April 2002

Star Trek Monthly

Issue #90 

After appearing in shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Poltergeist: The Legacy, Special Unit 2, The Immortals, and GvsE, Leicester-born Dominic Keating now serves about the good ship Enterprise, manning the ship's armory as Lieutenant Malcolm Reed. But which Carry On character does he think he most looks like? 

Words by: Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin

We weren't able to find a birth date on you. What is your birthday?

I'm thirty something. Thirty-achy-something. July 1st. I'm a Cancerian. I'm moody. I have a hard time letting go.

What's your fondest memory of working on Enterprise?

So far, without a doubt, the week we spent shooting Shuttlepod One just before Christmas. The juices were flowing. It was an incredible script; just 47 pages of Trip and Reed together in the shuttlepod. Connor Trinneer and I are marooned on Shuttlepod One and we think the Enterprise has been blown up. It was a fantastic script and I got to do some amazing acting in front of a camera. There were times when I didn't want it to end. And apparently, it's really good. Rick Berman came by two or three days ago and he came up to me and Connor and said of all the shows he's ever produced, this is the one he's most proud of.

Have you ever seen a Carry On film?

Of course. What is this, amateur night?

Do you think you look like anyone famous?

I have several [celebrity] 'spotter' as it were, people who think I look like whoever. Martin Short I get quite a lot. I actually worked with Martin in Jungle 2 Jungle, and I told him, "I'm a little taller, I'm a lot younger and I'm a hell of a lot sexier. Sorry, Martin, it's always going to be that way." The other one I sometimes get is David Duchovny.

So, if Martin Short and David Duchovny had a baby then...

It would be Dominic Keating. But you know who I really look like? Jim Dale, who was in the Carry On movies. So, yes, Carry On, I grew up with Sid James.

What's the weirdest part of your association with Star Trek?

Dare I say, coming to the conventions? The first one was pretty 'whoa'. I was in the back of a car coming to the convention center in Phoenix, and there was a pack of Klingons waiting at the crosswalk. That was pretty weird. I ducked down in the chair and went, "Whoa, there's my peeps." I got recognized for the first time in the post office three days ago. I went to put some fan mail in the post - because I still write to the cast of Voyager, you see [laughs] - and this guy came over.

Have you autographed any weird body parts?

No, not yet. I'm taking the Fifth on that one. I've got a girlfriend.

Is God an old guy with a big white beard?

He's just a higher power of my understanding [laughs].

What's your idea of perfect happiness?

Before I had God in my life as a higher power of my understanding [laughs]? To wake up and to just lie in bed and not worry that I should be doing something.

Is Reed gay or just British?

And the difference is? We don't actually have a word for 'gay' in England. It's just 'public school boy' [laughs]. I did the full five years.

No, he's not [gay]. It's made clear in another three episodes or so. I think you've got certain minority groups - if I can call them that - who are interested in having themselves represented on mainstream television programs. I know Brannon [Braga] has had the Christian lobbyists trying to get a fully-fledged Christian on the ship for years and years and years. I think when they saw that Reed was 'shy around women', our gay brethren were shouting it from the rooftops, baby!

I've played a lot of gay characters in my professional career. I actually read about Reed possibly being gay in the supermarket, like a lot of people would have done, in the TV Guide. I nearly dropped my sushi!

What's the best piece of gossip you've ever heard about yourself?

I did a commercial once in England, for a soft drink called Tango. The story goes that it was on in the cinemas as well as on TV, and two ex-girlfriends went to see a movie and this Tango soft drink commercial comes on. It used to end with me suavely looking into the camera, taking a sip of the Tango with my eyes glistening. Apparently, the story goes that the one girl nudged the other one and went, "I've had him." To which the other one looked back and said, "So have I."

If you could play anyone other than yourself on Star Trek, who would you play?

In any incarnation? I think Brent Spiner's portrayal of Data is really fun. I think that's who I could play.

When did you last have a hangover?

At least 19 months ago. I don't drink anymore.

When was the last time you were naked in public?

Was there money involved? I think the last time was not that long ago. I used to do a lot of changing in the back of my car when going to auditions. I have often been found at least down to my shreddies [underwear] somewhere on Sunset [Boulevard].

What object do you always carry with you?

My watch. I don't carry a pen often. My golf clubs. I'm a golfer. They're not with me today, but if I'm going anywhere for a few days...

Do you ever wish you lived in the future?

No, I can't say I have. Sometimes, I've thought I was more a Renaissance man or something like that. I guess it would be handy, wouldn't it? Travel would be the biggest plus.

Is Hollywood full of babies?

Yeah, Hollywood's got its fair share of casualties, let's face it. Whether or not they're crybabies or not, I don't know. It's a tough town.

Have you ever been tempted to hit a colleague?

No, I've been lucky actually. There's never been anyone that's really upset me.

Have you ever been tempted to hit a journalist?

No. But it's early days yet. I haven't met that many.

Have you lied since we started talking?

Of course!

*Submitted by Vikki