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The Intriguing World Of Entertainment

Whatever Happened To Chase Masterson, ‘Leeta’ on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine?

By Nick Lee | December 9, 2022

Chase Masterson is actress and singer who is best known for her breakout role as ‘Leeta’ on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. 

Chase Masterson was born Christianne Carafano in Colorado Springs on Feb. 26, 1963. Her father was in the army, so her family moved around a lot.

As a child, she lived in West Haven, CT and Germany. They finally settled in Texas when she was in the 6th grade.

Chase mentions that while growing up she was never known as ‘the pretty girl’, she was more known as the bookish and smart girl. She won spelling bees, got really good grades, but was never popular. She didn’t have her first date until she was 19 years old and she never attended football games or the prom or any of the other high school experiences.

Chase says she grew up around the theater because her mom was an actress and also a theater director and that she did her first play when she was only five years old. She would continue to working in the theater throughout high school and would often work in theater programs at universities. She reveals that she has always wanted to be an actress growing up and that she didn’t necessarily want to become famous or anything, but just a well respected working actress.

Acting Career

Masterson became passionate about acting at an early age. She landed her first major role in 1994 appearing as Ivy Lief on General Hospital. She went on to appear on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine from 1995 playing Bajoran Dabo girl Leeta. 

The actress was fortunate to appear on an episode of ER that went on to win and Emmy. The plot line revolves around George Clooney’s character, Dr. Doug Ross. 

Ross is on his way to a fundraiser after getting off work at the ER when he’s approached by a boy who asks the doctor to save his brother whose stuck in a flooded culvert. He becomes a local hero when a news helicopter films part of the rescue. 

Masterson plays Mrs. Philips in the episode. She is the mother of a patient in the hospital and is part of a side plot to the main story. 

The actress also appeared on an episode called Season’s Greetings on the TV show Sliders. The science fiction and fantasy show followed a group of travelers as they slid between parallel universes via a wormhole. 

In the Season’s Greetings series, the sliders visit a universe in which people are forced to spend excessively at the mall during the holiday season or spend their lives as retail sales slaves. 

In the episode, Masterson plays Kelly, the sister of Wade ( Sabrina Lloyd ), an inadvertent accomplice to the scheme. The sliders must restore the meaning of the holiday and reunite Wade and Kelly with their father. 

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

One of Chase Masterson’s better known roles was that of Leeta on Deep Space Nine.

Chase started on the show as a guest character and her popularity made her into a recurring characters. She was on the show for five season and appeared in 17 episodes.

Leeta was a Barjoran Dabo girl on the Deep Space 9 space station. She was also an amateur sociologist.

She formed deep friendships with many of the station residents. She also dated the character Julian Bashir and then went on to marry Rom, who eventually became Gran Nagus of the Ferengi Alliance. 

Chase mentions that her favorite episodes of DS9 are ‘Far Beyond The Stars’ and ‘Past Tense’.

What is Chase Masterson Doing Now? 

Chase is still very active in the film industry. In 2022, she starred in the movies Takeout and Baby Pact. Masterson is also voicing the title character Auto in the monochrome science movie Je Suis Auto which is scheduled for a 2022 release. 

Conventions

The actress’s Deep Space Nine role makes her a desired guest on many sci-fi and Comic Con conventions. Here are some appearances she has made and will be making: 

Star Trek: Mission Chicago- April 8, 2022

Thy Geekdom Con- Philadelphia, PA- May 27,2022

SWFL Space Con- Fort Myers, IN- June 11, 2022

56 Year Mission- Las Vegas- August 25, 2022

SFW XIII- Virtual- Nov, 10, 2022

Star Trek: The Cruise- Feb, 24, 2022

The Star Trek Cruise will be an especially fun Masterson appearance. Happening from 2/24/23 to 3/3/ 23, ports include Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.

It will sail on the Royal Carribean’s Navigator and the Seas. Fans will have a chance to ‘nerd out’ with a star-studded crew and enjoy dramatic performances, comedies, speaking engagements, concerts, screenings, competitions and more. 

In 2020, Chase Masterson started hosting the Disco Nights: A Star Trek Discovery Podcast . A podcast focusing on discussing Star Trek: Discovery and other modern Star Trek shows.

Ted Talk and Talks at Google

The actress has done her own Ted Talk titled “How to Be More Powerful Than You Can Possibly Imagine. She discusses her experience with online harassment and how it changed her. She also discusses her role as the founder and CEO of Pop Culture Hero Coalition which aims to end bullying, racism, misogyny and other social injustices. 

Masterson also discussed her experiences with stalking and threats and how they led her to start her non-profit on Talks at Google. 

Pop Culture Hero Coalition

In 2013, Chase started the Pop Culture Hero Coalition with author Carrie Goldman to help bring an end to bullying, racism, misogyny and social injustice.

‘We work in schools comic-cons and communities and children’s hospitals, basically teaching empathy and teaching resilience and healthy identity and teaching conflict resolution and the great thing about it is all of these stories that we love are portals to understanding um how to be better humans .’

It uses stories from movies, comics and TV to teach how real-life heroism can overcome bullying and benefit mental health. It follows the ‘Heroic Journey Curriculum’ which encourages a healthy identity, empathy and resilience. 

Homeboy Industries

Chase’s philanthropic work does not stop at her charity. She has also mentored young men and women coming out of gangs in a partnership with Homeboy Industries. She helps them overcome oppression by assisting them in finding jobs, counseling programs, parenting classes and more. 

Other Achievements

In addition to her successful acting career, Masterson is also a singer and live performer. She has released two commercial records, ‘Yesterday Was a Lie’ and ‘Burned With Desire’ and several independent jazz CDs, including ‘Thrill of the Chase’, ‘Ad Astra’ and ‘Jazz Cocktail’.

She also was named Best Feature Film Producer by La Femme Film Festival in 2008 for her work on the mystery/drama, Yesterday Was  Lie. 

Masterson was involved in a lawsuit following a stalking incident. She sued the dating service  Metrosplash (formerly Matchmaker.com) when they refused to move a fictitious profile one of their customers created of her using her home address, telephone number and four photos of her.

