Persis Khambatta quotes:

Every star, whether it's Harrison Ford or Robert De Niro, is remembered by one film. Persis is a star in the sky - how can a star be forgotten when all you have to do is look up and see her?

I was brought to Hollywood by Gene Roddenberry and Michael Eisner, chosen from 600 hopefuls to star in the original 'Star Trek' motion picture. The success of the film, coupled with the allure that I had shaved my head for the role, put a spotlight on me.

Creative people are very insecure people because they don't know whether people like them or are in awe of them. That insecurity always comes out. It makes them a better actor, I feel.

I'm going down in history with Star Trek. It's a great feeling.

I love what I do, and I'm not doing anything either for money or for the sake of some unfulfilled ambition.

If I send out positive messages, it will set a chain of healthy thought processes.

It's tough to make it as an actor, tougher still to make it as an actress - the Screen Actors Guild is eager to provide the statistics to verify the latter.

I just have beautiful memories of what has happened in my life.

I mean, every Star Trek episode you saw was just phenomenal.

I only went to one Star Trek convention and that was in the late '80s. I hadn't gone to a convention before that. It was quite amusing, with the people dressed up and all of that.

Maybe I'm being philosophical and spiritual, but I believe that if you put negative energy out there that that is what will come back.

Gene Roddenberry was a genius.

A lot of people remember me from Star Trek. They've all forgotten all the other things I've done. I was so identified with the role.

After Star Trek, I was with the top agencies, but producers and directors did not know what to do with me.

Basically, they had asked me if I would shave my head or wear a bald cap. I said look, if you are doing a series for five years I would want to shave my hair because I would go bald with all the gum and glue from the bald cap.

I love America. I eagerly became a citizen. I have no bitterness toward those casting directors who dismissed me because of my accent, nor toward the producers and directors who wanted to cast me but thought the audience wouldn't accept my accent. I think they're selling their audience short.

Having shaved my head for the role put a spotlight on me.

I had a growing career as a model and an actress in London - I had starred opposite Michael Caine and Sidney Poitier in 'The Wilby Conspiracy' - but everyone told me to stay in Hollywood. This was the place, they said, and I could have a big career. What they failed to mention was that no one would quite know what to do with me.

You see, being bald and wearing that gray starship uniform, I would have looked like a boy. I wanted to look like a sexy female.

I thought I was very pretty without hair. Naked, more honest somehow. No glamor, just bald old me. I seldom wore wigs or hats. But some people must have thought I was an exhibitionist or a religious fanatic.

If there is an exotic woman it's always a terrorist role.

Everybody told me to stay in Hollywood. This was the place they said I could have a big career. What they failed to mention was that no one would quite know what to do with me.

I arrived in Hollywood and lived much of my life in America, but the fans did not really know me.

One thing about me, as far as my career is concerned, is that I'm very confident. I know I'm good.