Star Trek stars Saldana, Eve, Quinto and Pegg talk about their experiences

From learning Klingon to talking about Downton Abbey on the bridge of The Enterprise.

Zoe Saldana in Star Trek Into Darkness. Courtesy Paramount

Zoe Saldana (Uhura)

How did you feel about learning Klingon?

I was dreading learning the language because I thought it was going to be very, very difficult. But as soon as we started breaking it down I found a lot of similarities to the Spanish dialect. So I was able to hold on to that.

Before you read the script, how did you want to see Uhura evolve as a character?

I just wanted to see Uhura be who I felt her to be - which is a real woman, a fighter who stands by her partner and her crew, and is very good at what she does. And if everybody's hands are full, she could really kick some butt.

Can you talk about Uhura's relationship with Spock in this film?

Their relationship has definitely grown. She's in a place where she's starting to demand more from him. I like the fact that she's very bold.

Alice Eve (Dr Carol Marcus)

Were you a Star Trek fan before you came on board?

I think it's an oxymoron to say I was a moderate Trekkie. I watched it with my grandfather when I was young. It was on at 5.20pm on a Saturday afternoon in England. And I watched the show - and I quite liked William Shatner. But I think I thought it was very male and a bit slow. Obviously I'm now a complete, avid fanatical Trekkie.

Do you know what made JJ Abrams cast you?

His wife had seen Entourage and I think she thought the forthright character I played in that was maybe appropriate for Dr Carol Marcus's super-brain.

Did you take any memento from the set?

What do I have from Star Trek that I value from the Bridge? I only have what was given to me by JJ - his wrap gift was a make-it-yourself Enterprise out of wood.

Zachary Quinto (Mr Spock)

Can you explain the make-up process?

I have two people who work on my make-up. One guy, Dave Snyder, is responsible for my ears, gluing them on and airbrushing them - we use a new set of ears every day. And then simultaneously Dave [Leroy] Anderson is individually gluing hairs to my eyebrows.

Was it difficult to play a character as well known as Spock?

I don't know if it was ever difficult because JJ was very clear from the beginning that he wanted us to create the characters from our own perspective rather than rely on anything that Bill [Shatner] or Leonard [Nimoy] or any of the original actors did.

Spock is logic-driven, but here you show him with feelings.

People often make the misconception that Spock doesn't feel, when in fact he feels quite deeply. He just doesn't express his feelings in a way that human beings have come to expect.

Simon Pegg (Scotty)

Do you feel Star Trek into Darkness is bigger than its predecessor?

Yeah, absolutely. Well, it's a sequel, it has to be. You have to build on what you've created originally. You have to evolve, otherwise it will feel like it's spinning its wheels. JJ Abrams and the writing team knew that's what they had to do, in order to move this story forward, and it does exactly that. It's a step up.

Have you had a lot of contact from rabid Star Trek fans?

We get asked this a lot, and it's as if the Star Trek fan community are a sinister cabal of judges who pass judgement and are very aggressive. They're not. They're very nice and completely normal. I've only ever come up against wonderful positivity.

Is it true you discussed Downton Abbey on set?

Chris [Pine] had been watching it. He'd got it on DVD. It was very strange to be talking about Lady Cora on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise.

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