.

I’m shocked! I am a trekker from Sweden. Picard is very popular on Amazon Prime here in Sweden! Annie was perfect as the Borg Queen! R.I.P Annie Wersching

RIP and my condolences to her family. : (

Cancer is a killer and, as much as you can deny it, especially when you’re young, life is really short. Love is the answer and trying to live a life that is decent, kind, and good. Everyone will have regrets in the end, but we should work to be the best we can be.

Ms. Wersching sounds like she was a wonderful person, a loving mother and wife, and a gifted performer. The outpouring of love from her family and friends is evidence of that. She sounds like a person who’s life was well-lived. Bless her! My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this truly horrible time for them.

Depressing news. When I saw the announcement, it didn’t mention her Picard role and didn’t know THAT until I got to this site. I’m just numb. I’ve had relatives drop just about every 30-45 days the last few months. Its awful. Her Borg Queen portrayal was creepy with the blackened eyes, but effective.

Annie Wersching, the Borg Queen of 'Star Trek: Picard,' dies at 45

The talented actress passed away on Sunday after a two-year illness.

The " Star Trek " universe has lost one of its stars.

Trekkies of all stripes are mourning the death of Annie Wersching today as news of her untimely demise due to cancer on Sunday filters around the world as reported by the New York Times .

The St. Louis-born Wersching was a prolific actress and had also been featured in multiple TV shows over the years such as "General Hospital,"  "24," "The Vampire Diaries," "The Rookie," "The Runaways," "Bosch," and "Timeless," in addition to her motion capture and vocal work as the character Tess in the hit video game "The Last of Us," which was recently adapted into a streaming series on HBO Max.  

For sci-fi fans, many will recall her memorable portrayal of the Borg Queen in Paramount Plus' " Star Trek: Picard " Season 2 last year where she stepped into the cyborgian role to fill the shoes of Alice Krige from 1996's " Star Trek: First Contact ." 

Related: 'Star Trek: Picard' Season 3 trailer unveiled

Wersching's performance was one of the standouts in that sophomore outing of "Picard" where she played the series' primary villain with palpable presence and style.

"There is a cavernous hole in the soul of this family today," Wersching's husband Stephen Full said in an official statement. "But she left us the tools to fill it. She found wonder in the simplest moment. She didn't require music to dance. She taught us not to wait for adventure to find you. 'Go find it. It's everywhere.' And find it we shall.

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"As I drove our boys, the true loves of her life, down the winding driveway and street, she would yell BYE! until we were out of earshot and into the world. I can still hear it ringing. Bye my Buddie. 'I love you little family…'"

Picard was not Wersching's first voyage to the final frontier as one of her early acting gigs in her long 23-year career was on " Star Trek : Enterprise" where she played the character Liana in a 2002 episode titled "Oasis."

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"My heart is broken in more pieces than I can count," said 24 executive producer Jon Cassar regarding her premature death. "Annie came into my world with an open heart and a contagious smile. Brandishing such talent, she took my breath away. Annie became more than a workmate, she became a real friend to me, my family and every cast and crew member that worked with her. She'll be truly missed by them and the fans she always found time to interact with. Annie you'll be missed, you left your mark, and we’re all the better for it."

Wersching is survived by her husband Stephen Full and three children Freddie, Ozzie and Archie.

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Jeff Spry is an award-winning screenwriter and veteran freelance journalist covering TV, movies, video games, books, and comics. His work has appeared at SYFY Wire, Inverse, Collider, Bleeding Cool and elsewhere. Jeff lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon amid the ponderosa pines, classic muscle cars, a crypt of collector horror comics, and two loyal English Setters.

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“It was a very different feel for the character.”

'Lower Decks' finally resolves a huge Star Trek villain mystery [Exclusive]

There is only one Borg Queen. Or are there several? First introduced in the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact , the enigmatic leader of the Borg seemed to transcend time and space. She also represents a paradox: A single person speaking for an entire hivemind collective.

Played first by Alice Krige, there are now three Borg Queens in total. Susanna Thompson took on the role in several episodes of Voyager ; and in Picard Season 2 , another Borg Queen will be played by Annie Wersching.

