Michael Burnham - wikipedia Michael Burnham Michael Burnham Sonequa Martin - Green as xenoanthropologist Michael Burnham. First appearance `` The Vulcan Hello '' Created by Bryan Fuller Aaron Harberts Portrayed by Sonequa Martin - Green Arista Arhin ( young ) Information Species Human Gender Female Occupation Xenoanthropologist First Officer ( 2250s -- 2256 ) Science specialist ( 2256 ) Captain ( mirror universe ) Science officer ( 2257 -- ) Family Michael Burnham ( father, deceased ) Unnamed mother ( deceased ) Sarek ( foster father ) Amanda Grayson ( foster mother ) Spock ( foster brother ) Sybok ( foster brother ) Philippa Georgiou ( adoptive mother, mirror universe ) Significant other ( s ) Ash Tyler ( Voq ) Gabriel Lorca ( mirror universe counterpart only ) Planet Earth Affiliation United Federation of Planets Starfleet USS Shenzhou USS Discovery ISS Shenzhou 2226 Michael Burnham is a fictional character on Star Trek : Discovery portrayed by American actress Sonequa Martin - Green. She originally appears as the First Officer of the USS Shenzhou under Philippa Georgiou ( Michelle Yeoh ) until she commits mutiny and is stripped of rank. Burnham is later recruited by Gabriel Lorca ( Jason Isaacs ) on the USS Discovery as a science specialist after serving only six months of her life sentence, with Lorca viewing Burnham as an asset in the war against the Klingons. She serves as the series lead. The character is introduced as an anthropologist helping the Earth - based Starfleet understand and engage with new cultures in outer space. The character is the first black female to lead a Star Trek television series, as well as the first leading character that has never been a Starfleet captain. ( However, Burnham is captain of the ISS Shenzhou in the mirror universe. ) Bryan Fuller conceived the character based on the cultural impact of Nichelle Nichols ' portrayal of Uhura, Mae Jemison and Ruby Bridges. She is also revealed as the foster sister to Spock ( Leonard Nimoy ). Burnham is an orphan after her parents are killed by Klingons, until she is taken in by Sarek ( James Frain ). Controversy of the character arose with the decision to connect her history to Spock 's family, with debates of continuity discussed among Trekkies. There was also controversy in casting a black female protagonist, which spawned debate online and accusations of racism. Development of the character was largely praised by critics leading up to the debut for having a black female lead for the first time in Star Trek history and reviews of Martin - Green 's performance have been positive. Contents 1 Creation and development 2 Casting 2.1 Auditioning process 2.2 Announcement 2.3 Diversity backlash 3 Appearances 3.1 Background 3.2 Star Trek : Discovery 3.2. 1 Mutiny 3.2. 2 USS Discovery 3.2. 3 Mirror Universe 3.2. 4 Ending the Federation - Klingon War 3.3 Novels 4 Reception 5 References 6 External links Creation and development In December 2016, it was announced that Martin - Green would serve as the series lead of Star Trek : Discovery, with the character initially named `` Rainsford ''. In previous iterations of Star Trek, Spock had never mentioned a sister. Executive producer Alex Kurtzman has explained that the specifics of Burnham 's backstory would be revealed in a way that would not break the existing canon continuity. Unlike previous Star Trek leads, Burnham was not made a starship captain, `` to see a character from a different perspective on the starship -- one who has different dynamic relationships with a captain, with subordinates, it gave us richer context ''. The character was originally to be referred to only by the name Number One, to honor the character of that name portrayed by Majel Barrett in the original Star Trek pilot `` The Cage. '' With changes in the pre-production storyline, the character is found guilty of mutiny and no longer a First Officer by the end of the pilot episode. Thus, the Michael Burnham name was revealed during the first episode, quickly making `` Number One '' her informal name, the same as First Officer William Riker 's informal name on the series Star Trek : The Next Generation. Series creator Bryan Fuller deliberately gave Martin - Green 's character a traditionally male name, which he had done with the female leads ( George, Jaye and Chuck ) in three of his previous series. Martin - Green decided that the character was named after her father. Executive producer Aaron Harberts spoke to TV Guide and explained the reason for calling the character a traditionally male name, explaining, `` We 've worked on many shows with Bryan and it 's a motif. It 's his signature move to name his lead women with names that would typically be associated as male. '' He felt the name was `` cool and different '' and pitched it himself explaining, `` ( I was ) thinking of female columnist Michael Sneed, who writes for the Chicago Sun - Times, and The Bangles ' bassist Michael Steele. '' He added, `` And, of course, an archangel is named Michael as well, and it just had a lot of potency for us. '' Sonequa Martin - Green expressed enthusiasm about the name, liking the symbolism and anticipating a more gender - fluid and equal opportunity future. Of the name, she said, `` I appreciated the statement it makes all on its own to have this woman with this male name, just speaking of the amelioration of how we see men and women in the future. '' Bryan Fuller had numerous inspirations for conceiving the character of Michael Burnham. He cited the cultural impact of Nichelle Nichols ' portrayal of Uhura saying, `` I could n't stop thinking about how many black people were inspired by seeing Nichelle Nichols on the bridge of a ship ( as Lt. Uhura in The Original