Jennifer Lein (the actress behind Kes)

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

What happened to Jennifer Lein? I went and checked Wikipedia. She got started in 1990, dubbing the voice of the main character in a weird horror movie. She guest starred on Brewster Place, got a recurring role on the soap Another World, and then part of the main cast of Phenom before being cancelled after one season. After that, she voiced a character in the pilot episode of The Critic. Star Trek: Voyager was her breakout hit, part of the main cast (Kes) for 3 years, written out 2 episodes into S4 to make room for Seven of Nine. After that, she did some voice work for 3 episodes, each from a different animated series, before landing regular work on Men in Black (animated series). While working on that show, she also popped up in 2 obscure films, plus one more after leaving the show. That's it, that's her entire career, ending in 2001. She only acted for some 12 years total. What's up? Why did she mostly do voice work after Voyager? Wikipedia says she retired from acting when she became a mom, which in all honesty, that's actually really cool.

Has anyone seen her in anything outside of Voyager during her brief run as an actress?
Does her voice stand out on the Men in Black animated show?
Interestingly, "Fury" was one of her final 3 acting roles.

 

[StarMan]

She went off the rails some time back - alcohol, drugs, mugshots etc. I believe at one point she was charged with indecent exposure to a minor.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

She went off the rails some time back - alcohol, drugs, mugshots etc. I believe at one point she was charged with indecent exposure to a minor.

In the 2010's, yes, but I'd rather focus on her as an actress and not give into gossip.

 

[Guy Gardener]

In the 2010's, yes, but I'd rather focus on her as an actress and not give into gossip.

We have her mugshot.

It's very frowny face.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

We have her mugshot.

It's very frowny face.

Have you seen her in anything outside of Voyager?

 

[Guy Gardener]

Have you seen her in anything outside of Voyager?

American History X.

 

[StarMan]

American History X.

That was an unsettling DS9 / VOY crossover.

In the 2010's, yes, but I'd rather focus on her as an actress and not give into gossip.

You asked what happened to Jennifer Lien. I answered. Connect the dots.

Gossip? Her behavior is a matter of public record, which is all I have referred to.

I'm not having a go at the woman.

 

[Michael]

Lein

Lien. The name is Lien. You obviously did at least some research into the actress. Did you not notice what her name was?

While working on that show, she also popped up in 2 obscure films, plus one more after leaving the show.

Not sure which movies specifically you’re referring to as “obscure”, but she co-starred in American History X around that time, which was certainly anything but “obscure” and rather a pretty noteworthy movie.

As for why she quit acting: It has always been my understanding/suspicion that it was mostly because she didn’t have a good experience in Hollywood. I mean, look at how she was kicked off from Voyager. And I guess expectations regarding keeping up a certain body image, diet and beauty standard – even if to one’s own health detriment – also had to do with it. Maybe that’s also why she was more comfortable doing voice acting for a while.

But also, I don’t think it’s all that strange to quit acting (or any type of profession) after doing it for a couple of years. People do that all the time, especially if they made some bad experiences.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Lien. The name is Lien. You obviously did at least some research into the actress. Did you not notice what her name was?

Not sure which movies specifically you’re referring to as “obscure”, but she co-starred in American History X around that time, which was certainly anything but “obscure” and rather a pretty noteworthy movie.

As for why she quit acting: It has always been my understanding/suspicion that it was mostly because she didn’t have a good experience in Hollywood. I mean, look at how she was kicked off from Voyager. And I guess expectations regarding keeping up a certain body image, diet and beauty standard – even if to own’s own health detriment – also had to do with it. Maybe that’s also why she was more comfortable doing voice acting for a while.

But also, I don’t think it’s all that strange to quit acting (or any type of profession) after doing it for a couple of years. People do that all the time, especially if they made some bad experiences.

(This is spooky)

Jennifer Anne Lien.

Jennifer A. Lien.

Jennifer Alien.

Alien.

 

[StarMan]

(This is spooky)

Jennifer Anne Lien.

Jennifer A. Lien.

Jennifer Alien.

Alien.

