Actor Martin Quinn revealed why he hadn’t watched much of the franchise before joining the cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds during its second season.
During a July 2025 interview with Mr. Will Wong at the Star Trek: SNW Season 3 premiere, Quinn acknowledged that he is the first Scottish actor to play his character Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, who is famously from Scotland. The character was originated by Canadian actor, James Doohan, in the original Star Trek television series, which ran from 1966 to 1969. English actor Simon Pegg also portrayed Scotty in the J.J. Abrams‘ Star Trek films.
According to Quinn, he wasn’t all that interested in watching Star Trek because Scotty didn’t have an authentic Scottish accent.
“It’s part of the reason I hadn’t really seen much Star Trek before because I knew that there was someone doing a dodgy Scottish accent. So it kind of puts you off a little bit,” said Quinn during the interview. “So I think that shows the power of representation in itself. There’s only 5 million Scottish people but let’s see if we can reach them.”
Quinn discussed playing the iconic engineer during a July 2025 interview with Trek Movie. He said he wanted to portray the character as “authentically Scottish, not just a stereotype.”
“I think that I can kind of bring a youthful energy, and an authentic kind of Scottish-ness to it, if that’s a thing … Because I am Scottish, yeah. I have at least that qualification,” said Quinn to the publication.
He also reminded Star Trek fans that his Scotty is younger than Doohan’s version.
“Well, you know, he’s got a long way to go before he’s the Scotty everyone knows and loves from TOS. And he’s got a lot of learning to do,” said Quinn in the interview. “And he’s not quite the miracle worker, quite yet. And I think it’s more interesting if he’s not exactly what everyone has in mind in the future. Do you know what I mean? I think watching him on that journey is going to be more interesting than getting an impression of James Doohan personally. But that’s just me covering my back.”
