Marina Sirtis is a British actress, born on 29 March 1955 in the London Borough of Hackney to Greek immigrant parents, who built a career across film, television, and voice work on both sides of the Atlantic. She trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is best known internationally for her role in Star Trek: The Next Generation. In 2024, she and her castmates received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 51st Saturn Awards, an honor that is normally given to a single individual.
Key facts
- Born: 29 March 1955
- Birthplace: Hackney
- Country: United Kingdom; United States
- Occupation: actor; film actor; television actor; voice actor
- Education: Guildhall School of Music and Drama; Tottenham High School for Girls
Early life and education
Sirtis was born in Hackney, London. Her parents, John Sirtis, a tailor, and Despina Sirtis (née Yianniri), a tailor’s assistant, had emigrated from Greece to England approximately three months before her birth. Growing up in a Greek household in east London shaped her sense of identity in ways she has spoken about throughout her career.
She attended Tottenham High School for Girls before going on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, one of the leading conservatoires in the United Kingdom. That training gave her the classical stage foundation she would later carry into her television and film work.
Career
Sirtis has worked as an actor, film actor, television actor, and voice actor, holding nationality in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Her career spans multiple decades and multiple formats, from stage-trained theatrical work to animated voice roles.
Her most enduring association is with Star Trek: The Next Generation and its surrounding franchise. In 2024, at the 51st Saturn Awards, she and her fellow cast members were collectively presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige making the presentation. The collective nature of the honor was exceptional: the Saturn Awards’ Lifetime Achievement category is ordinarily reserved for a single recipient.
Personal life
Sirtis was married to Michael Lamper. He died peacefully in his sleep on 7 December 2019 at the age of 61. The couple had no children.
Data sources
Data updated: 2026-10-26