Who is Nana Visitor?
Nana is an award-winning American actress, perhaps best known to the world as Kira Nerys in the TV series “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (1993-1999), and as Jean Ritter in the TV series “Wildfire” (2005-2008), in addition to other characters she’s portrayed so far in her career.
What is Nana Visitor Doing Now?
Nana has recently voiced Kira Nerys in the animated adult-oriented sci-fi action series “Star Trek: Lower Decks” (2022). Furthermore, she’s working on the short film “The Dinner Party”, and will star in the romantic drama film “Six Feet Apart” alongside J.J. Nolan and Chris Candy.
Nana Visitor Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education
Nana Tucker was born on 26 July 1957, in New York City, USA, the daughter of Robert Tucker, a dance choreographer, and Nenette Charisse, a ballet teacher. Inclined towards performing arts, Nana chose acting instead of dancing.
She attended an all-girls Nightingale-Bamford School, then after matriculating she was accepted into Princeton University, but chose not to attend, instead focusing full-time on her acting career.
Career Beginnings
Nana’s career began in the mid- ‘70s, chosen for the role of Svetlana Petrovsky in the TV comedy series “Ivan the Terrible” (1976), which starred Lou Jacobi, Christopher Hewett and Caroline Keva, about a blue-collar man who works as a waiter and tries to provide for his numbered family.
The following year, she won the role of Nancy Feldman in the soap opera “Ryan’s Hope”, and appeared in 79 episodes until 1979 of the acclaimed television drama about an Irish-American family in New York City.
She started the new decade with the role of Darcy Collins in the Primetime Emmy Award-winning medical drama “The Doctors”, while in 1982, she was Georgina Whitman in the telenovela “One Life to Live”.
She returned to the screen three years later, with one-time appearances in such TV series as the Primetime Emmy Award-nominated action adventure-comedy series “Remington Steele”, then the fantasy horror “The Twilight Zone”. Throughout the ‘80s, she had many one-time appearances, building her portfolio with roles in “MacGyver”, “In the Heat of the Night”, and “L.A. Law” among many others.
Nothing much changed for Nana in the early ‘90s, though she was able to secure a recurring role in the short-lived comedy series “Working Girl”, which starred Sandra Bullock, George Newbern and Anthony Tyler Quinn.
Rise to Prominence
Everything changed for her in 1993, when she won the role of Kira Nerys in the TV sci-fi action-adventure series “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”. Her character is a Bajoran representative at Deep Space Nine, a space station jointly operated by the United States of Planets. Her planet was recently liberated from foreign occupation, and she was a part of the resistance. During the course of the series, her character rose in ranks, ultimately becoming the Colonel of the Bajoran Militia and the Commanding Officer.
Although she won several awards for her portrayal of Kira, which include three Online Film & Television Association Awards in the category for Best Actress in a Syndicated Series, she was faced with negativity from fans, as they expected someone else to portray a Bajoran woman. Nevertheless, Nana rose to stardom while portraying Kira, emerging as a rising Hollywood star.
After the series ended in 1999, Nana continued with minor roles in TV series such as “Frasier”, “Las Vegas”, and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”, before she secured another long-running role in 2005.
Nana won the part of Jean Ritter in the TV romantic drama series “Wildfire” (2005-2008), about a young woman who finds sanctuary and love at a horse ranch where she’s a part-time worker, which is a part of her parole from juvenile hall. Created by Michael Piller and Christopher Teague, the series also starred Genevieve Padalecki and Nicole Tubiola.
After the series ended, she continued her career with the role of Galena Greenleaf in the comedy-drama film “Swing Vote”, starring Kevin Costner, Kelsey Grammer, and Paula Patton.
In 2009, she was Pamela Voorhees in the horror thriller-mystery film “Friday the 13th”, with Jared Padalecki, Amanda Righetti and Derek Mears in the lead roles.
Career Decline
With the start of the 2010s, her career started slowing down, and she was able to secure minor roles. She was Melissa Wincroft in the TV fantasy horror series “Grimm” (2011) and Dr. Patty Barker in the TV comedy crime series “Castle” in 2012.
In 2015, she co-starred with Hunter Parrish, Ashley Hinshaw and Tim Daly in the award-winning romantic drama film “A Rising Tide”, which follows the story of a young chef whose family own a restaurant destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, written and directed by Ben Hickernell.
Next, in 2018 she starred in the comedy-drama films “A Bread Factory Part One” and “A Bread Factory Part 2”, written and directed by Patrick Wang. The same year, Nana starred in the thriller “Killer in Law”, while in 2020, she had the role of Dr. Samantha Stamen in the sci-fi comedy film “Unbelievable”, written and directed by Steven L. Fawcette and starring Snoop Dogg, about four astronauts who fight to save humanity as the Martians conquer the Earth.
On Stage Career
In addition to her work in television and film, Nana has made several Broadway appearances. Her debut was in the musical “My One and Only”, a role she reprised in the ‘80s, and since then, she’s appeared in the play “Chicago” in 1996. and the revivals in 1997.
Net Worth
According to sources, Nana Visitor’s wealth is estimated at $4 million, as of late 2022.
Personal Life, Dating, Marriage, Husband, Children
From 1989 to 1994, she was married to Nick Miscusi; the couple has a son together, Buster.
While working on “Star Trek”, Nana met and fell in love with her co-star Alexander Siddig. The couple married on 14 June 1997, and welcomed their son, Django El Tahir El Siddig on 16 September 1996. Her pregnancy was incorporated into the script, and she returned to the series just two days after giving birth to Django. Nana and Siddig divorced in April 2001.
Two years later, she married Matthew Rimmer, company manager for the musical “Chicago”, and they are still together.
Appearance and Vital Statistics
Nana Visitor has short gray hair and dark brown eyes. She stands at a height of 5ft 7ins (1.7m), weighs approximately 130lbs (58kgs), with vital statistics of 34-24-35, and bra size 34B.
Hobbies, Interests, and Trivia
Nana has said that she is claustrophobic and admitted she had a tough time shooting several scenes in “Star Trek” due to her phobia.
When an astronomer, William Kwong Yu Yeung, discovered two Small Solar System bodies, he named one in Nana’s honor – asteroid 26733 Nanavisitor. In contrast, the other one was named in honor of another ‘Star Trek’ legend, Terry Farrell.