Series ) ''. Another inspiration came from the legacy of Ruby Bridges, the first black child to attend an all - white elementary school in Louisiana, as well as Mae Jemison, the first woman of color to travel in space. Martin - Green referred to her character as being `` the only human to have not just attended the Vulcan Science Academy but excelled as well, ( which ) speaks to Burnham 's intellect and just sheer level of intelligence ''. She referred to her character as `` highly disciplined, highly principled, and the Vulcan - Human dichotomy that lives within her is emblematic of her personality. It is the two realities living within me at all times. '' Casting Auditioning process The casting process was difficult for producers. They searched long and hard to find an actor to pull off Burnham 's divided nature between Vulcan and human. Harberts said, `` We read a lot of people and they either went way too robotic and chilly or way too emotional. What 's beautiful about Sonequa 's performance is she 's capable of playing two, three, four things at once. She 's got such a great command of her craft, she 's able to be aloof but warm ; logical but able to surrender her emotional side to the audience. '' Alex Kurtzman felt the character 's portrayal needed to have `` remarkable duality inside her '' between being `` highly emotional '' while also being `` contained ''. `` Unlike Spock, who is half - human, half - Vulcan, she is all human, but she 's been trained with the kind of Vulcan emotional - suppression ideology, and that is very challenging for her... you can see that wrestling match going on in every moment. That was the single most important thing to define the character, and I think we just had a sense that ( Sonequa ) intuitively understood it. '' He went further to express the challenges in casting an actor for the part saying, `` It 's a tough thing to learn with actors. You either have the ability to roll that off your tongue, or you do n't. And if you do n't, everything kind of trips over itself... And when ( Sonequa ) read, we all breathed a massive sigh of relief, because she brought an instant authenticity to it. It was very clear that the language was not going to be difficult for her. '' Sonequa Martin - Green first met with Discovery co-creator Bryan Fuller at New York Comic - Con in October 2016. Fuller talked to her about Burnham, a human orphan raised on planet Vulcan alongside Spock ( Leonard Nimoy ) from the original series, leading to a conflict with her two cultural identities. Knowing that her character Sasha would be killed off The Walking Dead, she shot a video audition. However, AMC refused to release her from her contract, leading CBS to look elsewhere. Fuller revealed that he had long set his sights on Martin - Green to star in Discovery, but CBS pushed back because AMC would not release her from her contract until Sasha 's death was shown on - screen. CBS ' second premiere date delay from May to September was due to the restrictions of Martin - Green 's contract, though the first delay opened the door for her to land the role. She auditioned in person in December, and then began shooting in January. On getting the part, she expressed nervousness and excitement saying, `` When I first got started, I had my freak - out phase. I had my almost catatonic moment where I thought, ' What is happening ? ' And I knew very quickly that I could n't live there and that I could n't create there. I owed it to the story and I owed it to the legacy to get it together. And I had to focus myself in gratitude. I had to focus myself on the passion for the vision for the story that we 're doing. '' Announcement The casting for Michael Burnham, under the pseudonym `` Commander Rainsford '' leaked in December 2016, with many speculating Martin - Green 's previous role as Sasha on The Walking Dead would come to an end. Following the announcement, Nichelle Nichols tweeted `` All my love @ SonequaMG, I 've been smiling since I heard. You 're gon na knock em dead. '' Charlie Jane Anders for Wired felt Martin - Green 's casting fulfilled Gene Roddenberry 's ultimate vision saying, `` It 's all too easy to see Star Trek 's humanism as merely a matter of embracing science and rejecting barbarism -- but that 's missing what makes Trek 's version of humanism so powerful. Diversity was always a key part of Star Trek 's vision of a better future for humanity. In the ideal world of the 24th century, every human being has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential, either in the sciences or elsewhere ; anything less does n't represent real progress. '' Showrunner of The Walking Dead admitted it was unfortunate that the casting leak happened, spoiling events to come, but that `` The folks over at Star Trek got lucky with the timing ''. On the importance and impact of the role, Martin - Green said, `` My casting says that the sky is the limit for all of us. I think what we 're seeing now in our media is this push to diminish and to devalue and to make people feel that the sky is not the limit for them, that they are meant for the ground. So having me as the first black female lead of a Star Trek just blasts that into a million pieces. I am eternally grateful that the diverse casting of our show means that we are now a part of the conversation and hopefully a part of making the world a better place, as cliché as this sounds. Because I really believe it and think its vital for us all right now ''. Nichols and Martin - Green both posed together on the red carpet at the Star Trek : Discovery premiere. Martin - Green shared on Instagram that Nichols whispered, `` Enjoy this time. It 's yours now. '' Sonequa Martin - Green praised