But who is the “real” Borg Queen? In a recent surprising (and hilarious) cameo in Lower Decks , the answer seems to be that the original Borg Queen is still the canonical one — at least during Starfleet training simulations!

To get to the bottom of this classic Star Trek mystery, we spoke to the Borg Queen herself. Here’s what Alice Krige had to say about her surprise return to the Star Trek canon and why she thinks her character is always there, even when you don’t see her.

Alice Krige at the 11th Annual Official Star Trek Convention in 2021.

In Lower Decks, Season 2, Episode 8, “I, Excretus,” Boimler ( Jack Quaid) finds himself in a holographic drill where he has to do everything he can to “resit the Borg.” After obsessively running the drill over and over, Boimler meets a holographic recreation of the Borg Queen. Cue an Easter egg from First Contact.

The Borg Queen blows gently on Boimler’s skin, referencing something similar she did to Data when his android skin was briefly grafted with human skin. It’s a hilarious scene, and all-to-brief, but there’s a degree of Trekkie legitimacy brought to it because it really is the voice of Alice Krige.

The original Borg Queen tells Inverse she never expected to return to Star Trek, especially not like this.

“They just, they just called and asked if I would do it. It was great fun,” Krige says, revealing she recorded most of her dialogue in her husband’s closet. “It has the best sound in the house. It’s so full of clothing, plenty of insulation.”

Boimler (Jack Quaid) prepares to be assimilated by the Borg Queen (Alice Krige).

This isn’t the first time since First Contact that Krige has returned to her famous Star Trek role. When the Borg Queen initially crashed the Voyager party for the episode “Dark Frontier,” she was not played by Krige, but instead by Susanna Thompson (perhaps more famous for her role as Lenara Kahn in the DS9 episode “Rejoined.) But when it was time for Voyager’s big finale, Krige was asked once again to don her Borg leather. This put her in the unique position of being one of the few Star Trek villains (Q is another) who have tangoed with both Captain Picard and Captain Janeway.

Krige says that when she returned for Voyager , she realized she’d based much of her performance on the Borg Queen’s attempts to seduce Next Generation ’s leading men.

“There's sexual energy that she kind of manipulated both Data and Picard,” Krige says. “Well, she didn't manipulate either of them, but she thought she was. So I had to decide how to play that in Voyager because instead of two men this was two women [Janeway and Seven of Nine.]”

This led Krige to a quick phone call with “the producers” of Voyager , in which it was decided the Borg Queen was “Omnisexual,” which meant, yes, she would probably have some kind of flirtation with Janeway or Seven, too, if she wanted to.

“After that, I thought great . I just went and had a great time because they're two wonderful actresses,” Krige tells Inverse . “It was a very different feel for the character because it was a very different sort of energetic exchange.”

A time-traveling Admiral Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and the Borg Queen (Alice Krige)

It’s been exactly 20 years since Krige last played the Borg Queen in Voyager, and because she perished in that episode and we also saw Picard take her out in First Contact , fans have wondered for years just how many copies of the Borg Queen there are, or if the Queens are actually different characters.

With Annie Wersching’s Borg Queen coming to Picard Season 2 and Alice Krige’s delightful return to Lower Decks , could there ever be a meeting of all these Borg Queens? How does she keep coming back? Alice Krige isn’t sure, but she wouldn’t rule out a live-action return.

“She manifests in many different ways, or maybe she doesn't?” Krige says playfully. “Even if she’s not there, it doesn't mean she's not there . She’s so mysterious and endlessly interesting. Who knows how she shows up?”

Lower Decks is streaming now on Paramount+.

This article was originally published on Oct. 8, 2021

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Annie Wersching, Actress in 'Timeless', 'Star Trek' and '24', Dead at 45 Following Cancer Diagnosis

Wersching, a mother of three boys, also did motion capture and voice work for the classic PlayStation game The Last of Us

Annie Wersching, known for her roles in 24 , Star Trek: Picard , Bosch and Timeless , has died at the age of 45, PEOPLE has confirmed.

Wersching was diagnosed with cancer in 2020, per Deadline . When reached for comment, her rep said he had "nothing further to share" beyond the news initially reported by Deadline .