The profile caused her to receive a series of unwanted communications. The judge ruled against Masterson stating that the crime was the responsibility of the creator and not the service. 

Family Life

In addition to leading a stellar career, Masterson also has one son, Jeremiah Carafano, who is listed on IMDb as an actor. Although she does not reveal who his father is, she has hinted of a strained relationship in a previous Father’s Day Twitter post. 

Misc Chase Masterson Facts

Chase had her first on screen kiss on Deep Space Nine in the episode ‘Doctor Bashir, I Presume?’. Chase mentions it was her favorite episode to film, partly because she got to work with Robert Picardo , who she called a ‘brilliant actor’.

Chase was a ballet dancer and danced en pointe until she was 18 years old.

Leeta has her own Deep Space Nine action figure. Chase said her fan club started a letter writing campaign to Playmates and they relented and released her own action figure. They have gone on to become a collectors item, as only 30,000 figures were released.

Related Posts:

About Nick Lee

Nick is a Senior Staff Writer for Ned Hardy. Some of his favorite subjects include sci-fi, history, and obscure facts about 90's television. When he's not writing, he's probably wondering how Frank Dux got 52 consecutive knockouts in a single tournament. More from Nick

Chase Masterson

IMDbPro Starmeter See rank

• Contact info

• 1995–1999 • 17 eps
• Annabelle Wagner
• In Development
• Post-production

• Vienna Salvatori
• Axon Vienna
• Vienna Salvatore (voice)

• Vienna Salvatori (voice)

• Leeta (voice)

• Amelia Harper

• Jennifer Becker

• Computer Voice (voice)
• 11 episodes

• Mrs. McDowell

• Captain Connie Garrison

• Karen Jones

• Lieutenant Susan Kelly

• Maddie Price (voice)

• executive producer

• co-producer

• associate producer
• additional writing
• In-development projects at IMDbPro

Personal details

• The Official home on the internet for Chase's Fan Club
• 5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
• February 26
• Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
• Other works TV infomercial for Figure 8 exercise device (1998)
• 3 Interviews
• 2 Pictorials
• 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Did you know

• Trivia Originally auditioned for the role of Jake Sisko's Bajoran girlfriend Mardah on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) . She was one of two actresses up for the role, but lost out because she was considered rather too sexy. The role of Leeta, a Dabo girl, was written with her in mind, but she still had to audition for the role.
• Quotes Acting is such a powerful profession, and a humbling one at the same time.
• Where was Chase Masterson born?
• How tall is Chase Masterson?
• What is Chase Masterson known for?

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Rom & Leeta’s Star Trek Comeback Was “A Dream Come True" For DS9 Actors

• Max Grodénchik and Chase Masterson felt like it was a dream come true to reprise their roles in Star Trek: Lower Decks next to the Cerritos crew.
• Lower Decks episode 6 brought Rom and Leeta back for negotiations, marking a major update on the Ferengi since DS9.
• Grodénchik was emotional about returning as Rom, emphasizing the significance for both himself and the fans.

Star Trek: Lower Decks bringing back Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Rom and Leeta was a "dream come true" for actors Max Grodénchik and Chase Masterson. Lower Decks season 4, episode 6, "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place," brought the USS Cerritos to Ferenginar to negotiate with Grand Nagus Rom and his wife, First Clerk Leeta . Lower Decks delivered the first major update on the Ferengi and the popular Rom and Leeta couple since the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .

Max Grodénchik and Chase Masterson joined a special panel at Virtual Trek Con 5 and spoke to hosts Cirroc Lofton, Ryan T. Husk, and Malissa Longo about Rom and Leeta 's Star Trek: Lower Decks comeback. Grodénchik got a bit emotional about getting an opportunity to play Rom again . Check out his quote and watch the video of the Virtual Trek Con 5 panel below.

It was like a dream come true. I have another shot at exploring this character. It was incredible. What a nice thing. A really nice thing. I try to do a good job, but… yes, it was a big deal to me. I know it’s a big deal to the fans, but it was a big deal to me. I have a little tear coming out of my eye.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Cast & Character Guide

Ds9 actors' reveal their first reactions to rom & leeta's star trek: lower decks comeback, rom and leeta had a great turnaround in the episode.

Max Grodénchik and Chase Masterson were thrilled to return as Rom and Leeta on Star Trek: Lower Decks , but they told Virtual Trek Con that they were confused and apprehensive about how the Ferengi Grand Nagus was being portrayed when they first started reading the script for "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place". Read their quotes below:

Max Grodénchik: I remember not getting all the way through [the script]. Reading the script, I thought, ‘Oh my God, they’re making Rom and Leeta look awful… The first part was very weird to me, like they were against Rom and Leeta. But then, at the end, everything works out and we see that… There was a turnaround, and I really enjoyed that.

Chase Masterson: I was kind of freaked out when I read it. [I was like] wait a second, how are you portraying Rom? Because he’s brilliant and wonderful, and this is like, you know, not. And the turnaround was really important.

Of course, upon continuing reading the script, both Max and Chase realized what Star Trek: Lower Decks was really doing by portraying Rom and Leeta as shrewd negotiators testing Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) and Admiral Vassery's (Fred Tatasciore) understanding of and respect for Ferengi culture. By the end of Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 6, Grand Nagus Rom and First Clerk Leeta made Star Trek history by negotiating Ferenginar's entry into the United Federation of Planets - a triumph for the husband and wife team of Rom and Leeta.

Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine are available to stream on Paramount+.

Source: Virtual Trek Con

Cast Cirroc Lofton, Rene Auberjonois, Nicole de Boer, Michael Dorn, Nana Visitor, Avery Brooks, Colm Meaney, Armin Shimerman, Alexander Siddig

Streaming Service(s) Paramount+

Franchise(s) Star Trek

Showrunner Ira Steven Behr, Michael Piller

Star Trek: Lower Decks Continues One Of Deep Space Nine's Greatest Subplots

This article contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks."

