Kate Mulgrew Kate Mulgrew is an actress who is best known for playing Captain Kathryn Janeway on . Before stepping into the role of a Starfleet captain , her claim to fame was playing Mary Ryan on the ABC soap opera " Ryan ' s Hope " . Since " Voyager " , she has been part of the main cast in the series " Orange Is the New Black " , for which she received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series . Personal . Katherine Kiernan Mulgrew was born in Dubuque , Iowa , to Joan and Thomas James Mulgrew , the oldest girl in an Irish Catholic family of eight . Both of her parents have since passed away . Mulgrew gained an interest in acting at the age of 12 , which her mother helped to flourish by giving her biographies of legendary actresses and sending her to summer acting schools . At the age of 17 , she left home and traveled to New York City to study acting . She was accepted into ' s Conservatory while attending New York University , but left at the end of her junior year to pursue a full - time acting career , beginning within her breakthrough role as Mary Ryan on the hit soap opera " Ryan ' s Hope " . From 1982 to 1993 , she was married to Robert Egan . The marriage produced two sons : Ian Thomas and Alexander James . The divorce became final in 1995 . In November of that year , Mulgrew dated " Star Trek : Voyager " director Winrich Kolbe . ( ) She married Ohio politician Timothy Hagan , whom she met in 1995 through her mother . They became engaged in November 1998 and married on 19 April 1999 . They have since divorced . Mulgrew is also an active member of the Alzheimer ' s Association National Advisory Council . Her mother , Joan , suffered from the debilitating illness prior to her death on 27 July 2006 . Mulgrew was friends with the late John F . Kennedy , Jr . , and attended his funeral with her husband , Tim . She is also a longtime friend of John de Lancie , the actor best known for playing Q on various " Star Trek " episodes , including three episodes of " Star Trek : Voyager " . Her last name is pronounced " Mul - GREW " , with emphasis on the second syllable . Playing Kathryn Janeway . Mulgrew originally auditioned for the role of Captain " Elizabeth " Janeway when " Voyager " was being cast . She initially sent in a videotaped audition , which she made in New York City in August 1994 . Mulgrew felt that her audition was " devoid of meaning " and actually apologized at the end of her performance that she just had fallen in love with a man and was to meet him that day ( her future - husband Tim Hagan ) . Genevieve Bujold was selected to play Janeway over Mulgrew , with the character ' s given name changed to " Nicole " . Bujold left the role after only two days of filming , primarily due to her unfamiliarity with the rapid production schedule necessary in a television series . Mulgrew was invited to another audition , together with three other women . In the audition , she delivered a scene with Tuvok and a monologue inspiring Voyager ' s crew that she would bring them home one day . Because many of the producers were on holiday , Mulgrew only learnt a few days later that she was chosen for the role , with Rick Berman speaking on her answering machine " Welcome aboard , Captain " and asking her to come to Paramount Studios the following Monday . After taking the part , she was informed by Jeri Taylor that Janeway ' s given name was changed yet again , to " Kathryn " , due to legal reasons and in honoring Mulgrew ' s Irish - American roots . Among the actresses Mulgrew beat out for the role were Helen Shaver , Chelsea Field , Patty Duke , and Karen Austin . Discussing Mulgrew ' s casting , " Voyager " co - creator and executive producer Jeri Taylor states that Mulgrew " " had an ineffable quality that put her ahead of the pack . She has proven to be a remarkably accurate choice . " " In her memoir Mulgrew revealed , that the first of her co - stars she met were Robert Duncan McNeill and Garret Wang . Mulgrew was not introduced to the cast prior to shooting , due to the already belated shooting schedule . In fact , she spent the first hours on set in make - up and costume , with the Executive Producers discussing her hairstyle for the show at length – something that would continue the following months . In an interview with Daniel Howard Cerone of the " Los Angeles Times " early in the show ' s production , Mulgrew referred to playing Janeway as " a huge challenge " . She found the constant use of technobabble particularly challenging , comparing it to the medical language she had to use while starring on " Heartbeat " . Mulgrew credited her commanding presence on the set to her upbringing as " the oldest , bossy girl in a family of eight " . Regarding her character , Mulgrew commented , " " The captain . . . has to have an emotional control , an intellectual center , a presence , a calm . Full thruster