The actress' husband Stephen Full told Deadline , "There is a cavernous hole in the soul of this family today. But she left us the tools to fill it. She found wonder in the simplest moment. She didn't require music to dance. She taught us not to wait for adventure to find you. 'Go find it. It's everywhere.' And find it we shall."

Full's statement continued: "As I drove our boys, the true loves of her life, down the winding driveway and street, she would yell BYE! until we were out of earshot and into the world. I can still hear it ringing. Bye, my Buddie. 'I love you, little family…'"

Wersching, a mother of three and a St. Louis native, got her start on-screen with appearances in films such as Bruce Almighty and series such as Star Trek: Enterprise , Charmed and Supernatural , before eventually earning a recurring role as Renee Walker in the series 24 .

She appeared on 24 for two seasons, before taking on several other television roles throughout her career, including a main role as Julia Brasher in Amazon Studios' Bosch . In 2013, Wersching did motion capture and voice work in the PlayStation classic The Last of Us — which has since spawned a hit HBO series of the same name. She also recently played the role of the Borg Queen on Star Trek: Picard .

Her Timeless co-star Abigail Spencer shared a beautiful, but heartbreaking post about her friend on Instagram.

"My darling @anniewersching 💔," she began her caption. "The best scene partner. My arch #Timeless nemesis, where we could barely keep a straight face. This is a devastating loss to our community. She was the backbone of many of your favorite shows & ours. The ringer. When you needed someone to come in and kick ass or elevate a storyline or your lifeline: call Annie. This is so hard… Steve… no words. Sending you & the boys heaps of love & support."

Neil Druckmann, co-president of Naughty Dog — the game company behind The Last of Us — shared a tribute of his own to Wersching on Twitter. "Just found out my dear friend, Annie Wersching, passed away," he wrote. "We just lost a beautiful artist and human being. My heart is shattered. Thoughts are with her loved ones."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

At the end of his tribute, Druckmann shared a link to a GoFundMe page created to support Wersching's family. The fundraiser description from organizer Ever Carradine read that Wersching was a "private person by nature" and that her cancer diagnosis in the summer of 2020 amplified that. The intent of the fundraiser, the description reads, is to help Full to take care of their kids — Freddie, 12, Ozzie, 9, and Archie, 4 — and "grieve without the pressure of needing to work."

"She wanted to protect her boys. She wanted to get better so she could continue working. And honestly, she just didn't really want to talk about it. She wanted to live her life, on her terms, and be with her family," reads the fundraiser description.

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Published Jul 27, 2022

Everything You Need to Know About the Borg Queen

Long live the Queen!

StarTrek.com

“I am the beginning, the end, the one who is many. I am the Borg.”

The central locus of the Borg Collective is the amoral Borg Queen . Through her, like the queen of an insect colony, the Hive mind is granted order and common direction.

As the Villain Showdown enter its fourth week, pitting the Borg Queen against Gul Dukat , we’ve put together this handy guide on everything you need to know about the Queen.

The One Who is Many

Throughout the history of the Borg Collective, there have been a number of Queens. Only one Queen exists at any given time; when she is destroyed, a new Queen takes her place. In Star Trek: Voyager, it's revealed that the Borg Queen isn't a singular entity, but the name given to any that serves as its host, possessing all previous Queen's collective consciousness.

The Borg , a fusion of organic and synthetic matter, and their relentless pursuit of perfection brought fear to all quadrants of the galaxy. Residing primarily at Unimatrix One in the Delta Quadrant , the Borg Queen is the only one able to think independently from the Collective; possessing a unique personality and sense of individuality — traits not seen within the Borg.

The first Borg Queen (Alice Krige) made her debut with Star Trek: First Contact (1996) as the Borg sought to erase a historical moment in Starfleet history— First Contact Day —traveling back in time to prevent the creation and need of the Federation .

In her lair, the Borg Queen remains disembodied with just her head and spinal column — the epitome of perfection — with no remnants of her humanoid form. When she leaves her home base for assimilation efforts, she will reassemble herself into a predominantly artificial body.

Your Culture Will Adapt to Service Us.