Talk about rags to riches. Once considered a blight on "Star Trek" with their introduction in "The Next Generation," the Ferengi have come a long way since an inauspicious appearance that even veteran "Trek" actor Armin Shimerman once called a "disaster."  Originally conceived as an alien species that would pose a Klingon-like threat, the distinctive and prominently earlobed characters received a much-needed overhaul throughout "Deep Space Nine," where they were reimagined as a more comedic, profit-hungry, and staunchly capitalist society that functioned as a dark reflection of everything that the " socialist utopia " of Starfleet stands for. That's what makes it all the more meaningful that "Lower Decks" has now dedicated an entire episode to the fan-favorite Ferengi and, more importantly, the post-"Deep Space Nine" whereabouts of their newest leader, Rom.

Episode 6, cheekily titled "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place," gives fans the "Deep Space Nine" reunion we've all been waiting for. Sent to the Ferengi homeworld of Ferenginar on a diplomatic mission to accept their potential addition to the Federation, Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) takes the co-pilot seat on negotiations with the Grand Negus Rom (voiced by Max Grodénchik, reprising his original role from "Deep Space Nine") and his Bajoran wife Leeta (also voiced by a returning Chase Masterson). For many, this represents one of the all-time funniest and most surprisingly heartfelt subplots from "Deep Space Nine," as fans watched the bumbling Ferengi and the former "dabo girl" make an unlikely romantic pairing. By the series finale, Rom had ascended the ranks to the station of the ultimate Ferengi leader, Grand Nagus.

Rom's appointment alongside Leeta marked the beginning of a new, more progressive era on Ferenginar, which "Lower Decks" homages as only it can.

The true art of the deal

Traditionally speaking, Ferengi are shamelessly selfish, unbearably arrogant, and obsessively materialistic creatures — which is exactly why they're so easy to love. Arguably the best of them all ( other than Quark, of course ), however, Rom defied the conventions and expectations of his own people and forged his own path altogether. A doting father to his son Nog (the late Aron Eisenberg), a genuinely hard worker, and someone who learned to appreciate his own worth, Rom underwent one of the most dramatic character arcs of anyone on "Deep Space Nine" with the help of his love, Leeta. Together, they eventually became one of the show's most fun relationships and left fans with a world of possibilities over how they would spend their time after the credits rolled on "Deep Space Nine."

We finally received that answer in the latest episode of "Lower Decks," which picks up with the two ushering in an unprecedented enrollment with Starfleet ... in their own way, of course. The script, written by Ben Waller, mines all sorts of laughs out of a classic "Dumb cop, reasonable cop routine" that opens Starfleet up to the Ferengi's more typical nickel-and-diming schemes to reshape their application to the Federation as they see fit. Playing up Rom's sheer lack of business acumen, Leeta hilariously leverages the situation to their advantage — all while Rom fixates on a baseball, a perfect callback to one of the most enduring "Trek" episodes ever . When Carol Freeman pulls off a vintage Ferengi swindle of her own at the last minute, citing a Rule of Acquisition as she does so, she finally wins over the true admiration of Rom, Leeta, and the Ferengi at large.

By paying tribute to the Ferengi, "Lower Decks" celebrates yet another "Trek" highlight.

'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Creator Talks Bringing Back 'Deep Space Nine's Rom and Leeta

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Jenna Coleman Is a Detective Caught in a Trap in 'The Jetty' Trailer

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This article contains spoilers for Episode 6 of Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4.

The Big Picture

• Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4, Episode 6 brings Ferenginar's application to join the Federation, featuring Rom and Leeta from Deep Space Nine .
• Series creator Mike McMahan expresses excitement about exploring Ferenginar's path toward joining the Federation and nods to Nog's experience.
• McMahan brings actor Chase Masterson, who treated him with kindness years ago, onto the show as a way to repay that kindness and honor her Deep Space Nine character.

The latest episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks titled "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place" sees the money-driven planet Ferenginar officially applying to join the federation under the careful guidance of Captain Carol Freeman ( Dawnn Lewis ). With such a momentous occasion, naturally Lower Decks brought in some beloved characters from Deep Space Nine for a special role in this episode. Grand Nagus Rom ( Max Grodénchick ) and his wife Leeta ( Chase Masterson ) go head to head with the captain in classic Ferengi fashion (though Leeta is Bajoran) making for a hilarious episode filled with all sorts of hijinks — and plenty of baseball references.

Ahead of the new episode, I sat down with series creator Mike McMahan to chat about the new season including this delightful guest appearance. When asked about what he's most impressed with getting to do in Season 4, McMahan teased a big swing for the finale, but more immediately he was thrilled to be able to bring back Rom and Leeta and explore this path with Ferenginar. He said:

"I love that we got to go to Ferenginar and say that this was the beginning—this is what happens this week, now that you’ve seen it obviously—that we see the first steps into the Federation of Ferenginar applying to join the Federation. It feels like a nod to Nog’s experience, that Rom’s seeing what Nog experienced, and having had his time on Deep Space Nine that he would have as he went in to be the Grand Nagus—god, I’m hearing how nerdy I am as I’m saying this, but anyway—that he's seen the value to other Ferengi being a part of the Federation. I think it's really cool that we got to do that, even though it's kind of a small piece of it."

McMahan Repays a Personal Kindness on 'Star Trek: Lower Decks'

On a more personal note, McMahan shared a story from over a decade ago in which actors Chase Masterson and Wil Wheaton treated him as an equal before he'd really made a name for himself in the world of Star Trek . Bringing Masterson on for this episode was one small way that McMahan felt he could return that kindness from years ago. He said:

"I've also wanted to work with Chase Masterson forever. I met her when I was an assistant in, like, 2011 when I was writing the TNG Season 8 Twitter feed. I snuck into a party at Comic-Con, and security came to kick me out, and Wil Wheaton and Chase vouched for me and said that I was there with them even though they had literally met me like five minutes beforehand. But Will was a fan of the Twitter feed, and Chase, you know, I'm a huge fan of hers, and she treated me like an equal, and I was just an assistant that snuck in. Years later, I re-met her at Star Trek Day after Lower Decks had already started, and I went running up to her, and I was like, 'Chase, I'm the showrunner of Lower Decks, and I need to have you in an episode. Please, will you be on the show?' And she was so flattered, and I literally wrote this Ferenginar episode to have her be in the show. So I kind of can't believe that, like, over a decade later, I finally got to repay that kindness in a way that honored the character that she made that I loved her for."