s , you know ? This is a great woman " " . In an interview with the " New York Times " in 1999 , Mulgrew told about her thoughts leaving the production because of the less free time she could spent with her husband Tim Hagan and her two sons . The producers decided to change the production plans and worked out a special schedule and Mulgrew decided to sign on for the seventh season . Mulgrew played the role of Captain Janeway for seven seasons , from through . Her performance earned her a Saturn Award from the Academy of Science Fiction , Fantasy & Horror Films as well as a Golden Satellite Award in ; the role also garnered her three more Saturn Award nominations . Kate Mulgrew ' s stand - in , photo double , and body double on the series was Sue Henley . In , Mulgrew once again appeared as Janeway – now holding the rank of Vice Admiral – in . She replaced Jeri Ryan , whom the writer ( John Logan ) wanted to cameo , but due to her busy schedule on " Boston Public , " Mulgrew cameoed instead . She also voiced the character in the video games " " and " " and reprised her role as Admiral Janeway in the 2004 " Borg Invasion 4D " - ride at the " " attraction . She most recently voiced Janeway in the video game " " . William Shatner , Patrick Stewart , Avery Brooks , and Scott Bakula supplied the voices of their captains , as well . Several costumes worn by Mulgrew throughout the run of " Star Trek : Voyager " were sold off on the It ' s A Wrap ! sale and auction on eBay , including a two piece Starfleet uniform . Career . Television . " Ryan ' s Hope " . Mulgrew starred on " Ryan ' s Hope " for three years , from 1975 through 1978 . Among her co - stars on this series were actress Catherine Hicks ( who played Dr . Faith Coleridge ) , actor Andrew Robinson ( who played Dr . Frank Ryan ) , Daniel Hugh Kelly , and Michael Corbett . When she left the series , Mulgrew requested her character be killed off . The producers initially refused , but finally did so due to unpopular recasts of the character . However , Mulgrew went on to appear intermittently on the series afterwards , as Mary Ryan ' s spirit . " Mrs . Columbo " . Mulgrew starred in a short - lived spin - off series of " Columbo " entitled " Mrs . Columbo " , on which she played Mrs . Kate Columbo . Her character was believed to be the oft - referenced " missus " of the famed TV detective played by Peter Falk , although this detail was never stated outright and later " Columbo " movies disregarded it entirely . The character ' s name was changed to Kate Callahan for the show ' s second season following an off - screen " divorce " , and the series was renamed " Kate Loves a Mystery " . Although the series only lasted for two seasons in 1979 , it earned Mulgrew a 1980 Golden Globe nomination . One of the actors to guest star on " Mrs . Columbo " was Rene Auberjonois , who went on to play Colonel West in and Odo on , among other roles . Auberjonois appeared in two episodes of the show , each time as a different character . Later series . For two seasons from 1988 through 1989 , Mulgrew starred as Dr . Joanne Springsteen ( later Halloran ) in the TV drama " HeartBeat " , set in a women ' s obstetrics and gynecology clinic . Also starring on this series was " Deep Space Nine " guest actress Gail Strickland . Another short - lived series on which Mulgrew starred was the NBC sitcom " Man of the People " , which aired for one season in 1991 . The series followed a hustler ( played by ) who becomes councilman of a city headed by Mulgrew ' s Mayor Lisabeth Chardin . Mulgrew was seen in a recurring role on the short - lived NBC series " The Black Donnellys " in 2007 , playing the mother of the title characters . She then played the recurring role of Mrs . Jeannie Flanagan on the NBC medical drama " Mercy " , which has been cancelled and was aired in 2009 - 2010 . More recently , between 2011 and 2013 , she has starred in the Adult Swim comedy series " NTSF : SD : SUV : : " . Alongside Michael Harney and Lori Petty , Mulgrew is playing Galina " Red " Reznikov in the Netflix streaming series " Orange is the New Black " since 2013 . This role earned her an OFTA Television Award nomination in the category Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series , a Critic ' s Choice TV Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series , and an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2014 . In 2015 , she won the Screen Actors Guild Award in the category Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series , shared with Michael Harney . In 2016 , Mulgrew was again nominated in this category for " Orange is the New Black " . TV movies and mini - series . Mulgrew co - starred with three - time " Deep Space Nine " actor Frank Langella in the 1976 made - for - TV movie " The American Woman : Portraits of Courage " . In 1978 , Mulgrew co - starred with fellow " Trek " performers Jonathan Banks , Nicholas Coster , Christopher Lloyd , Allan Miller , Diana Muldaur , and Nehemiah Persoff in the CBS mini - series , " The Word " . In 1987 , Mulgrew had a role in the telefilm " Roses Are for the Rich " . Robert Picardo , who became her co - star on " Star Trek : Voyager " , also had a role in the film , as did two - time " Trek " guest star Anne Haney . In 1988 , while filming " Roots : The Gift " , Mulgrew acted alongside three actors who later became a part of three different " Star Trek " series : Avery Brooks ( " Star Trek : Deep Space Nine " ) , LeVar Burton ( ) , and Mulgrew ' s " Voyager " co - star Tim Russ . This telefilm also featured Jerry Hardin , who appeared on TNG in the same year , as Radue . Mulgrew appeared with TNG actress Patti Yasutake in the 1991 TV movie " Fatal Friendship " . In the 1993 TV movie " For Love and Glory " , Mulgrew and " Deep Space Nine " and " Enterprise " guest star Robert Foxworth played a married couple , with " Voyager " guest actor Zach Galligan and TNG guest actress Olivia d ' Abo as their children . In 1998 , Mulgrew co - starred opposite TNG guest actor Corbin Bernsen in the TV movie " Riddler ' s Moon " , in which Mulgrew played widowed farmer Victoria Riddler . TV guest appearances . Mulgrew has made guest appearances on a variety of TV programs . Her first such ventures were two 1978 episodes of " Dallas " . In 1984 , Mulgrew played the wife of William Lucking ' s character in an episode of the short - lived series " Jessie " . In 1986 , Mulgrew guest - starred in a two - parter of " St . Elsewhere " , a series which had " Trek " veterans Jeff Allin , Chad Allen , Ed Begley , Jr . , Norman Lloyd , Deborah May , France Nuyen , Jennifer Savidge , Alfre Woodard , and Jane Wyatt as regular cast members . That same year , she guest - starred as a city councilor in a three - parter on the hit sitcom " Cheers " , co - starring TNG guest star Kelsey Grammer in his regular role as Frasier Crane . In 1987 , Mulgrew appeared in an episode of " Murder , She Wrote " alongside TOS guest actors Vince Howard , Robert Walker , and William Windom . She returned to the series in ( co - starring with Michael McGrady ) and again in 1994 ( with future " Voyager " guest actress Musetta Vander ) . Mulgrew also appeared as an alcoholic anchorwoman on the hit sitcom " Murphy Brown " in 1992 . In 2006 , Mulgrew guest - starred in an episode of the NBC drama " " . In 2011 Mulgrew worked on the third season of the mystery series " Warehouse 13 " . Her character , Jane Lattimer , was featured in a four - episode story arc . " Warehouse 13 " was co - created by Jane Espenson and stars Saul Rubinek . Film roles . Mulgrew made her feature film debut in the drama " Lovespell " , retelling the tragic tale of " Tristan and Iseult " ( with Mulgrew playing the latter ) . Filmed in 1979 , the film was ultimately released in December 1981 . In 1982 , Mulgrew starred in the thriller " A Stranger Is Watching " , in which she played a journalist who befriends a man whose wife was raped and killed , only to be kidnapped ( along with the man ' s daughter ) by the same murderer / rapist . In 1985 , Mulgrew starred as Major Rayner Fleming in the action film " Remo Williams : The Adventure Begins " . This film also starred Mulgrew ' s future " Voyager " co - star Joel Grey as the racist and sexist Chiun , who ridiculed Mulgrew ' s character for being a woman with rank . Also appearing in this film are " Trek " alumni Patrick Kilpatrick , Michael Pataki , George Coe , and Jeff Allin . Mulgrew then starred in the 1987 black comedy " Throw Momma from the Train " as the ex - wife of Billy Crystal ' s character who becomes an unwitting part of a childish man ' s attempts to have his mother killed . Raye Birk and TOS guest star Peter Brocco also appeared in this film . " Momma " was played by Anne Ramsey , wife of " Trek " guest star Logan Ramsey . In 1991 , Mulgrew played Judith Schweitzer in the film " Round Numbers " , co - starring with TNG guest - actress Samantha Eggar . In 1994 , she appeared in the film " Camp Nowhere " , starring Christopher Lloyd from ( whom Mulgrew previously co - starred with in the mini - series " The Word " ) and also featuring an appearance by " The Next Generation " actor Jonathan Frakes . John Putch and Ron Fassler had roles in the film , as well . The following year , Mulgrew appeared in the 1995 film " Captain Nuke and the Bomber Boys " with Joe Piscopo . In 2005 Mulgrew portrayed Dr . Mary Smith in the independent drama " Perception " . Three years later she was cast to portray Colonel Simms in the 2008 short drama " The Response " and in 2010 , Mulgrew portrayed the wife of Christopher McDonald ' s character in the comedy " The Best and the Brightest " . Voice - over work . Television . Mulgrew voiced the villainous Red Claw opposite Adrienne Barbeau ' s Catwoman