Nichols thereafter saying, `` What a blessing, what a woman. I stand on your shoulders Nichelle Nichols ''. Diversity backlash Following the release of the first trailer for Discovery in May 2017, fans expressed outrage at the decision to have a black woman helm the series, in addition to the depiction of an Asian, female captain. Referred to as `` white genocide in space '', the decision to create a diverse cast sparked debate online on the question of what had been referred to as ' forced diversity '. Media outlets, including The Chicago Tribune and The New Yorker referred to the impact of Uhura and the kiss between the character of Uhura and of Captain Kirk as being the first interracial kiss on American television, and its subsequent societal impact that Trek fans would be aware of, making the criticisms baffling. George Takei, the actor who played Sulu in Star Trek : The Original Series offered his view on the issue of cast diversity in the Star Trek franchise. He said, `` You know, when you go out into space, you 're going to have even greater diversity. These so - called trolls have n't seen a single episode of the new series because it has n't been aired. And they do n't know the history of ' Star Trek, ' that Gene Rodenberry created this with the idea of finding strength in our diversity. '' Martin - Green spoke out on the criticism, saying she `` would encourage ( critics of the diverse cast ) to key into the essence and spirit of Star Trek that has made it the legacy it is -- and that 's looking across the way to the person sitting in front of you and realizing you are the same, that they are not separate from you, and we are all one. That 's something ' Star Trek ' has always upheld and I completely believe that is why it 's been a mainstay in society in the hearts of so many people for so many decades. (... ) It 's one of the foundational principles of Star Trek and I feel if you miss that then you miss the legacy itself. I 'm incredibly proud to be the lead of this show and be at the forefront of an iteration of Star Trek that 's from the eyes of a black woman that 's never been done before, though obviously there 's been other forms of diversity that have been innovated by Trek. I feel like we 're taking another step forward, which I think all stories should do. We should go boldly where nobody has gone before and stay true to that. '' Appearances Background Burnham was born to human parents, who were killed in her youth during a Klingon raid on a Human - Vulcan research facility on Doctari Alpha, where they lived. She was then adopted by the Vulcan ambassador Sarek ( James Frain ) and his human wife Amanda ( Mia Kirshner ), who are also the biological parents of Starfleet officer Spock, and moved to the Vulcan homeworld. She was the first human to attend both the Vulcan Learning Center and Vulcan Science Academy as a xenoanthropologist. After completing the academy she was brought by Sarek, who shared his Katra with Burnham, to the USS Shenzhou to rejoin her people. The decision to make Burnham related to the history of original series character Spock was controversial. Beth Elderkin for io9 decided that it `` breaks canon '' and that `` It seems unlike Spock to completely ignore someone who seemed to be a major part of his life -- especially one who came into his life after such tragedy. '' In contrast, Laurie Ulster of TrekMovie.com felt the decision was `` not that big of a deal '', clashing with Elderkin 's point about Spock, citing the fact that Spock never mentioned his half - brother Sybok until he showed up, or revealed his parents were Sarek and Amanda, as well as the numerous `` secret siblings '' placed in Star Trek. Star Trek : Discovery Mutiny In the series premiere of Discovery, she has already served under Captain Georgiou on the USS Shenzhou for seven years. The series opens with Shenzhou encountering the Klingons, with Burnham committing an act of mutiny, breaking Starfleet regulation to give the order to fire first, avoiding a full - scale war, in an attempt to save her captain and ship against the Klingons. Her plan is unsuccessful and she is detained. In `` Battle at the Binary Stars '', Burnham escapes the brig and convinces Georgiou to take T'Kuvma hostage. However, T'Kuvma kills Georgiou. In a moment of emotional weakness, Burnham kills T'Kuvma, making him a martyr. She is convicted of mutiny, stripped of rank, and sentenced to life in prison. USS Discovery In `` Context is for Kings '', USS Discovery 's Captain Gabriel Lorca brings Burnham back to duty with a temporary war - time assignment as a scientist on his crew, praising her risk taking behaviour as valuable in the war. She is met with hostility among the Discovery crew, being viewed as responsible for starting the war with the Klingons. Burnham eventually befriends her roommate, Sylvia Tilly ( Mary Wiseman ). In `` The Butcher 's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb 's Cry '', Lorca orders Burnham and Landry ( Rekha Sharma ) to find a way to weaponize Ripper, a violent macroscopic Tardigrade found on the USS Glenn. Burnham hypothesizes that Ripper 's behavior on the Glenn was defensive in nature and that he was not inherently dangerous, since biological analysis showed him to be herbivorous. But with the Klingons attacking Corvan II, Landry was desperate for results and fired a phaser at him, causing him to maul her to death. She also overcomes her fear of opening the last will of Georgiou through Tilly 's coercion. She learns Georgiou left her with a telescope, a prized possession handed down through her family for hundreds of years, noting Burnham as a curious explorer and believing she has her own command at this point. In `` Choose Your Pain '', Burnham voices her concerns about the spore drive jumps used on Ripper as Saru is acting captain upon Lorca 's abduction by Klingons. Saru is outraged at Burnham for turning the spore - drive offline without his knowledge, and searching for compatible DNA sequences to replace Ripper. Burnham suggests a human host replacement would be possible, but Saru disregards her point, calling her a predator. Later, Burnham asks if he is afraid of her, but he tells her he is jealous because he wanted to learn everything from Georgiou and she did instead, and rather than she become captain and teach him, her actions led him to be unprepared as acting captain for today. Burnham gives Saru the telescope Georgiou gave her, feeling she does n't deserve it. Saru lets Burnham free Ripper back into space, and Stamets becomes the host replacement needed, injecting himself with tardigrade DNA. In `` Lethe '', Sarek is almost killed and Burnham is forced to save him. She discovers he chose his biological son Spock over her, as Sarek was given only one option of which child to send to the Vulcan Expedition Group, with the Vulcans considering both children `` experiments '' ( half - human and full human indoctrinated in Vulcan culture ). The decision is ultimately pointless as Spock chose Starfleet, after Burnham was forced to go. After retrieving Sarek, Burnham attempts to get Sarek to open up to her about their encounter. Sarek pretends to be unaware, but Burnham can tell he is lying, saying he can do better. She says they will have the conversation one day, and leaves calling him `` father '' to spite him after he said they were technically not family because they are not related. She also develops a friendship with Ash Tyler ( Shazad Latif ), who helps her through Sarek attempting to push her away. In `` Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad '', Harry Mudd ( Rainn Wilson ) takes over Discovery and keeps the ship in a time loop so he can complete his mission to sell the ship to the Klingons. Burnham appears uncomfortable as, during this time, a party is occurring and she struggles with her romantic feelings for Tyler. Stamets ( Anthony Rapp ), the only one aware of the time loop, warns Burnham while also helping her with her feelings for Tyler. Burnham and Tyler dance and kiss, before Mudd kills him. Burnham manipulates Mudd into turning back time again to save him, revealing who she is and how high a prize she is for the Klingons. She kills herself to convince Mudd to do so, although the next time round, Burnham successfully tricks Mudd and he is sent away. Burnham and Tyler are left imagining their romantic kiss of which they have no memory of. In `` Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum '', Burnham and Tyler go with Saru to the planet Pahvo to discover the technology behind the Klingons ' cloaking technology, where they kiss again and renew their romance. In `` Into the Forest I Go '', Burnham convinces Lorca to let her enter the Klingon Sarcophagus ship, where Burnham gets into a fight with Kol ( Kenneth Mitchell ), ultimately escaping and retrieving Philippa 's badge. An attack is made on Kol 's ship, blowing it up. Burnham notices Tyler 's PTSD attack caused by seeing L'Rell ( Mary Chieffo ) and later learns that Tyler allowed her to sexually abuse him in order to stay alive. Mirror universe In `` Despite Yourself '', the USS Discovery transports to the mirror universe. Burnham learns she earned the rank of captain on the ISS Shenzhou. During her career, she won medals for Valor, for being a Master of Poisons, and for 100 kills. While in command of the ISS Shenzhou, she was ordered to hunt down Gabriel Lorca, who was attempting a coup against the emperor. Her shuttlecraft was destroyed during this operation and she is presumed dead. Burnham is forced to disguise as her Terran counterpart on the ISS Shenzhou in order to retrieve the data files on the constitution - class USS Defiant, to uncover how it crossed into the mirror universe 's past. Burnham and Lorca play the part of their Terran selves. Ensign Connor, who is now Captain Connor, attempts to kill Burnham in an attempt to maintain his new position, but fails. The ISS Shenzhou applaud Burnham for her killing as she takes the captain 's chair. Later, Burnham appears exhausted keeping up the act, and goes to her quarters where she and Tyler have sex. In `` The Wolf Inside '', Burnham becomes increasingly agitated with her facade as Mirror Burnham, and questions how long you can keep a facade up until you actually become something you initially were n't. She is alarmed by Mirror Saru, who is a nameless slave in this universe, and decides to name him Saru in honor of her friend. Mirror Saru is shocked by her friendly gesture. Burnham is tasked to destroy a rebel base on the planet Harlak. Instead, she and Tyler opt to form a secret alliance with the Vulcans, Klingons, Andorians and Tellarites who oppose the Terran Empire. Voq appears, the mirror universe counterpart of the Klingon she fought at the Binary Stars, and asks Mirror Sarek, known as The Prophet, to mindmeld with Burnham to see if her intentions are pure. Mirror Sarek is taken aback by Burnham 's memories, and concludes she is a compassionate person who means them no harm. Burnham becomes curious of Voq 's ability to forge alliances with other alien races, in order to find the solution to the Klingon war in her universe. Voq 's explanation triggers Ash who speaks in Klingon and atttacks Voq. Burnham convinces Mirror Voq to spare Tyler 's life. When Burnham and Tyler return to the ISS Shenzhou, having faked the attack, she confronts Tyler. Tyler admits he does n't think he is actually Ash