You can catch Masterson in Episode 6 of Lower Decks Season 4 right now on Paramount+. Stay tuned at Collider for our full conversation with McMahan.

• Star Trek: Lower Decks

Screen Rant

Star trek: ds9's leeta was named for rom actor's real life girlfriend.

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10 Weirdest Star Trek: DS9 Love Stories

I can’t believe that we’re now living in a star trek: ds9 episode, star trek: ds9 almost made a big change to 2 tng characters.

• Leeta from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was named after Max Grodénchik's real-life girlfriend, Lolita Fatjo, who worked on the show as a writing assistant and convention booker.
• Rom and Leeta's romantic relationship on the show may have been inspired by Grodénchik and Fatjo's real-life relationship.
• Leeta and Rom's relationship progressed quickly, with their marriage happening after a brief courtship. They remained together even after Rom became Grand Nagus.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Leeta (Chase Masterson) was named after the real-life girlfriend of Max Grodénchik, who played the hapless Ferengi Rom. Quark's (Armin Shimerman) brother, Rom, and Bajoran Dabo girl Leeta made an unlikely couple among the characters on Deep Space Nine , who still found themselves perfectly matched. Leeta wasn't necessarily always destined to be Rom's romantic partner since Rom and Leeta connected as friends and co-workers at Quark's Bar before becoming romantically involved with one another, but the off-screen connection between Grodénchik and Leeta's namesake may have been an inspiration to pair Rom and Leeta.

Prior to discussing Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 1, episode 8, "The Passenger", on The Delta Flyers podcast, co-host Armin Shimerman eagerly recognized the upcoming birthday of Lolita Fatjo, a Star Trek writing assistant and Grodénchik's girlfriend during production. Read his quote below, and listen to The Delta Flyers starting at the 3:30 timestamp.

Lolita Fatjo was a writing assistant for Deep Space Nine, and I'm assuming for Voyager as well, and she had a secondary career as our booker for conventions. She dated [Rom actor] Max [Grodénchik] for a couple of years as well ... while we were making the show. It's not a coincidence that the girl Rom marries is called Leeta.

Some love stories in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine were so weird that they worked brilliantly, while other weird DS9 romances are best left forgotten.

So Were Rom and Leeta Always Endgame On Star Trek: DS9?

It depends on which came first: leeta's name or lolita's relationship..

If Leeta was named for Lolita Fatjo because of the connection to Max Grodénchik and his Star Trek: Deep Space Nine character, Rom, it makes sense that Leeta and Rom would become a romantic couple, but Rom wasn't Leeta's only love interest. Prior to Rom and Leeta's romantic pairing, Leeta dated Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) in a relationship that lasted from DS9 season 3, episode 22 "Explorers", until DS9 season 5, episode 7, "Let He Who Is Without Sin...". Leeta was already interested in Rom before breaking up with Julian, so Rom and Leeta's relationship moved quickly, with their marriage taking place after a very brief courtship.

Leeta and Rom were still together after Rom became Grand Nagus, as a visit to Ferenginar shows in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 6, "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place".

It's possible that Leeta was named for Lolita Fatjo without any consideration of romantic connections. The names of production staff members have served as inspiration for proper names in the universe of Star Trek before , such as the Bolian race taking its name from frequent director Cliff Bole, and Dr. Lewis Zimmerman (Robert Picardo), named for production designer Herman Zimmerman. If DS9 's Leeta is simply another one of these cases, then Leeta and Rom's relationship on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine may have been inspired by Fatjo and Grodénchik becoming a couple, instead of the other way around.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is streaming on Paramount+.

Source: The Delta Flyers , season 9, episode 8 "The Passenger"

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Lower Decks Season 4 Promises the Return of a Classic Deep Space Nine Couple

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Why This Smallville Character Arc Still Bothers Fans

James gunn's dcu is finally fixing a 13-year-old green lantern mistake, house of the dragon's new hand of the king is the worst in westeros' history.

Star Trek: Lower Decks prides itself on embracing the various supporting figures from earlier Star Trek shows. The animated series typically brings back ensigns and underlings for a curtain call, as well as an update on their status in Starfleet or elsewhere. Sonya Gomez, for example, captains her own ship in Season 2, Episode 10, "First First Contact." This comes after she famously spilled hot chocolate on Captain Picard as a lowly ensign in Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, Episode 16, "Q Who."

Of all such characters, however, none rose higher in the Star Trek universe than Rom and Leeta, the erstwhile employees of Quark's bar from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . They fell in love on the eve of The Dominion War, and departed the space station at the end of the series after Rom was named Grand Nagus, the de facto ruler of The Ferengi Alliance. The trailer for Lower Decks Season 4 promises to check in on them, and may provide a telling glimpse of how much things have changed on Ferenginar since they arrived.

RELATED: Boimler and Mariner Didn't Actually Change Strange New Worlds' Timeline

Leeta and Rom Were Deep Space Nine's Star-Crossed Lovers

Rom is Quark's long-suffering brother, a failure at business who works as a repairman and waiter in his sibling's bar. Leeta works there as a dabo girl, which is an attractive woman (of various species) paid to wear a tight dress and distract the players from the game. Both of them creep into Star Trek: Deep Space Nine on little cat's feet, with Rom present more or less as a background character in the series premiere. Leeta also first appears as Doctor Bashir's romantic interest in Season 3, Episode 22, "Explorers." They fall in love and get engaged during the series' fifth season, as The Dominion plans an invasion of The Alpha Quadrant : making them de facto stand-ins for ordinary people caught up in a much larger conflict.