The Borg doesn’t value the Federation’s belief in individuality – its mission is to add others’ biological and technological distinctiveness to their own, strengthening the Collective in its pursuit of perfection. Defeating their opponents isn’t enough; they sought to assimilate their enemies’ minds and flesh.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard still endures residual trauma decades later following his assimilation into the Borg . As Locutus of the Borg, selected to be their voice to facilitate their introduction into human society, Picard believed he never fully regained himself after they striped away his humanity and sense of self.

There is No 'Me,' Only 'Us'

It is in Star Trek: Voyager where we learn that the Borg Queen, obsessed with power, didn’t create the Borg; she was just tasked with leading the Collective. The collective consciousness, where each drone is linked through the subspace network, allows for the Borg to adapt quickly and eliminate threats as they arise.

In the episode " Dark Frontier " of Star Trek: Voyager, the Borg Queen believes Seven of Nine 's presence is vital to their path forward in their approach to assimilate Earth, seeing value in Seven's knowledge of humanity. The Borg Queen tries to lure her back to the Collective by "allowing" her to remain an individual instead of reverting to a drone. The Queen's seduction involved telling Seven she's "unique," and her experience will add to their perfection. However, she can't be selfish and only think of just her individual self.

Resistance is Futile.

When a Borg Queen is destroyed, another Queen is propped up. Susanna Thompson portrays the Borg Queen in Star Trek: Voyager ’s two-parter, “ Dark Frontier ” and “ Unimatrix Zero .”

Most recently, the Borg Queen was played by Annie Wersching in Season 2 of Star Trek: Picard .

Secrets of the Borg Queen, The

Bringing Order to Chaos

In Star Trek: Picard , the Borg Queen is cut off from the Borg Collective due the actions of Q and a divergence in time. As a result, she becomes wholly and fully obsessed with Agnes Jurati.

Seen as the last of the Borg, instead of finding the Collective, she sets her sights on Agnes in hopes of building out a new Borg collective.

Star Trek: Picard - The Borg Queen Returns

Interested in learning more about the Borg Queen and her latest machinations, stream all episodes of Season 2 of Star Trek: Picard now!

Christine Dinh (she/her) is the managing editor for StarTrek.com. She’s traded the Multiverse for helming this Federation Starship.

Star Trek: Picard streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and is distributed concurrently by Paramount Global Distribution Group on Amazon Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories. In Canada, it airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave.

Stay tuned to StarTrek.com for more details! And be sure to follow @StarTrek on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

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Who Plays The Borg Queen In Star Trek: Picard Season 3?

Season 3 of "Star Trek: Picard" has functioned a bit like a family reunion. As this marks the last time Patrick Stewart will play the role of Jean-Luc Picard, the series has brought together nearly the entire crew of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" for one last adventure through the stars. And, in the last leg of the season, major villains have returned as well, most notably the Borg Queen.

The Borg, terrifying hive-minded and technologically augmented collective who absorb entire worlds, have plagued Picard his entire life. In the darkest chapter of his life, he was even turned into a Borg operative, the notorious Locutus of Borg. And in the 1996 film "Star Trek: First Contact," Picard comes face-to-face with the physical embodiment of the hive mind: the Borg Queen.

The Borg Queen has since popped up occasionally across "Star Trek" media, and a version of her was even a central figure in "Picard" Season 2. Now, in Season 3, she returns again, this time played by Alice Krige, the original actor who portrayed her in "Star Trek: First Contact."

Alice Krige reprises her nearly 30-year-old role as Borg Queen

Alice Krige plays The Borg Queen in Season 3 of "Star Trek: Picard." Krige originally played the character nearly three decades ago in "Star Trek: First Contact." In that movie, she time travels to the mid-21st century in order to assimilate Earth into the Borg Collective before humanity has developed the technology to fight them. Picard and the crew of the Enterprise travel back in time to fight the Borg, and they encounter Krige's Borg Queen there.

Krige is a highlight of the movie, playing the Borg Queen as a devil with a deal to make. She tempts the android Data (Brent Spiner) with the possibility of real human sensations and emotions. Meanwhile, she tortures Picard with memories of his time as Locutus of Borg.

