George Hawkins on Darem's Duty, Identity and Introducing a New Species

The latest episode of Starfleet Academy, Season 1, Episode 7 "Ko'Zeine," brings Darem Reymi home to Khionia for a ceremonial kidnapping and an arranged marriage to his childhood sweetheart. When Jay-Den follows him through the portal, Darem must decide whether the destiny chosen for him at birth is worth keeping or if his future lies among the stars.

George Hawkins says he arrived on the show with little Star Trek background and did a lot of homework to understand the franchise’s history and the weight of key moments. He called it a privilege to introduce an entirely new species to the universe, and praised the writers and showrunners for the world they built, which allowed him creative freedom as a performer.

To play Darem, Hawkins deliberately slowed his rhythm and developed a physicality for the role—moves that “cut through the air” and a quieter tempo that contrasts with his own natural intensity.

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