In true Lower Decks fashion , both are much more than they seem. Leeta is an amateur sociologist and her time at the dabo table makes her an astute observer of human nature. While Rom is a terrible financier, he's a brilliant engineer, eventually quitting Quark's and joining the Bajoran militia where he excels. Indeed, he quietly saves the entire Alpha Quadrant in Season 5, Episode 26, "Call to Arms" by conceiving the self-replicating mines to seal off the wormhole from the invaders. He's also uncommonly kind for a Ferengi, which may be why Leeta finds him so attractive. He supports his son Nog joining Starfleet and adores his mother Moogie, who's busy undermining the Ferengi's systemic misogyny.

That makes them both the effective rulers of The Ferengi Alliance in Season 7, Episode 24, "The Dogs of War," as Moogie marries the existing Grand Nagus Zek and convinces him to step aside in favor of Rom. The show also suggests that big changes are coming with them. Rom possesses a text -- written by Zek under the influence of the wormhole Prophets in Season 3, Episode 16, "Prophet Motive" -- that's basically the Ferengi version of The Communist Manifesto . With Rom now ruling the Alliance, his species' predatory capitalism may be in for a systemic shock.

RELATED: Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds Crossover Embraces All Eras of Star Trek

Lower Decks Reveals Leeta and Rom as Ferenginar's Power Couple

The couple is slated to return in Lower Decks Season 4 , and trailer speaks volumes about them despite just a second or two of screen time. It depicts a blissful Rom swinging the Grand Nagus's cane like Johnny Carson with a golf club while Leeta stands behind him with a datapad and a knowing smile. The former is the face, the latter the brains, and with the Bajoran clearly in a powerful position, Ferenginar's systemic sexism has already started to crumble.

Lower Decks will doubtless reveal more details about how The Alliance has changed with a reform-minded former waiter on the throne. But their very presence on the series continues the show's wonderful tradition of giving supporting characters their proper due. None climbed so high from such humble roots as these two.

Season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks premieres Sept. 7, 2023 on Paramount+.

• Star Trek: Lower Decks

Memory Beta, non-canon Star Trek Wiki

A friendly reminder regarding spoilers ! At present the expanded Trek universe is in a period of major upheaval with the continuations of Discovery and Prodigy , the advent of new eras in gaming with the Star Trek Adventures RPG , Star Trek: Infinite and Star Trek Online , as well as other post-57th Anniversary publications such as the ongoing IDW Star Trek comic and spin-off Star Trek: Defiant . Therefore, please be courteous to other users who may not be aware of current developments by using the {{ spoiler }}, {{ spoilers }} OR {{ majorspoiler }} tags when adding new information from sources less than six months old (even if it is minor info). Also, please do not include details in the summary bar when editing pages and do not anticipate making additions relating to sources not yet in release. THANK YOU

• Memory Beta articles sourced from novels
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Leeta (mirror)

• 1.1 Mirror rebellion
• 1.2 25th century
• 2.1 Connections
• 2.2.1 Appearances
• 2.2.2 References
• 2.3 External links

Biography [ ]

Leeta was a member of the Terran Rebellion during the 2370s decade . In the year 2375 , she was stationed on Terok Nor . Miles O'Brien instructed her to "debrief" Ezri Dax , following the Terran Rebellion 's defeat of Regent Worf , which Leeta apparently took literally. When the Rom of the primary universe told her "we're married!", she gave him a disgusted look and sneered, "I don't think so...!".

Like Ezri and Intendant Kira Nerys , Leeta seemed to prefer female companionship, and she displayed an attraction to Ezri. ( DS9 episode : " The Emperor's New Cloak ")

Mirror rebellion [ ]

In one permutation of the mirror universe, Leeta married Ezri in late 2375, although the couple waited some time before announcing their marriage. ( DS9 - Mirror Universe novel : Saturn's Children )

Leeta occasionally referred to Ezri by the affectionate nickname "Zee". ( DS9 novel : The Soul Key )

Unlike her primary universe counterpart, Leeta did not grow up in an orphanage. She knew both of her parents, who routinely called her and attempted to persuade her to return to Bajor . She always turned them down, saying that the Rebellion needed her. Her father was a member of the Chamber of Ministers and was concerned that Leeta's activities in the rebellion would severely affect his chances of re-election. ( DS9 - Mirror Universe novel : Saturn's Children )

In January 2377 , Smiley sent the Defiant under Leeta's command to negotiate with the Talarian Republic in an attempt to create a pact against the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance . Leeta was able to convince the Talarians to aid the Rebellion and Endar led his people in a battle with the Alliance at Terok Nor .

During the battle, Leeta briefly conversed with her wife's primary universe counterpart, Lieutenant Ezri Dax aboard the USS Defiant , which had crossed over from that universe via the Bajoran wormhole . She wondered whether that Ezri was married to her own primary universe counterpart . ( DS9 novel : The Soul Key )

In 2378 , Leeta was one of the many casualties of the Memory Omega led attack on the SoHcha shipyards . Her death threw Ezri into a deep state of depression which lasted for several weeks.

After the victory of the Terran Rebellion later that year, O'Brien mourned Leeta's death. ( ST - Mirror Universe novel : Rise Like Lions )

25th century [ ]

Captain Leeta in 2409 .

Admiral Leeta in 2410

In another permutation of the mirror universe, the Terran Rebellion reestablished the Terran Empire and reoccupied Bajor. By 2409 , Leeta, now a captain in the Imperial Starfleet , was placed in command of Terran forces in Bajor sector and the starship ISS Fortuna . She was contacted by Gul Kardek , a senior member of the primary universe's True Way , about a possible alliance. ( STO - Cardassian Struggle mission : " Spoils of War ")

A starship from the primary universe discovered the True Way's portal into the mirror universe while attempting to recover the Orb of Possibilities . While trying to return it to the mirror universe and recover the version belonging to the primary universe, they were intercepted in the Badlands by Leeta's fleet, but destroyed her escorts and forced the Fortuna into retreat.