Tyler. It becomes apparent Tyler is actually Voq and speaking with Mirror Voq set off his true nature, having been brought on the USS Discovery originally as a sleeper agent all along. Burnham is confused, but then realizes Tyler is the one she fought at the Binary Stars. Tyler, now mentally fully turned into Voq, attempts to kill her. Burnham is unable to defend herself, and Mirror Saru arrives and attacks Tyler, saving her. Burnham fakes Tyler 's execution, actually transporting him to the Discovery ship where he is held captive. Later, Burnham is dismayed to learn her falsities at Harlak have been uncovered by the silent emperor, who turns out to be her former captain, Philippa Georgiou 's mirror version. In `` Vaulting Ambition '', Burnham and Lorca are transported to the ISS Charon, as the revelation that Georgiou is the emperor weighs down on her, making her feel the situation is a reckoning for her betrayal of her own Georgiou. Lorca refuses to bow to Georgiou, and is taken to an agony booth. Georgiou suspects Burnham of deception, and holding a knife to her neck asks why she has come here, revealing she is aware that she conspired to kill her and take her throne with Lorca. Burnham is left shocked by this revelation of her mirror counterpart 's betrayal as well. When she refers to the emperor as `` Philippa '', she is outraged, as she would normally refer to her as `` mother ''. Later, Burnham reveals prior to her execution that she is from another universe, using Prime Philippa 's insignia as proof. Emperor Georgiou agrees to make a deal with Burnham to exchange the spore drive technology in exchange for her freedom to go home. Later, Burnham learns more about her mirror counterpart 's history. In this universe, due to Terran supremacy, rather than Sarek and Amanda raise Michael after her parents were killed, Emperor Philippa Georgiou did instead. However, Mirror Burnham 's quest to hunt down Lorca appears to be a ruse, as she was conspiring against her own adoptive mother to kill her and take her throne with Lorca, who Mirror Burnham viewed as a father figure once, until she grew up and it became romantic. Georgiou tells Burnham about Lorca planning to `` cross time and space itself to take what was rightfully his '' and Burnham puts the pieces together, along with Georgiou 's sensitivity to light ( the single biological difference between the Terrans and humans ), that Lorca is from the mirror universe and their crossing over was not an accident. In `` What 's Past is Prologue '', Burnham works out a plan to deliver Georgiou to Lorca in the same way she planned. Burnham tells Lorca she will stay in exchange for Discovery 's safe passage home, but it is a ruse, as Georgiou and Burnham begin attacking and killing Lorca 's men. Eventually, Burnham gets the upper hand on Lorca with a phaser, telling him that they would 've helped him get home, because that 's who Starfleet is, and that is who she is, which is why she wo n't kill him. Georgiou, however, kills him instead. She then allows Burnham to go back home, with her reign as emperor gone given Lorca 's rebellion, deciding to die killing Lorca 's men. However, Burnham saves Georgiou at the last minute, holding onto her, as they are transported back to the Discovery and into the prime universe. Ending the Federation - Klingon war In `` The War Without, The War Within '', the Discovery jumps nine months ahead in 2257, with the Federation suffering significant losses in the war with the Klingons. Burnham reveals to Admiral Cornwell and Sarek about the arrival of their guest, Emperor Georgiou. Burnham asks Cornwell to give Emperor Georgiou political asylum, feeling sympathy for her, despite not being her Georgiou. Later, Tilly convinces Burnham to confront Ash, who is now fully recovered with dual memories, feeling deep remorse for Voq 's actions. Sarek tells her not to regret loving someone, encouraging her further. Burnham ultimately ends their relationship. Ash begs her, saying he ca n't make it without her, but Burnham explains she was lost after the battle of the binary stars, and having to reclaim life is punishing and solitary. In the finale `` Will You Take My Hand ? '', Emperor Georgiou poses as Prime Georgiou, enlisted by Starfleet to end the war however she sees fit in exchange for her freedom. Burnham, Tilly and Tyler accompany her to Qo'nos. Ultimately, Burnham is forced to stop Georgiou 's genocidal attack on the Klingon home planet, outraged at Cornwell and Starfleet for enabling the act. Burnham manipulates Georgiou to give her the explosive device, by telling her if she does n't, she will have to watch her daughter die again. Georgiou reluctantly agrees and walks off to her freedom. Burnham offers L'Rell a peace treaty, to call off the Klingons ' planned invasion on Earth in exchange for the device as a measure of peace and diplomacy in order to end the war. Ash reassures a reluctant L'Rell to take charge. After the incident, Burnham 's act of diplomacy in finishing the war ends with her, and the rest of the Discovery crew, decorated by Starfleet for their heroic actions. Burnham is reinstated to full rank, her record is expunged and she becomes the science officer for the Discovery. Burnham and Tyler decide to go their separate ways, Tyler planning to find a union between humans and Klingons with L'Rell, and Burnham back aboard Discovery. On their course to Vulcan to pick up the new Discovery captain, they receive a transmission from Captain Christopher Pike of the USS Enterprise. Novels Prior to the release of the television series, an original tie - in novel taking place in 2255, one year prior to the pilot, was announced. The novel titled Star Trek Discovery : Desperate