Melissa Navia is now well known among Star Trek fans for her character’s memorable line in Season 2 of Strange New Worlds, “I fly the ship!” However, behind the scenes, while shooting the most recent season, Melissa was navigating through the grief of suddenly losing her husband Brian.
Despite the pain she was experiencing, Melissa found strength in talking about her husband’s death and sharing her journey of grief with others.
“It’s a journey that so many of us are on and people say thank you so much for being vulnerable and talking about it. But for me, it is a pleasure and honor to speak about my best friend, my partner, my Brian. Season two was incredibly difficult to film because season one, he was with me 24 seven. And he gave me strength.”
This outpouring of love and support from fans reminded Melissa that she was not alone in her grief and that her words were making a difference in the lives of others.
Melissa also expresses her gratitude for the support she received from her cast, crew, writers, and producers on the set of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. She describes the set as a supportive and creative environment, where she felt like she had found a second family.
In season two of the show, Melissa’s character, Erica Ortegas, continues to captivate audiences.
Season two of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is currently streaming on Paramount Plus.
Catch our full conversation with Melissa here including how she felt playing a knight, how she’d love a Downton Abby/Star Trek crossover and more on how her personal journey continues to be one of celebrating the spirit and memory of her husband, Brian: