Gina Yashere

Born and raised in East London to Nigerian parents, Gina Yashere found her calling on the stand-up comedy stage — and never looked back. She became the first British comedian to appear on Def Comedy Jam, building a devoted following on both sides of the Atlantic before transitioning into television. Her biggest stateside success came as co-creator and star of the acclaimed CBS sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola, which ran for five seasons.

Her most out-of-this-world role, however, lands in the 32nd century. Yashere plays Commander Lura Thok on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy — a half-Klingon, half-Jem’Hadar officer serving as first officer of the USS Athena and the Academy’s formidable cadet master. Assertive, no-nonsense, and utterly commanding, Lura Thok is a character tailor-made for Yashere’s singular voice — and proof that her talents extend well beyond comedy. With the series already renewed for a second season, her time in the Star Trek universe is just getting started.