Krige reprised the role twice thereafter before joining "Star Trek: Picard," appearing as the Borg Queen in an episode of "Star Trek: Voyager" and voicing the character on an episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks."

Additionally, MCU fans may know Krige from "Thor: The Dark World," in which she played the Asgardian doctor, Eir. And horror aficionados may remember her as the sinister Mrs. MC from Netflix's "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and as the cult leader Christabella in 2006's "Silent Hill." The darkness of Krige's roles has taken quite a toll on her, the actor told Looper.

Krige has also appeared in episodes of "NCIS" and "Law and Order: Criminal Intent." Additionally, she played a sex worker named Maddie on five episodes of the Western drama "Deadwood."

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Star trek's original borg queen returns (& why there's a new one).

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Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks  season 2, episode 8 - "I, Excretus."

The original Borg Queen played by Alice Krige returned to Star Trek: Lower Decks even though Annie Wersching will appear as the new Borg Queen in Star Trek: Picard season 2. One of the greatest villains in Star Trek history, the Borg Queen is an unforgettable (and controversial) menace who continues to threaten the 24th-century heroes of Star Trek in her multiple incarnations portrayed by three different actresses.

While the Borg Collective was originally introduced as a hive-mind in Star Trek: The Next Generation , the producers of Star Trek: First Contact decided the cyborg race needed a primary guiding force as well as an embodiment of its villainy. The Borg Queen was created as the ruler of the Collective, and she made a spectacular entrance in Star Trek: First Contact as a disembodied humanoid head and robotic spine that docked into her cyborg body. The Borg Queen revealed herself as the one who chose Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) to become her counterpart as Locutus, but in Star Trek: First Contact, she chose the android Commander Data (Brent Spiner) to be her new mate instead. Although Picard and Data defeated the Borg Queen, she always survives and can't be killed by conventional means. The Borg Queen returned in Star Trek: Voyager , this time played by Susannah Thompson, although Krige resumed the role in Star Trek: Voyager 's series finale, "Endgame."

Related: Why The Borg Queen Wants Picard In Season 2 (& How Jean-Luc Can Beat Her)

In Star Trek: Lower Decks , Krige once again played the Borg Queen, voicing her villainous alter ego in a holodeck drill that simulated her seduction of Data in Star Trek: First Contact . When Ensign Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) is asked by Ensign Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) to purposely lose his Borg holodeck mission, Boimler is captured by the Borg and brought before their Queen, who decides to assimilate him and add his biological distinctiveness to their own. "It's kind of our thing," the Borg Queen explains. Despite Boimler's hilarious protests that he has hay fever and acid reflux, which "might result in a net negative for the Collective," Bradward is assimilated by the Borg and became a drone named Excretus. Of course, it's only a holodeck program, which explains why Krige's Borg Queen returned.

Since Alice Krige returned to voice the Borg Queen in Star Trek: Lower Decks , Trekkers may wonder why the cyborg monarch was recast with Annie Wersching in Star Trek: Picard . One possibility is that COVID-19 protocols may have hampered Krige from resuming her iconic role. Meanwhile, Star Trek: Picard  films in Los Angeles, and they likely opted to cast Wersching as the Borg Queen since she's a fine actress known for her roles in 24 and Marvel's Runaways , plus she also conveniently lives in LA. For her part, Krige has previous experience voicing the Borg Queen in Star Trek history : Krige played her cyborg villain in the Star Trek Armada II video game and for Star Trek: The Experience's Borg Encounter 4D ride in Las Vegas.

Star Trek smartly created an in-canon rationale that allows for the Borg Queen to be recast. As the embodiment of the Collective, the Borg Queen doesn't really need a corporeal form since she exists in the mind of every member of the Borg. When the Borg Queen chooses to take on a cyborg body, she assumes the form of a female humanoid but she can choose from several organic bodies to complement her cybernetic components. This justifies why the Borg Queen can look like Alice Krige, Susannah Thompson, and now, Annie Wersching.