You gave up at the end, didn't you?

 

[Guy Gardener]

You gave up at the end, didn't you?

Maybe secretly she's a face-hugger?

What a cross-over!

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

You asked what happened to Jennifer Lien. I answered. Connect the dots.
Gossip? Her behavior is a matter of public record, which is all I have referred to.
I'm not having a go at the woman.

#1 No, I asked why she shifted to voice acting and left acting, not what she's been up to since.
#2 Gossip defined as: "a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others" or "rumor or report of an intimate nature." Something can be factually true and still be gossip. I'm just not comfortable with gossiping about an actress's mental health on a message board.
#3 I'm aware.

Lien. The name is Lien. You obviously did at least some research into the actress. Did you not notice what her name was?

Typo.

Not sure which movies specifically you’re referring to as “obscure”, but she co-starred in American History X around that time, which was certainly anything but “obscure” and rather a pretty noteworthy movie.

It's one of those movies that I've never seen and never hear anyone talk about, so I figured it was obscure.

As for why she quit acting: It has always been my understanding/suspicion that it was mostly because she didn’t have a good experience in Hollywood. I mean, look at how she was kicked off from Voyager. And I guess expectations regarding keeping up a certain body image, diet and beauty standard – even if to one’s own health detriment – also had to do with it. Maybe that’s also why she was more comfortable doing voice acting for a while.

Maybe, but getting dropped form a popular TV show is a common thing in Hollywood, and I can't imagine she was ignorant of this. That said, I think it's more likely that she was dropped and replaced by Jeri Ryan. It's entirely possible she took an emotional injury, feeling she wasn't "pretty enough" for Star Trek.

But also, I don’t think it’s all that strange to quit acting (or any type of profession) after doing it for a couple of years. People do that all the time, especially if they made some bad experiences.

I'm not suggesting quitting acting (or any career) is strange. It's just that she seemed to have so much fun on Voyager and then just up and vanished a from the business a few years later. Strange, no?

 

[Tosk]

It's entirely possible she took an emotional injury, feeling she wasn't "pretty enough" for Star Trek.

A mildly odd thing to say right after saying you have no interest in gossip.

"Hey everyone, don't repeat gossip...be the source!"

 

[BohandiAnsoid]

You are opening quite a can of worms here...

 

[Dukhat]

That’s what happens when every little thought that pops into someone’s head makes that someone feel the need to start a thread topic about it.

 

[Guy Gardener]

A mildly odd thing to say right after saying you have no interest in gossip.

"Hey everyone, don't repeat gossip...be the source!"

I think feeling "short" is more of a concern than "less pretty".

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

A mildly odd thing to say right after saying you have no interest in gossip.
"Hey everyone, don't repeat gossip...be the source!"

No interest about gossiping about her mental health from the 2010's, none of my business, yours, nor anyone else's. Being curious why she left acting is a different conversation. You know that.

 

[Tosk]

her mental health from the 2010's

Ah. So discussing her mental health in the 2010s is bad, but discussing her mental health from the '90s is okay?

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Ah. So discussing her mental health in the 2010s is bad, but discussing her mental health from the '90s is okay?

#1 Arguing over the mental health of an actress who retired from acting and did some really embarrassing things is a really shitting thing to do, so I stay out of that and encourage others to do the same. Would you want people go gossip about your mental health, regardless of the gossip being true or false?

#2 Discussing why someone quit a profession doesn't equate "mental health."

 

[Tosk]

#1 Arguing over the mental health of an actress who retired from acting and did some really embarrassing things is a really shitting thing to do, so I stay out of that and encourage others to do the same. Would you want people go gossip about your mental health, regardless of the gossip being true or false?

I agree, it is a shitting thing to do. But I didn't do that. My only contribution was to point out where I perceived someone else doing it.

#2 Discussing why someone quit a profession doesn't equate "mental health."

How is it not discussing her mental health to question if she took an emotional injury, and if she questioned her worth regarding physical attractiveness? ...

It's entirely possible she took an emotional injury, feeling she wasn't "pretty enough" for Star Trek.