in three episodes of " Batman : The Animated Series " ( two in 1992 , a third in 1995 ) ; also appearing in the third and last episode , " The Lion and the Unicorn , " were Loren Lester and Kenneth Mars . Mulgrew was among the many " Star Trek " performers who supplied their voices to the Disney animated series " Gargoyles " . Others who have done so include TNG ' s Jonathan Frakes , Marina Sirtis , Brent Spiner , LeVar Burton , and Michael Dorn , DS9 ' s Avery Brooks , TNG and DS9 ' s Colm Meaney , TOS ' Nichelle Nichols , " Voyager " guest actor John Rhys - Davies , and " Trek " movie actors and TNG guest stars David Warner and Paul Winfield . Video games . Besides voicing Captain Janeway for " Elite Force " , Mulgrew also lent her voice to a video game entitled " Run Like Hell " . Other " Trek " performers who supplied voices for this game were Clancy Brown , Brad Dourif , and Sherman Howard . Mulgrew ' s voice can also be heard on the hit video game " Lords of Everquest " , which also featured voices by Ron Perlman , John Rhys - Davies , and " Voyager " co - star Dwight Schultz . Additionally , she can be heard in the 2009 role - playing game , playing the shape - shifting witch , Flemeth . The game also features voice work from fellow " Star Trek : Voyager " actor Tim Russ . In 2011 she reprised her voice part as Flemeth in the sequel " Dragon Age II , " and did so again " " in 2014 with " Dragon Age : Inquisition . " Stage roles . Mulgrew made her professional stage acting debut in a 1975 production of Thornton Wilder ' s " Our Town " at the American Shakespeare Theatre , in which she played Emily Webb . One of her co - stars in this play was " Star Trek : Deep Space Nine " guest actor John Glover . In 1978 , Mulgrew played Desdemona in the Hampton Theatre Company production of William Shakespeare ' s " Othello " . Two - time " Voyager " guest actor Ivar Brogger was among Mulgrew ' s co - stars in this play . Mulgrew appeared in numerous stage productions throughout the 1980s , including Neil Simon ' s " Chapter Two " ( 1980 , with Michael Zaslow ) , Tennessee Williams ' " Cat on a Hot Tin Roof " ( 1981 - 82 ) , " The Ballad of Soapy Smith " ( 1983 , with Kevin Tighe ) , " The Misanthrope " ( 1984 , with Daniel Davis ) , William Shakespeare ' s " Measure for Measure " ( 1985 , with Kelsey Grammer ) , Henrik Ibsen ' s " Hedda Gabler " ( 1986 , co - starring Julianna McCarthy and Dakin Matthews ) , Tom Stoppard ' s " The Real Thing " ( 1986 , also with Dakin Matthews ) , " The Film Society " ( 1987 , again working with Daniel Davis ) , and Shakespeare ' s " Titus Andronicus " ( with Robert Curtis - Brown and Don McManus ) . From 20 May through 1 July 1990 , Mulgrew acted alongside fellow " Trek " alumni Raye Birk , Christine Healy , John Larroquette , Joycelyn O ' Brien , Andrew Robinson , and John Vickery in the West Coast Premiere of Brian Friel ' s " Aristocrats " at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles . In 1992 , Mulgrew co - starred with Joel Brooks and the late Kellie Waymire in the La Jolla Playhouse production of " What The Butler Saw " . Mulgrew made her Broadway debut the following year in Peter Shaffer ' s " Black Comedy " . In February 2002 , Mulgrew began playing legendary actress Katharine Hepburn in " Tea at Five " , a one - woman play written by Matthew Lombardo . The play toured through the U . S . through October 2005 , and garnered Mulgrew several awards . She later starred as Laura Keane in the new Civil War - era Broadway play , " Our Leading Lady " , written by Charles Busch . The play had a preview run from 22 February through 18 March 2007 and opened 20 March 2007 in New York City . It closed on 29 April 2007 . On 9 July 2007 , the Signature Theatre Company announced that Mulgrew has replaced Victoria Clark in the role of Clytemnestra in Charles Mee ' s " Iphigenia 2 . 0 " , directed by Tina Landau and co - starring Rocco Sisto , which ran from 26 August 2007 through 7 October 2007 at the Signature Theatre Company ' s Peter Norton Space . Mulgrew won an Obie Award for her performance in this play . On 22 April 2008 Mulgrew stepped into the role of " Mommy " in the off - Broadway production of Edward Albee ' s " The American Dream " and " The Sandbox " , replacing another actress who had to depart after the play was extended to 17 May . However , Mulgrew was forced to withdraw from the play early " due to a dire family emergency " and the play closed on 3 May . On 25 September 2008 , Mulgrew began playing the role of Hesther Saloman in the Broadway revival of " Equus " . The play ran through 8 February 2009 . After " Equus " , Mulgrew starred as Maria Callas in a production of Terrence McNally ' s Tony Award - winning play " Master Class " . The production was staged at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn , New Jersey , from March 4 through April 5 , 2009 .