If  Star Trek: Enterprise  wasn't canceled , season 5 planned to tell the origin of the Borg Queen and explain her original human body was a woman from Earth played by Alice Krige. Yet regardless of who plays her, the Borg Queen is a fearsome adversary who has menaced two of Star Trek's greatest captains, Jean-Luc Picard and Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew). Further, no matter who else played the Borg Queen in the past or in the future, Alice Krige's original remains the most iconic version, and it's Krige's Borg Queen who Starfleet officially uses in holodeck simulations in Star Trek: Lower Decks .

Next: Star Trek Reveals The Mirror Universe Could've Beaten The Borg

Star Trek: Lower Decks streams Thursdays on Paramount+.

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‘picard’ borg queen actress weighs in on debated ‘star trek’ character question.

Annie Wersching becomes the third actress to play the iconic role in an experience that has been something of a roller coaster due to the pandemic.

By Ryan Parker

Ryan Parker

Former Senior Reporter

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[Warning: This story contains spoilers for episode two of Star Trek: Picard .] 

It has been a question pondered by Star Trek fans for years: Is there more than one Borg Queen, or have multiple actresses played the same alien in assorted franchise projects? Picard newcomer Annie Wersching has thoughts on the matter.

“In my opinion, she is a different incarnation of the Queen,” says the third actress to embody the iconic role. “[My version] is going to have all the information and all the memories that the other two queens have, but she is her own incarnation.”

Wersching made her debut as the (unmasked) Borg Queen in “Penance,” the second episode of the Paramount+ series’ second season. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter prior to the episode’s Thursday premiere, the actress detailed her roller-coaster experience while also teasing what’s to come with one of Jean-Luc Picard’s ( Patrick Stewart ) greatest adversaries.

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It is clear from “Penance” that Wersching’s Borg Queen is different from the previous versions, as this time, she is cut off from the Hive after Q (John de Lancie) returns to wreak havoc on the timeline.

“The Borg Queen is in such a distressed state at this point, which is not a way we are used to seeing her. She is usually so in control,” says the actress, who plays coy when asked about the queen’s true intentions after agreeing to fix the timeline. “I think a really interesting development that happens through the season is her interest in Agnes [Alison Pill], and what is that exactly. There is something very interesting in their relationship.”

It becomes clear in “Penance” that whatever Q did to the timeline, humanity took a dark turn, with Picard becoming one of its greatest military heroes as a conqueror of alien races and xenophobia on Earth running rampant, which comes to a head for the characters when Picard is supposed to publicly execute the queen, now the last of the Borg. That moment was a tough one, Wersching admits.

“It just makes you wildly uncomfortable, knowing there are people in the world who think like that for real,” says the actress of modern-day struggles around the globe. “ Star Trek has always been so good about acceptance for everyone. And it is very strange to see the totalitarianism that is happening in this episode. It is not something that [the writers] had to reach that far into their imaginations to find, unfortunately.”

Wersching was cast as the queen in December 2020 after auditioning via self-tape in April that year. In fact, so much time had elapsed due to the pandemic, she was in total shock when the call finally came. The actress would be the third Borg Queen in all of Star Trek , the first being Alice Krige in the feature film Star Trek: First Contact and then Susanna Thompson in the series Star Trek: Voyager .

“Before I auditioned, I watched First Contact , and then after I got the role, I watched every episode that had to do with the Borg,” Wersching recalls. “But I didn’t rewatch to mimic them. I wanted to watch once and get the information, and then take what I learned to make my own version. I know Alice is the queen of all Queens. It would be really special to meet her someday. Susanna and I actually worked together a bunch on the NBC show Timeless .”

Ironically, this is not Wersching’s first time working in the Star Trek world, as her first TV gig was a 2002 episode of Star Trek: Enterprise . And Picard producer Akiva Goldsman toyed with the idea of bringing the actress’ Star Trek adventure full circle.

“At one point, he was like, ‘You know, we could make it like the queen assimilated her and make it all connected. It is Star Trek ; we can make anything happen,'” Wersching says with a laugh. It seems the idea, while fun, was not pursued.

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Star Trek: 11 Things You Didn't Know About The Borg Queen

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Forgotten everything you knew about the Borg Queen? Must be something you assimilated!

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