Hours sees Burnham face the challenge needed in being a first officer upon recent promotion. The synopsis describes Burnham 's journey as `` To save thousands of innocent lives, Burnham must infiltrate the alien ship. But to do so she needs to face the truth of her troubled past, and seek the aid of a man she has tried to avoid her entire life -- until now. '' She also works with her foster brother Spock, who visits the Shenzhou along with Captain Pike. Reception Writing for E ! News, Chris Harnick reviewed the first two episodes of Discovery -- `` The Vulcan Hello '' and `` Battle at the Binary Stars '' -- and considered Martin - Green 's performance the strongest element of the show. He praised her acting as a human raised in a Vulcan world by saying, `` ( T ) he emotional conflict between the two ideologies in Michael Burnham is perhaps the most interesting part of the series, and presents a fascinating window into the world of Star Trek : Discovery. '' Writing for the episode `` Context Is for Kings '', Mallory Ortberg of Vulture referred to Martin - Green as `` the standout '' who is `` given a lot more to work with and is, in turn, captivating, charming ( I did n't know I wanted to see her scrabbling through a series of Jefferies tubes reciting Alice in Wonderland to herself until it happened ), and heartbreakingly winsome. '' Chaim Gartenberg for The Verge praised the uniqueness of Burnham in comparison to previous Trek protagonists saying, `` ( she ) is n't like any protagonist we 've seen in Star Trek so far, and not only because she does n't command a starship or space station. She 's a far more rounded, human character than any of the previous captains, with some serious trauma from a Klingon attack in her youth that 's left her predisposed to hate the warrior race. And while Star Trek has plumbed the ' main character has demons ' well in the past -- most notably with Sisko in Deep Space Nine, and Picard in the later films, when it comes to the Borg -- Burnham feels far more compelling for not being a flawless human being in other respects, as her series - protagonist predecessors were. '' TV Guide listed Sonequa Martin - Green in the ranking of `` The 25 Best TV Performances of 2017 '' coming at 14. The article highlighted, `` Martin - Green has delivered the sort of performance that lights up every moment she 's on screen. This is how stars are born. '' CultureFly 's David Bedwell included Burnham in their list of `` 11 Best TV Characters of 2017 '' saying, `` With their first ever black female lead and a character that 's hardly straight - laced, Sonequa Martin - Green gets a lot to sink her teeth into. Variety added Martin - Green among the list of Top Breakout TV Stars of 2017 in the role of Burnham. Joe Otterson said, `` Despite a lot of negative news coming out ahead of `` Discovery 's '' premiere ( including multiple premiere date delays ), Martin - Green deftly took on the challenge of leading the new installment of the iconic sci - fi franchise. Her portrayal of convicted Starfleet mutineer Michael Burnham made the new show truly binge - worthy. '' Martin - Green was chosen as TVLine performer of the week for the episode `` The Wolf Inside '', as she `` conveyed the resulting shock in gut - wrenching fashion, her eyes welling up with tears as Burnham was forced to point a phaser at the man she thought she loved. '' They went further saying, `` Equally adept at big action scenes and quiet character moments, Martin - Green has been the glue holding Star Trek : Discovery together all season long -- and all those weeks of repressed emotion just made this week 's splendid showcase all the more impactful. Here 's hoping Burnham lives long... and prospers. '' In reviewing the full season, Marissa Martinelli of Slate felt that Martin - Green saved Discovery from `` getting lost in a maze of plot twists (... ) As a human raised by Vulcans, it would have been easy to make Burnham yet another Spock or Data, her humanity buried under layers and layers of logic. Instead, Martin - Green plays her with a fierce charisma and warmth, making Burnham not only a compass in the wilderness but a light in the darkness, too. '' Although the reviewer also felt Burnham 's arc wrapped up `` too neatly ''. Some critics had a negative reaction to Burnham 's arc. Andy Vandervell for Wired expressed disappointment in the conclusion of Burnham 's first season arc saying, `` I can see what they were trying to do with the finale in completing Michael Burnham 's journey from mutineer to saviour of the Federation, both literally and figuratively, but the execution was so clumsy and anti-climactic it just undercut all the emotional weight of her story. '' Zack Handlen for The AV Club commented, `` I can sort of see how Burnham changed ( the trip to the Mirror Universe taught her the consequences of brutal thinking ), but the show has done such a terrible job at establishing the character and motivations of Starfleet and the Federation that the sudden decision to commit murder on such a massive, unprecedented scale is at once shocking and utterly weightless. '' Liz Shannon Miller for IndieWire and James Luxford for Metro appreciated the conclusions of Burnham 's arc. Miller said, `` Burnham 's lengthy speech to the council awarding her and her fellow crewmen with well - deserved honors had plenty of standout moments. But there 's something interesting about her choice to invoke Voq 's official title within the Klingon Empire, which speaks to how both civilizations are now struggling to sort out their place in the world '', while Luxford commented, `` It 's great to see Burnham redeemed. '' Scott Collura for IGN said, `` There 's a nice symmetry to Burnham