Guinan

From LoveToKnow Sci-Fi

Guinan, played by Whoopi Goldberg, runs the Ten-Forward lounge aboard the Enterprise-D on Star Trek: The Next Generation. She is the unofficial counselor aboard the ship and frequently gives sage advice to many of the crew members, especially Captain Jean Luc Picard. She and the captain are trusted friends and it was he that invited her to serve aboard the Enterprise-D as barkeeper.

Guinan is a member of the El-Aurian race and exhibits extraordinary wisdom and mysterious abilities that are never fully explained in the Star Trek universe. She is seen as an almost equal by the omnipotent being Q, who suggested that there is far more to her than can be imagined.

The El-Aurian Race

The El-Aurian race are identical to humans in their physical appearance. Often called "listeners", they were scattered across the galaxy when the Borg invaded their homeworld. El-Aurians live for hundreds of years and Guinan herself is between 500 and 700 years old. They exhibit a mysterious and supernatural sense of time and space.

The El-Aurians once inhabited the El-Aurian system until the Borg attacked and assimilated most of their species in 2265. The remaining survivors fled and scattered themselves across the delta quadrant and beyond. Some 30 years later the Federation transported a group of refugees to Earth. The SS Lakul and SS Robert Fox were subsequently caught and destroyed inside a Nexus near the Sol system. The Enterprise-B rescued some of the refugees, including Guinan. She later described the experience as "being inside joy".

Because of their lifespan of hundreds of years (the oldest known age is 700 Earth years), the El-Aurians are natural lore keepers and collect the stories and wisdom of many sentient beings. They seem to exhibit a limited empathic ability and are always willing to help other beings with their problems.

History

Guinan was born on the El-Aurian homeworld in the late 19th century (Earth calendar). She traveled to Earth in 1893 posing as a socialite in San Francisco to hide from her father.

In 2365, she received a personal invitation to serve aboard the Enterprise-D by her long-time friend Captain Jean Luc Picard. There she took up her job as barkeeper and unofficial counselor to the crew.

The Role

Actress Whoopi Goldberg approached the creators of Star Trek and expressed a desire to have a role on the show. She was inspired by Nichelle Nichols' part in the original Star Trek series as Lt Uhura, one of the first black females to have a regular role on a television series.

The producers and writers weren't sure they could create a character suitable for such a popular actress. Goldberg said she didn't care how large or small the role was, even if all she did was sweep the floors she would be satisfied. It was then the writers decided to make her character a bartender, named after the famous female saloonkeeper Texas Guinan.

Guinan Trivia

She exhibits a fondness for large hats. Even when shown on Earth during various time periods, she has a hat fitting for the occasion.
Q regards her as a dangerous being who always has trouble following behind. He treats her as if she is a near-equal.
Captain Picard taught her to fence, though after losing a few matches she proclaimed she didn't like the sport very much.
She has been married 23 times and has had "a lot" of children.
About her friendship with Jean Luc, she has remarked it goes "beyond friendship and beyond family" ("The Best of Both Worlds" episode). Picard has also remarked that Guinan is "very selective about whom she calls a friend".
In addition to dispensing her wisdom about matters of love, friendship and life, she has also bested Commander Worf in a phaser target competition.