Arriving on Bajor, the primary universe crew was again accosted by Imperial ground forces led by Leeta, as well as Kardek, who turned out to be a changeling , but drove her off and captured Kardek before being returned to the primary universe by the Prophets . ( STO - Cardassian Struggle missions : " Spoils of War ", " Jabberwocky ")

In 2410 , Leeta, now promoted to admiral , led a Terran invasion of the primary universe after the Iconian War . The Terrans brought the entire Terok Nor station into the primary universe to attack Deep Space 9 , but a determined Alpha Quadrant Alliance counterattack ended in the defeat of her forces, while Alliance boarding parties penetrated Terok Nor and destroyed the technology used to transport the station. ( STO - Future Proof missions : " Counterpoint ", " Assault on Terok Nor ")

Following the departure of Wesley Crusher with C'qer , V'ger and Ilia , Leeta donned the Imperial crown and outfit. She was supported by the Inquisitor and Kathryn Janeway , Marshal of the Terran Empire. Empress Leeta and her allies set their eyes on the Borg .

Appendices [ ]

Connections [ ], appearances and references [ ], appearances [ ].

• ST novel : Dark Passions, Book One
• DS9 episode : " The Emperor's New Cloak "
• DS9 - Mirror Universe novel : Saturn's Children
• DS9 - Mirror Universe short story : " A Terrible Beauty "
• DS9 novel : The Soul Key
• ST - Mirror Universe novel : Rise Like Lions
• STO - Cardassian Struggle mission : " Spoils of War "
• STO - Cardassian Struggle mission : " Jabberwocky "
• STO : Future Proof
• STO - Future Proof mission : " Counterpoint "
• STO - Future Proof mission : " Assault on Terok Nor "
• STO - Future Proof mission : " Badlands Battlezone "
• ST video game : Timelines
• STO - Terran Gambit mission : " Firewall "
• STO - Terran Gambit mission : " Operation: Wolf "
• STO - Terran Gambit mission : " Red Shift "
• STO - Terran Gambit mission : " Blue Shift "
• STO - Terran Gambit mission : " The Fujiwhara Effect "

References [ ]

• ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 STO - New Dawn mission : " Message from Another Universe ".
• ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 ST - Mirror Universe novel : Rise Like Lions .
• ↑ 3.0 3.1 Coda novel : Oblivion's Gate .
• ↑ DS9 episode : " The Emperor's New Cloak ".
• ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 STO - Terran Gambit mission : " The Fujiwhara Effect ".
• ↑ STO - Cardassian Struggle mission : " Jabberwocky ".

External links [ ]

• Leeta (mirror) article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
• Leeta (mirror) article at The Star Trek Online Wiki .
• Mirror Leeta article at the ST video game : Timelines wiki.
• 1 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
• 2 USS Voyager (NCC-74656-A)
• 3 Lamarr class

• I.S.S. Enterprise
• Bajoran NPCs
• Non-player characters
• Information givers
• Season Eleven: New Dawn
• Terran Empire NPCs

Leeta (mirror)

• VisualEditor

Admiral Leeta is the Bajoran leader of the Terran Empire and the Mirror Universe counterpart to Leeta . She commands the I.S.S. Fortuna and, later, the I.S.S. Enterprise . She becomes Empress of the Terran Empire following the defeat of Emperor Crusher in 2411 .

• 1 Missions involved
• 2 Missions mentioned
• 3 Other involvement
• 6 External links

Missions involved [ | ]

• “Spoils of War” : The player discovers a message from Captain Leeta to Gul Kardek of the True Way , revealing that she has been considering assisting the True Way against the Federation .
• “Jabberwocky” : Captain Leeta hails the player in the Badlands of the Mirror Universe. The player wins the battle, but Leeta escapes in the Fortuna . The player later encounters Leeta on mirror- Bajor , but she escapes once again.
• “Counterpoint” : Using the Orb of Possibilities , Leeta, now an Admiral, transports mirror-Terok Nor over to the prime universe.
• “Assault on Terok Nor” : After boarding mirror-Terok Nor and defeating Leeta, she beams out and the player retrieves the Orb of Possibilities, thereby returning Terok Nor to its universe.
• Badlands Battlezone : Admiral Leeta commands the Enterprise during the final engagement in the Badlands.

Missions mentioned [ | ]

• “Storm Clouds Gather” : Leeta discusses her mirror universe counterpart.
• “Quark's Lucky Seven” : Starfleet intelligence logs state that they hope Admiral Leeta's recent lack of activity shows she has given up attacking the prime universe.

Other involvement [ | ]

• “Message from Another Universe I” : The player discovers a log entry recorded by Leeta. In it, Leeta reveals that she was not well-respected early in her career with the Empire, until the Orb of Possibilities was returned. Through the Orb, she discovered the Pah-wraiths , who gave her the strength she needed to take power. After that, time travelers from the future provided the Empire with weapons powerful enough to defeat the Iconians . Leeta says she does not trust these time travelers, but that she may be able to use them.
• “Message from Another Universe II” : The player discovers a log entry recorded by Leeta. In it, she reveals that the visitors from the future, in an effort to ensure their timeline comes to pass, are sharing their technology with the Terran Empire. Leeta insists on the I.S.S. Enterprise being the first vessel outfitted; after that, the advanced technology will be provided to those who prove their loyalty.
• “Message from Another Universe III” : The player discovers a log entry recorded by Leeta. There has been much infighting within the Terran fleet as its Captains align themselves with either Leeta or the Emperor. Leeta is confident that she will prevail, and vows to attack the Iconians once she has seized power.
• “Message from Another Universe IV” : The player discovers a log entry recorded by Leeta. She shares her believe that her benefactors from the future are withholding weaponry which the Terrans may use against them, but she believes she has more than enough weaponry to maintain control of the fleet. She has also equipped the fleet with temporal shielding to protect it from changes to the timeline in advance of their attack on the Iconians, and plans to use "malfunctions" in the shielding to deal with disloyal captains.
• “Message from Another Universe V” : The player discovers a final log entry recorded by Leeta. She reveals that her forces were able to destroy the Iconians 200,000 years in the past, and that the Pah-Wraiths have given her visions of an alternate universe. She intends to conquer this universe and plot the Emperor's destruction from there.
• "Counterpoint" (blog) : Admiral Leeta records a brief blog entry as she prepares to expand the Empire beyond the confines of her universe.
• "Aftershocks" : After returning to the Mirror Universe following her latest defeat, Admiral Leeta receives orders from the Emperor to surrender command of the Enterprise to Commander Jarok. Before she and her crew can make their escape, the Enterprise is attacked by the I.S.S. Pastak, along with the Tempus and Poh; however, Leeta is able to transmit a secret code which disables the vessels and allows the Enterprise to destroy the Pastak, after which the other vessels pledge their loyalty to Leeta. She prepares to find new allies, using information downloaded from New Khitomer in the other universe.
• Infiltrate and Destroy in Operation: Wolf! : With renewed aggressions from the Mirror universe , and the windfall of a surprising new ally against the Terran Empire , Starfleet is conducting training simulations of a commando raid on the Mirror Universe Earth Spacedock to ensure its officers are well disciplined in performing counter-Terran operations. In order to do so, Admiral Jorel Quinn confers with Admiral Leeta to discuss their simulation perameters.

