Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 24, 1995 TAG: 9501240069
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: IAN SPELLING
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
His character, an ace pilot at Starfleet Academy who lied about a deadly accident and was subsequently expelled, bears a great resemblance to Lt. Tom Paris, the problem-plagued pilot McNeill portrays on ``Voyager.''
So why isn't his ``Voyager'' character named Locarno?
``I think the producers wanted a guy with a similar background but different problems, a different family history,'' the handsome, 30-year-old actor says during a conversation on the ``Voyager'' set in Hollywood.
``Also, Locarno came off as too much of a bad guy and maybe they thought he couldn't be redeemed.
``Paris is different. He's an excellent pilot, basically a good guy from a long line of Starfleet officers who really couldn't handle the pressure put on him to be the next in line.''
Following an accident for which he wasn't at fault, Paris was booted from Starfleet. He joined the Maquis, not because he believed in their cause but because he couldn't resist the thrill of flying their ship.
On his first Maquis mission Paris was captured by Starfleet and imprisoned until Capt. Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) chose him to be her pilot for the Voyager's ill-fated pursuit of the Maquis ship.
And now, stranded at the galaxy's edge, Paris is trying to make the most of his second chance.
His efforts are hampered by the fact that he has a hard time reporting to a female captain. He also must put up with several former Maquis - notably Chakotay (Robert Beltran) and Torres (Roxann Biggs-Dawson) - who consider him a traitor for leading Janeway to them.
``He's going to have to earn people's trust,'' McNeill says. ``Developing relationships with his fellow crew members will definitely take time and it won't be easy, because he's never really been loyal to anyone.
``Though he's rebellious and gets into trouble, ultimately, when he's in a crunch, he does the right thing. That basic premise is the backbone of this character.''
McNeill is hoping that as Paris matures he will become less self-involved and more of a leader.
``He has a lot of leadership traits and can be very charismatic and strong at times, but he has to learn how to work for the group and not so much for himself.''
McNeill, who was born in Raleigh, N.C., and reared in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, got his first taste of acting as a sixth-grader: He played a pioneer in an elementary school pageant about the bicentennial.
Following high school and work in Atlanta community theater, the budding actor moved to Manhattan to attend Juilliard and pursue roles.
Early jobs included a two-year stint on the soap opera ``All My Children'' as well as parts in the sci-fi film ``Masters of the Universe'' (1987), the touring version of the play ``Into the Woods'' and the original Broadway production of ``Six Degrees of Separation.''
1992 was a big year, with McNeill filming his ``Next Gen'' episode, co-starring in the series ``Going to Extremes,'' playing a recurring character on ``Homefront'' and appearing with Connie Selleca in the CBS sitcom ``Second Chances.''
Just prior to ``Voyager,'' McNeill, who lives in Los Angeles with his wife Carol and their two young children, appeared in an off-Broadway play and directed several short films.
Now that he has warped into the ``Trek'' universe as a regular player, his future looks bright.
`` `Star Trek' will be around long after I'm gone,'' McNeill says.
``So to have the opportunity in my lifetime, in my career as an actor, to be a part of this phenomenon, this institution that has been and will be around forever, is great.''
CON CALENDAR Feb. 3-5|
Vulkon at the Hilton in St. Petersburg, Fla., featuring Terry Farrell. (Call 305-434-6060)
Horizon at the Royal Albert Hall in London, featuring the entire ``Next Gen'' cast. (Feb. 4-5 only; 818-841-TREK)
Creation at the Holiday Inn in Fresno, Calif., featuring John de Lancie. (Feb. 4 only; 818-409-0960)
by CNB