The news broke recently about how Passions and All My Children alum McKenzie Westmore had been cast in a role in the upcoming Star Trek: Picard series. McKenzie reached out to Soap Opera News to tell the amazing story of how she got that role.
The story that Westmore describes as one that you don’t typically hear in Hollywood is based purely on friendship and selflessness. Neville Page, who has worked on films like Star Trek, Cloverfield, and Avatar, is working on the new series. He worked with McKenzie on the SYFY show Face Off as a judge for years and the two are great friends. And McKenzie recounts how Neville reached out to her asking if she would like to play a role that involved her being in prosthetic makeup. She, of course, jumped at the opportunity. Page told her that he couldn’t promise anything, but asked for her to send a photo of her face that he could start sketching on. The producers of the show saw the sketch and were intrigued by it. Neville gave them McKenzie’s resume and they offered her the role.
She unfortunately only got the chance to spend one day as the character thanks to some scheduling conflicts. “I was hired and fired in one day.” [Laughs] She loved her time on set and going through the makeup process. She also got to reconnect with the star of the series Patrick Stewart, whom she worked with on Star Trek: The Next Generation and has known for twenty years. Westmore said that Stewart did not recognize her in her prosthetics and noted that neither will fans! She hopes that her time on the set will lead to more for her in the Star Trek world. Her family has longtime ties with the fandom thanks to her father, the award-winning Michael Westmore, who has worked on several Star Trek productions.
McKenzie let us in on some other exciting things she has coming up as well. Her family’s company, Westmore Beauty, is growing and thriving. And she will be on QVC on July 24th at 6 pm EST showcasing some of their new products. She also let us know that she will back on the next season of Amazon’s The Bay as Caroline Allen, and they should start filming in the next couple of months.
As a huge fan of McKenzie and Passions, I asked her about a possible return to soaps. “I would in a heartbeat!” She said that she didn’t care if it was a guest spot, recurring or contract. She just misses the genre. “I’ve always loved the soap world. I love all that I do, but nothing compares to the soap world.” Why hasn’t this happened yet, people?! We need her back in the genre!!
Sadly, McKenzie did not get the chance to be in the upcoming Passions 20th-anniversary documentary. “I so badly wanted to be a part of it.” She had to cancel at the last minute due to her husband having some minor surgery. He is doing well and she is looking forward to like all of us to see the documentary.
We would like to thank McKenzie for sharing her wonderful story. We wish her continued success in everything she does. And be sure to check her out on Cameo and follow her on social media.
Tori
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