Rosalind Chao

Rosalind: In my high school class, I was the only nonwhite person: Marywood, an all girls' school. I grew up in Garden Grove, which was a little more integrated. But when we moved to Villa Park, it was quite different. As we moved up on the economic scale, in some ways it was a little harder for me. People would say, "Oh, you speak English so well!" I'd think, "Well, if I didn't speak English, I'd be a mute!"

(On how she was let out of any permanent obligation so that she could do the movie The Joy Luck Club) Rosalind: I'm very grateful to the Star Trek people because they made it possible for me to participate in a movie that really made a difference to Asian-Americans, and it made a difference in my life as well.

Rosalind: When they offered me the role as a regular on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993), I was actually pregnant with my first child and I was also getting ready to do The Joy Luck Club (1993). So, I had to say no to the producers at that point. I wanted to be able to spend time with my husband and with my first child right after he was born. And I did. I really think it worked out well for everyone.