So far, only one actor has played Winona Kirk, the mother ofStar Trek’s Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine). Throughout the entireStar Trekfranchise, Winona Kirk has only appeared in the opening scenes ofStar Trek(2009). While the USS Kelvin is being evacuated, Winona goes into labor much earlier than expected. Winona contacts her husband, Lieutenant George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth), the First Officer of the USS Kelvin, who is going down with the starship. Before George’s death, Winona and George give the futureCaptain of the USS Enterprisehis famous name: James Tiberius Kirk.
In theKelvin TimelineStar Trekmovies, Kirk’s birth occurs at the same time as the pivotal event that splits the Prime Timeline and Kelvin Timelines, so seeing James Kirk’s parents on-screen matters more than inStar Trek: The Original Series. Pine’s Kirk being born at the same time as his father’s death heaps much more guilt on the young Jim Kirk, making Kelvin Kirk less sure of himself and more cynical. Kirk’s mother, Winona, is referenced inStar Trek Into DarknessandStar Trek Beyond, but doesn’t appear on-screen in any subsequentStar Trekmovie or show.
Jennifer Morrison Is The Only Actor To Play Kirk’s Mother In Star Trek
Winona Kirk Appears In Star Trek (2009)’s Opening Scenes
Jennifer Morrison is the only actor to play Winona Kirk, the mother of Captain James T. Kirk, in anyStar Trektimeline. In the Kelvin Timeline,Winona Kirk eventually remarried and raised her sons in Iowa. During James Kirk’s freewheeling, Corvette-stealing introductory scene inStar Trek, Winona is away from home. It’s implied that James and Sam are being cared for by an absent stepfather while Winona is gone. It’s never stated exactly what Winona Kirk does for a living, butStar Trekwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci speculated Winona was also a Starfleet officer, like George.
BeforeJennifer Morrisonplayed Winona Kirk in 2009’sStar Trek, she had already starred as the lead inUrban Legends: Final Cut. Morrison went on to earn several smaller or guest-starring television credits before playing immunologist Dr. Allison Cameron inHousefor six seasons. Morrison played Zoey in a 13-episode arc ofHow I Met Your Mother, then starred as lead character Emma Swan in the fantasy drama seriesOnce Upon a Time. Morrison made her feature directorial debut with 2017’sSun Dogs,and has since directed several episodes of television, includingDr. DeathandYellowjackets.
Star Trek Still Hasn’t Introduced Kirk’s Parents In The Prime Timeline
George And Winona Kirk Must Be Like Their Kelvin Timeline Counterparts
Star Trekstill hasn’t introduced James Kirk’s parents in the Prime Timeline. William Shatner’s Kirk only referenced his father occasionally, and never talked about his mother inStar Trek: The Original Series. Instead,most of what we know about Kirk’s parents in the Prime Timeline comes fromStar Trek: Strange New Worlds, in scenes wherePaul Wesley’s James Kirktalks about his mother and father.Strange New Worlds' Kirk is the favored child of George Kirk, compared to Dan Jeannotte’s Sam Kirk. Very little is said about Winona—only that she followed George’s Starfleet postings with their two sons.
Every Member Of Captain Kirk’s Family In Star Trek
Since his introduction in Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek has introduced several members of Captain James T. Kirk’s family.
Despite George and Winona Kirk’s absence from the Prime Timeline, we can extrapolate what Prime George and Winona Kirk might be like based on their depictions inStar Trek(2009). The Kelvin Timeline split only occurred after Nero (Eric Bana) traveled back to 2230 anddestroyed the USS Kelvin, so the versions of George Senior and Winona played by Chris Hemsworth and Jennifer Morrison also existed in the Prime Timeline. If Kirk’s parents do show up inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds, another actress will surely play Winona Kirk, andStar Trek’s Jennifer Morrison won’t be the only one.
Star Trek
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J.J. Abrams' 2009 movie Star Trek rebooted the iconic sci-fi franchise in a totally new timeline. When a Romulan ship travels back in time and alters the past, the lives of James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), and the future crew of the USS Enterprise are drastically changed. In this new timeline, the Romulan Nero (Eric Bana) sets out for revenge on Spock, setting off a chain of events that reshape the entire universe.
