Happy Birthday to our favorite ship's counselor Marina Sirtis. I wonder if she knew that we were going to say that... According to Memory Alpha, Marina was born this day in 1955 in the London Borough of Hackney to Greek parents who initially did not want her to pursue a career in acting. She trained at the Royal Shakespeare Company, affiliated with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, to which she had to apply in secret so her parents would not find out. Once she earned a name for herself in the theater, she went on to television. Having grown up in London, she became a huge soccer fan (her brother plays the sport in Greece), and a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Interestingly enough, Marina originally auditioned for the role of Tasha Yar in TNG and according to an April 1987 pre-production memo, Denise Crosby was the lead choice for Troi a mere five months before the first episode aired. On another note, if you're in the Houston, Texas area this coming May, you've got a chance to see Marina at the upcoming Comicpalooza convention. Hey, you'll probably see us there too.

From all of us at Subspace Communique, we'd like to wish Marina Sirtis a very Happy Birthday!