Gallery [ | ]

Leeta on the bridge of the Enterprise

Promotional image for Season 11: New Dawn, featuring Leeta

Chase Masterson recording lines for Mirror Leeta

See also [ | ]

• Holo Admiral Leeta Tactical Officer , a photonic Bridge Officer based on Mirror Leeta

External links [ | ]

• Leeta (mirror) at Memory Alpha , the Star Trek Wiki.
• Leeta (mirror) at Memory Beta , the non-canon Star Trek Wiki.
• 1 Obelisk Carrier
• 3 Phoenix Redemption Store

• More to Explore
• Series & Movies

Published Apr 19, 2018

Masterson Talks Reprising Leeta

Star Trek Online , the free-to-play online role-playing game based in the iconic Star Trek universe, is thrilled to reunite 12 of the original cast members from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine for the new PC expansion, Victory is Life . Joining the crew aboard the infamous space station is Chase Masterson, reprising the role of Leeta, former Bajoran Dabo girl and wife to Ferenginar’s Grand Nagus, Rom. The Star Trek Online team had a chance to sit down with Chase after her recording session at Cryptic Studios to talk about her return to the game -- Captains may remember her as Mirror Universe Leeta in Season 11: New Dawn --  and the incredible work she’s been doing with her anti-bullying organization, Pop Culture Hero Coalition.

STO: Welcome back to Star Trek Online , Chase. Thank you for joining us. What is it like returning to the character of Leeta to see how she’s grown?

Chase Masterson: I really value the opportunity to do this. Part of the reason why is that I get to show a really more mature Leeta. I get to walk in the shoes of a woman who has been in charge of an entire empire with Rom, for nearly 20 years now. She’s someone who has definitely grown and come into her own. That was something I felt like I really wanted to do for a long time now. We saw quite a lot of that on the show, but here we see a Leeta who has grown into her own shoes.  She’s become an intelligent woman, a strategic thinker who is still very much adoring of her husband, but is able to walk beside him in a way that is extremely valuable.

STO: One of the interesting things about the character of Leeta is that she started off as more of a comic relief figure and then grew over the course of Deep Space Nine . What was it like playing a role like that?

It was really interesting because a lot of people did see Leeta as eye candy. I’m grateful to say that she was in all the sweeps week episodes in that catsuit, and I think that was certainly one of the reasons why. But you have to credit our amazing writing team under the direction of Ira Behr for her growth and René Echevarria, who created Leeta; she was never just a Dabo girl, she was never just eye candy and they always had more of a vision for her than that. They had a vision of a woman who was very compassionate and knew how to stand up for justice.

This is a woman who was more than what she looked like. That is such a Star Trek message. It’s what Leeta sees in Rom. He’s not just a book you can judge by his cover, he’s so much more. And that speaks to us in a way that is very important. We are not just what the world sometimes sees, we are so much more. It’s a very solid message of being a hero for yourself and other people.

STO: Even after all these years, Deep Space Nine still resonates with so many. Why do you think that is?

Ira Behr told us during our fifth season that he thought this was a show that was going to get more popular with time, rather than less. Now that shows can be streamed, people can watch the show in a way that is not as haphazard as it was before. Deep Space Nine was so groundbreaking in terms of it being one of the first serialized shows on television and that’s very much thanks to Michael Piller and of course, Ira Behr. I think this may have intimated fans initially. The show trusted its audience but also demanded a lot. We wanted you to get immersed in the storyline so you tune in every day. Now that’s possible and we see new audiences every day.

STO: Today you were one of the first to check out the Deep Space Nine space station in our new expansion, Victory is Life . What did you think?

First of all, Quark’s Bar is just amazing. I want to just go there, and damn it, I want to play Dabo! I want to be one of the players. It’s just such a fun place to be. The atmosphere is perfect. I can hear the music as you take me down that promenade. It just feels like home.

STO: Is it weird seeing Deep Space Nine as a fully realized 3D space?

It really is. When we did the show, we really couldn’t just walk around Deep Space Nine , because part of it was on Stage 4 and some of it was on Stage 7. It was always in pieces for us. This is actually the most cohesive look at Deep Space Nine . This is the answer when fans ask if there will be a Deep Space Nine movie. Unfortunately not, but this is in place of it. The continuation of these stories, it’s really incredible.

STO: We wanted to ask you about the anti-bullying organization you started, Pop Culture Hero Coalition. Can you tell us a little more about how you got started?

I heard about a little girl who was bullied for liking Star Wars . She was a little girl in Evanston, Illinois and the boys were following her around school saying “You can’t like Star Wars , you’re a girl.” Her mom Carrie Goldman asked if any women who like Star Wars or science could encourage her daughter. Hundreds of us responded telling her, “I love science. I love science fiction. Katie, you be you.” I was one of the ones who responded and so we kept in touch.

Carrie decided to write a book to end bullying because she saw what a huge issue it was. It’s called “Bullied: What Every Parent, Teacher and Kid Needs To Know About Ending the Cycle of Fear” and I highly recommend it. She asked me to help get her book into Comic Con and that’s when it all came together for me. I said, “Yes, let’s get it into Comic Con, but let’s do more. Let’s form a coalition to get every fan of Star Wars, Star Trek and all the other genres together with social justice organizations and end bullying.” So forming this intersection between pop culture and social justice, leading people to be the heroes we see on screen is what it’s all about.

We are working with clinical psychologists to create anti-bullying curriculum for schools, which we anticipate piloting in the fall of 2018. We’re working with some fantastic organizations that are helping us base it on evidence. So this is not just ideas, this is solid psychological exercises that we’re working on. People are saying we’re already making a difference, that we’re already saving lives.

STO: Do you have any messages for those who have experienced bullying firsthand?

First off, I want to say to you and anyone else out there, if you were ever bullied, it was never your fault, ever. Not a bit of it. It’s true and it’s really very important to always keep that in mind. Quite frankly, bullying always comes out of the pain of the other person. The minute you see someone being mean to someone else, you know it’s because of fear and insecurity. They need some momentary feeling of power but it’s not real power. Compassion and empathy is power. That’s where our real capabilities to be human come in.

STO: Thank you so much for joining us, Chase. It’s been such a pleasure.

I’m really grateful to be here. You guys are doing amazing work. Thanks for continuing our stories.

Star Trek Online: Victory is Life, will launch on PC in June and later on consoles. To download and play Star Trek Online today for free, visit www.playstartrekonline.com .

Join Chase Masterson aboard Star Trek: The Cruise III . Click here to enter to win a six-day cruise to the Caribbean alongside Star Trek ’s most-popular stars.

To learn how you can support the Pop Culture Hero Coalition, please visit http://www.popculturehero.org/ .

Star Trek Online is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online game where players can pioneer their own destiny as Captain of a Federation starship, become a Klingon Warrior and champion the Empire through the far reaches of the galaxy, or rebuild the Romulan legacy as the commander of a Romulan Republic Warbird. In Star Trek Online, players have the opportunity to visit iconic locations from the popular Star Trek universe, reach out to unexplored star systems and make contact with new alien species. Star Trek Online is currently available on PC, PlayStation4 and Xbox One.

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• Mirror Universe

Leeta (mirror)

Leeta was a Bajoran working with the Terran Resistance Forces on Terok Nor in 2375 .

Following the Terran Rebellion 's defeat of Regent Worf , "Smiley" O'Brien instructed her to "debrief" Ezri Tigan , which Leeta apparently took literally. When Rom told her " We're married ! ", she gave him a disgusted look and sneered, " I don't think so...! ". Like Ezri and the Intendant , Leeta seemed to prefer female companionship. ( DS9 : " The Emperor's New Cloak ")

• 1.1 Background
• 1.2 Apocrypha
• 1.3 External links

Appendices [ ]

Background [ ].

Leeta was played by Chase Masterson . She commented: " I absolutely loved playing mirror Leeta because she is so deliciously evil. She would eat the Borg Queen for breakfast and come back for seconds. She is ruthless and selfish and everything regular Leeta is not. It is really fun to get into that character and to realize the depth in that people are only that vicious and selfish out of fear. So, it really is a multi-layered character that is fun to get into ". [1]

Apocrypha [ ]

Leeta has appeared in the novels Dark Passions , Saturn's Children , The Soul Key , and Rise Like Lions (in which she was killed aboard the ISS Defiant ), as well as the short story " A Terrible Beauty ".

The mirror Leeta also features prominently in the computer game Star Trek Online , voiced by Chase Masterson. Depicted to be an opportunistic captain of the reborn Terran Empire , Leeta collaborates with the True Way in an effort to invade the prime universe and conquer the Federation . In later missions, she is promoted to the rank of Admiral and commands the ISS Enterprise , the mirror counterpart to the USS Enterprise -F. Admiral Leeta commands the Terran forces of the "Temporal Liberation Front" at the Battle of Procyon V , and leads boarding parties onto the USS Enterprise -J to disable the Tox Uthat before it can be used to destroy the Sphere-Builders ' command sphere. When she is defeated by the player character, she abandons her "allies" and returns to her Enterprise , escaping back to the mirror universe. She later returns in the "Reflections" story in September 2021 as a defector from the Empire, intending on warning the expanded "Khitomer Alliance" about the as-yet unidentified Terran Emperor's intention of using a frightening super weapon that could destroy both the prime and mirror universes (later revealed in the "Terran Gambit" storyline released in 2022 to be "the Other", the mirror universe's version of V'ger ). In the mission "The Calling", released in May 2022, she retakes control of the ISS Enterprise from the mirror counterpart of the Lukari captain Kuumaarke, and joins with the Alliance.

In the mission "The Eye of the Storm", released in September 2022, Leeta joins an Alliance fleet that crosses into the mirror universe to engage the Terran fleet, led by the Emperor (revealed to be the mirror counterpart of Wesley Crusher ). When the Emperor's flagship, the Acheron (a battleship based on the ISS Charon ), disables the Alliance fleet and enters "the Other", Leeta gives chase, having willingly allowed a Pah-wraith to possess her in order to stop Crusher, who seeks to use "the Other" to become a god and wage war upon all universes, starting with the prime universe. The Pah-wraith abandons her out of fear of the combined powers of the Emperor and "the Other", but Leeta convinces "the Inquisitor", the mirror counterpart of the player character, to turn on the fanatical Captain Sylvia Tilly , killing her. The mission "The Fujiwhara Effect", released in January 2023, ends with Leeta becoming the new Empress of the Terran Empire after Emperor Crusher is deposed by the Alliance, aided by the Inquisitor and Marshal Kathryn Janeway .

External links [ ]

• Leeta (mirror) at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Leeta (mirror) at the Star Trek Online Wiki
• 1 Daniels (Crewman)
• 3 World War III