and Voq / Tyler 's journeys between the pilot episode and this finale, with Michael once again staging a sort of mutiny, only this time doing so for all the right reasons and with the support of her friends too. '' References ^ Jump up to : `` Star Trek Discovery : Sonequa Martin - Green Cast as the Lead ''. Deadline. December 24, 2016. The Walking Dead 's Sonequa Martin - Green has landed the lead role of Rainsford in Star Trek : Discovery, the upcoming new series for CBS All Access, CBS live streaming and VOD service. Jump up ^ Gartenberg, Chaim ( October 25, 2017 ). `` Does continuity matter for Star Trek : Discovery ? ''. TVLine. Jump up ^ `` ' Star Trek : Discovery ' Casts ' Walking Dead ' Actress as Star ''. Entertainment Weekly. December 14, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016. ^ Jump up to : Roots, Kimberly ( July 22, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery @ Comic - Con : New Footage and Sarek Secret Revealed, Stamets ' Love Interest Cast and More ''. TVLine. Archived from the original on July 23, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Topel, Fred ( August 11, 2016 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery : 11 Things We Learned About The New Trek Series ( TCA 2016 ) ''. / Film. United States : Blogger. Archived from the original on November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016. ^ Jump up to : Hibberd, James ( June 20, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery Star Sonequa Martin - Green Breaks Her Silence ''. Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 21, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017. Jump up ^ Topel, Fred ( August 2, 2017 ). `` Bryan Fuller Named the ' Star Trek : Discovery ' Lead and Redesigned the Klingons ( TCA 2017 ) ''. / Film. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2017. Jump up ^ `` How Sonequa Martin - Green became the first black female lead of Star Trek : My casting says the sky is the limit for all of us ''. 18 September 2017. Jump up ^ Sorrentino, Mike ( September 25, 2017 ). `` ' Star Trek : Discovery ' : Why the lead character 's name is Michael ''. Jump up ^ `` Here 's Why Star Trek : Discovery 's Female Lead Is Named Michael ''. 22 September 2017. Jump up ^ Grubbs, Jefferson. `` Why Did Bryan Fuller Leave ' Star Trek : Discovery ' ? He Still Left His Mark On The Series ''. Jump up ^ @ BryanFuller ( 2017 - 02 - 01 ). `` VULCAN SALUTE BLACK WOMEN 🖖 🏽 🖖 🏾 🖖 🏿 CREATING # StarTrekDiscovery LEAD, I WAS INSPIRED BY # RUBYBRIDGES GROWING UP TO BE @ maejemison # BlackHistory ''. Twitter. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 09. Jump up ^ Kamen, Matt ( October 4, 2017 ). `` Inside Star Trek Discovery 's mission to bring hope back to TV ''. Wired. Jump up ^ `` ' Star Trek Discovery ' Star Sonequa Martin - Green Breaks Silence on Mysterious Character ''. 20 June 2017. Jump up ^ Nemetz, Dave ( September 29, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery EP on Casting Sonequa Martin - Green : ' We All Breathed a Massive Sigh of Relief ' ''. TVLine. ^ Jump up to : `` Can ' Star Trek : Discovery ' Help CBS Boldly Go Into a Streaming Future ? ''. 29 August 2017. Jump up ^ `` ' Star Trek ' : Ousted Showrunner Details Clash With CBS Over ' Discovery ' ''. Jump up ^ Stolworthy, Jacob ( December 17, 2016 ). `` The Walking Dead actor Sonequa Martin - Green cast as lead in Star Trek : Discovery ''. Jump up ^ @ NichelleIsUhura ( 2017 - 12 - 19 ). `` All my love @ SonequaMG, I 've been smiling since I heard. You 're gon na knock em dead ''. Twitter. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 09. Jump up ^ Jane Anders, Charlie ( December 15, 2016 ). `` The New Star Trek realizes Gene Roddenberry 's Ultimate Vision ''. Wired. Jump up ^ Younker, Nick ( April 16, 2017 ). `` ' The Walking Dead ' EP Scott Gimple Not Happy About Major Spoiler Leak ''. Inquistr. Jump up ^ Pringle, Gill ( September 19, 2017 ). `` How Sonequa Martin - Green became the first black female lead of Star Trek : ' My casting says the sky is the limit for all ' ''. The Independent. Jump up ^ Harnick, Chris ( September 25, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery 's Sonequa Martin - Green Shared the Best Tribute to Nichelle Nichols ''. Entertainment Weekly. ^ Jump up to : Joest, Mick. `` George Takei Responds To Star Trek : Discovery 's Diversity Controversy ''. Cinema Blend. Jump up ^ M. Andrews, Travis ( June 23, 2017 ). `` ' Star Trek ' fans anger at remake 's diversity proves they do n't understand ' Star Trek ' ''. Chicago Tribune. Jump up ^ Saadia, Manu ( May 26, 2017 ). `` For Alt - Right Trolls, `` Star Trek : Discovery '' Is an Unsafe Space ``. The New Yorker. Jump up ^ Hiberd, James ( June 22, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery star replies to show 's racist critics ''. Entertainment Weekly. Jump up ^ `` The Vulcan Hello ''. Star Trek : Discovery. Jump up ^ `` Battle at the Binary Stars ''. Star Trek : Discovery. Jump up ^ Elderkin, Beth ( July 22, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery 's Main Character Has Suddenly Become a Major Canon Mystery ''. io9. Jump up ^ Ulster, Laurie ( July 31, 2017 ). `` Editorial : Spock Having A Sister In ' Star Trek : Discovery ' Is Not That Big Of A Deal ''. TrekMovie. Jump up ^ Renner Brown, Eric ( September 25, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery series premiere recap : ' The Vulcan Hello ' / ' Battle at the Binary Stars ' ''. Entertainment Weekly. Jump up ^ Moses, Zane ( October 2, 2017 ). `` ' Star Trek : Discovery ' recap : ' Context is for Kings ' ''. Baltimore Sun. Jump up ^ Renner Brown, Eric ( October 8, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery recap : ' The Butcher 's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb 's Cry ' ''. Entertainment Weekly. Jump up ^ Nemetz, Dave ( October 15, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery Recap : Wrestling With Mudd Just Gets You Dirty ''. TVLine. Jump up ^ Hunt, James ( October 25, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery episode 6 review : Lethe ''. Den of Geek. Jump up ^ Hunt, James ( October 31, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery episode 7 review : Magic To Make The Sanest Man Go Mad ''. Den of Geek. Jump up ^ Nemetz, Dave ( November 5, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery Recap : Nature Boy ''. TV Line. Jump up ^ Renner Brown, Eric ( November 12, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery recap : ' Into the Forest I Go ' ''. Entertainment Weekly. Jump up ^ Siegel, Ethan ( January 8, 2018 ). `` What ' Star Trek : Discovery ' Gets Right ( And Wrong ) About Parallel Universes : Season 1 Episode 10 ''. Forbes. Jump up ^ Lowry, Andrew ( January 9, 2018 ). `` Star Trek Discovery season 1 episode 10 ' Despite Yourself ' review : Darkness and light - heartedness in equal measure ''. The Independent. Jump up ^ Pascale, Anthony ( January 9, 2018 ). `` Review : `` Despite Yourself '' Takes ' Star Trek : Discovery ' To A Whole New Place ``. TrekMovie.com. Jump up ^ Howell, Elizabeth ( January 16, 2018 ). `` ' Captain ' Burnham Has a Really Bad Day in ' Star Trek : Discovery ' Episode 11 ''. Space. ^ Jump up to : Renner Brown, Eric ( January 21, 2018 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery recap : ' Vaulting Ambition ' ''. Entertainment Weekly. Jump up ^ Burt, Kayti ( January 22, 2018 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery episode 12 review : Vaulting Ambition ''. Den of Geek. Jump up ^ Hunt, James ( January 30, 2018 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery episode 13 review : What 's Past Is Prologue ''. Den of Geek. Jump up ^ Nemetz, Dave ( February 18, 2018 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery Recap : Emperor Georgiou 's New Groove ''. TV Line. Jump up ^ Lowry, Andrew ( February 6, 2018 ). `` Star Trek Discovery season 1 episode 14 ' The War Without, The War Within ' review and recap : One of the stranger HR decisions in TV history ''. The Independent. Jump up ^ Hunt, James ( February 11, 2018 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery episode 15 review : Will You Take My Hand ? ''. Den of Geek. Jump up ^ Marnell, Blair ( August 7, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery gets its first comic book series and novel ''. Nerdist. Jump up ^ House, Dénes ( September 25, 2017 ). `` Review : ' Desperate Hours ' Novel Tie - In Delivers Thrills And Insights Into ' Star Trek : Discovery ' ''. Forbes. Jump up ^ Harnick, Chris ( September 24, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery Boldly Goes Where No Trek Has Gone Before, Thanks to Sonequa Martin - Green ''. E !. Jump up ^ Otterson, Joe ( October 1, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery Recap : You Ca n't Sit With Us ''. Variety. Jump up ^ Gartenberg, Chaim ( September 25, 2017 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery boldly goes where no Star Trek show has gone before ''. The Verge. Retrieved September 25, 2017. Jump up ^ `` The 25 Best TV Performances of 2017 ''. TV Guide. December 6, 2017. Jump up ^ Bedwell, David ( December 12, 2017 ). `` 11 Best TV Characters of 2017 : Michael Burnham, Celeste Wright and more ''. CultureFly. Jump up ^ Otterson, Joe ( December 18, 2017 ). `` Top Breakout TV Stars of 2017 ''. Variety. Jump up ^ `` Performer of the Week : Sonequa Martin - Green ''. TV Line. January 20, 2018. Jump up ^ Martinelli, Marissa ( February 13, 2018 ). `` Sonequa Martin - Green Saved Star Trek : Discovery From Getting Lost in a Maze of Plot Twists ''. Slate. Jump up ^ Vandervall, Andy ( February 14, 2018 ). `` We need to talk about the season finale of Star Trek : Discovery ''. Wired. Jump up ^ Handlen, Zack ( February 11, 2018 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery ends its first season with a promise to do better ''. The AV Club. Jump up ^ Shannon Miller, Liz ( February 11, 2018 ). `` ' Star Trek : Discovery ' Finale Review : As One Chapter Ends, ' Will You Take My Hand ? ' Introduces an Intriguing Season 2 ''. IndieWire. Jump up ^ Luxford, James ( February 12, 2018 ). `` Star Trek Discovery, Will You Take My Hand review : Redemption for Burnham in a flat season finale ''. Metro. Jump up ^ Collura, Scott ( February 11, 2018 ). `` Star Trek : Discovery Review - `` Will You Take My Hand ? '' ``. IGN. External links Official website at StarTrek.com Star Trek : Discovery Characters Michael Burnham Episodes Season 1 `` The Vulcan Hello '' `` Battle at the Binary Stars '' `` Context Is for Kings '' Other After Trek Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Burnham&oldid=826908346 '' Categories : Star Trek : Discovery characters Fictional characters introduced in 2017 Starfleet officers Fictional African - American people Fictional commanders Fictional anthropologists Fictional first officers Fictional orphans Fictional criminals Fictional adoptees Fictional military captains Fictional ship captains Fictional prisoners and detainees Hidden categories : Pages using deprecated image syntax Articles using Infobox character with multiple unlabeled fields Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Čeština Français Hrvatski Português Română Edit links This page was last edited on 21 February 2018, at 17 : 26. 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Question: who plays michael burnham on star trek discovery
Answer: Sonequa Martin-Green