Nana Visitor explains what happened with Dark Angel, Fox's cyberpunk sci-fi series produced by James Cameron and starring Jessica Alba. After starring as Major Kira Nerys for all seven seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Visitor joined Dark Angel as the villainous Dr. Elizabeth Renfro towards the end of season 1.
Set in post-apocalyptic Seattle, Dark Angel centered on Max Guevara (Jessica Alba), a genetically engineered teenager hiding from the government forces she escaped from as a child. Max partners with crusading cyberjournalist Logan Cale (Michael Weatherly) and helps people in need while searching for her siblings, who also fled the government's X-5 program.
In an exclusive interview with ScreenRant's John Orquiola about her time on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and her upcoming appearance at Creation Entertainment's ST: CHI – Trek to Chicago convention, Nana Visitor looked back on her brief time on Dark Angel and revealed what happened to her villain. Check out Nana's quote below:
ScreenRant: One of the shows I really loved after DS9 ended was Dark Angel. You came on at the end of season one as the villain, Dr. Elizabeth Renfro. Do you have memories of your time on that show?
Nana Visitor: It was a wild time for me because I was doing Chicago on Broadway, and they would fly me to Vancouver and do all my scenes at once in two days. Chicago would give me an additional day off, and then I’d fly back and do the show. And I did that for a while. I had two young [kids], I had an eight-year-old and a four-year-old. So it was like I was out of my mind, exhausted. I remember getting to Vancouver one time, and I was getting a massage thinking, ‘This will help me,’ but the minute she touched me, I had a panic attack just from being so tired, and I was like, ‘Don't touch me’. And the poor woman, I know she probably thought, ‘What did I do?’ But I couldn't explain to her, I'm really so sleep deprived and out of my head, trying to achieve both jobs, plus be there as much as I could for my children that I was just gone. That's a big memory for me.
Jessica [Alba] was sweet and wonderful to work with. When I met James Cameron, wow. He told me about my character, told me what they wanted, and said she's probably 100 or more years old, so that's what she's doing with the children. She's getting the DNA to keep herself young, and that's why she's chasing them. So it was so fascinating.
But then, I can't remember who was making the show at the time [showrunner Charles H. Eglee]… they decided it was going to be all young people. They got rid of everybody who was over 40. Cameron left, and it became a very different show. So I was gone, we were all gone, unfortunately. But I do believe [that] if James Cameron's version had been allowed to grow, it would have been a very interesting show.
Dark Angel aired for 2 seasons on Fox from 2000-2002. As the first TV series created by and executive produced by James Cameron, Dark Angel arrived with great fanfare. However, the ambitious sci-fi series was expensive to produce, and ratings fell throughout season 1. By the time Nana Visitor was revealed as Dark Angel's big bad, the show was on the bubble for cancellation.
Fox renewed Dark Angel for season 2, but the show was retooled to focus more on the young X-5 characters, with Max receiving a foil in Joshua (Jensen Ackles), her troublemaking 'brother.' Dark Angel dropped most of season 1's story in favor of a new mystery about why the X-5s were created. As Nana Visitor said, most of season 1's antagonists, like Renfro and Donald Lydecker (John Savage), were dropped or became recurring characters.
Nana Visitor appeared in Dark Angel for 6 episodes, and Dr. Elizabeth Renfro was killed off early in season 2. Dark Angel planned to return for season 3, but at the last minute, Fox canceled the show. The network's attempt to retool the series and focus on Max and the young X-5 characters, as well as more mutant-style villains, failed to boost ratings.
James Cameron wasn't as hands-on for Dark Angel season 2, but the Academy Award-winning director returned to direct the 90-minute season 2 finale, "Freak Nation." Dark Angel ended on a cliffhanger, but last year, Jessica Alba stated she would return for a Dark Angel reboot if Cameron also came back.
Dark Angel's ship has sailed for Nana Visitor, but it sounds like a chaotic but memorable experience for her after her iconic run as Major Kira on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Almost 25 years later, Nana Visitor's revelation about Dr. Renfro is a cool and welcome tidbit for Dark Angel fans.
Fans Alarmed by Jessica Alba's Stunning New Instagram Photo
With a growing number of Hollywood stars drawing attention for increasingly slim appearances, Jessica Alba has become the latest celebrity to spark discussion online over her physique.
Alba recently shared an Instagram photo dump highlighting some of her August moments so far. The first photo showed the actress posing for a selfie in a tiger-stripe bikini, putting her slender frame on display. She accessorized the look with gold jewelry and sunglasses.
The rest of the carousel featured snapshots of the Honest founder golfing with her youngest son, spending time with her daughters, relaxing in the sun, enjoying campfires with friends and sharing moments with her boyfriend, Danny Ramirez.
Jessica Alba Fans Point Out Her Recent Weight Loss
However, many fans focused on the first bikini photo and expressed concern about Alba's appearance, with some speculating about weight-loss drugs despite there being no confirmation that she has used them.
"Another one lost to Ozempic," one person wrote.
Another said, "Not another Ozempic girl, she was so fine."
"Jessica, we love you but don't turn into Ariana Grande," another commenter wrote, referencing the singer's own recent appearance and the speculation surrounding her weight.
Another fan simply wrote, "I hope all is well," while someone else commented, "Not looking healthy at all. So sad."
Others pushed back against the criticism, arguing that Alba's body should not be subject to public scrutiny.
"People shaming her for the way she looks need their head examined. It's none of your business and it's also the reason women are so self-conscious of their bodies. Mind your business and your manners," one person wrote.
Hollywood Stars Face Health & Weight Loss Concerns
The online conversation surrounding the mom of three comes amid a broader trend of celebrities being scrutinized over their changing appearances. Stars including Charlize Theron, Anna Faris, Ariana Grande and Jenna Ortega have all faced public speculation about weight loss, health or the use of medications such as Ozempic.
While dramatic transformations among celebrities have long attracted attention, recent conversations have increasingly centered on stars who were already petite and now appear noticeably slimmer.
However, without confirmation from the individuals themselves, speculation about the reasons behind someone's weight or appearance remains just that—speculation.
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