Salome Jens
Encyclopedia
Salome Jens is an American
stage, film and television actress. She is perhaps best-known for portraying the Female Changeling on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
.
, the daughter of Salomea (née Szujeuska) and Arnold John Jens, a farmer and builder. Jens graduated Bay View High School
with a 96 average and was crowned Miss Bay View at the long running South Shore Water Frolics
. Later in life, she remarked that "the only time I can imagine contemplating suicide would be if I was told that I had to go back and live in Milwaukee forever."
She has been married twice, first to film actor Ralph Meeker
, and then to television personality Lee Leonard
.
Her performances in the theatre have been rare but well regarded. She nabbed the lion's share of attention in the small role of "The Thief" in the New York premiere production of Jean Genet
's The Balcony
. She won excellent notices playing Josie in A Moon for the Misbegotten
at the downtown Circle-in-the-Square theatre in the late 1960's in New York, and she did a Cleopatra at Stratford.
Jens' debut was in the title role of Terror from the Year 5000
, which was later featured in the 8th Season of Mystery Science Theater 3000
. She subsequently had major roles in Angel Baby
and the television series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
. In 1971, she also appeared as a widow with two children in the 1971 Gunsmoke
episode, "Captain Sligo," with Richard Basehart
in the title role as an Irish
cattle buyer who courts her.
She also appeared in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation
as an "Ancient humanoid", a member of the race responsible for populating the galaxy with humanoid lifeforms. She had previously played Clark Kent
's mother Martha Kent on the popular TV series Superboy
. She also appeared in the 1966 film Seconds
by John Frankenheimer
, in a 1963 episode of The Outer Limits
, "Corpus Earthling", and in 1981's Harry's War
. She also appeared in the I Spy episode "A Room with a Rack" in 1967, as a globe-trotting pilot friend of Kelly Robinson and Alexander Scott. In 1976 she played the role of Mae Olinski on the soap spoof Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
.
She has a very distinctive and sultry voice, and has also narrated a number of documentaries
including The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century
and the film "Clan of the Cave Bear" starring Darryl Hannah. She also voiced the female guardian in the Green Lantern
movie (2011).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stage, film and television actress. She is perhaps best-known for portraying the Female Changeling on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
.
Life and career
Jens was born in Milwaukee, WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, the daughter of Salomea (née Szujeuska) and Arnold John Jens, a farmer and builder. Jens graduated Bay View High School
Bay View High School
Bay View High School is a high school located in Bay View, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is part of the Milwaukee Public Schools. Academic specialties include law, mathematics/science, and construction.Address: 2751 South Lenox St...
with a 96 average and was crowned Miss Bay View at the long running South Shore Water Frolics
South Shore Water Frolics
South Shore Water Frolics is a free three-day summer festival held annually at South Shore Park in the Bay View neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
. Later in life, she remarked that "the only time I can imagine contemplating suicide would be if I was told that I had to go back and live in Milwaukee forever."
She has been married twice, first to film actor Ralph Meeker
Ralph Meeker
Ralph Meeker was an American stage and film actor best-known for starring in the 1953 Broadway production of Picnic, and in the 1955 film noir cult classic Kiss Me Deadly.-Career:...
, and then to television personality Lee Leonard
Lee Leonard
Lee Leonard is an American television personality who was involved in the launch of cable television networks ESPN and CNN.-Early life:...
.
Her performances in the theatre have been rare but well regarded. She nabbed the lion's share of attention in the small role of "The Thief" in the New York premiere production of Jean Genet
Jean Genet
Jean Genet was a prominent and controversial French novelist, playwright, poet, essayist, and political activist. Early in his life he was a vagabond and petty criminal, but later took to writing...
's The Balcony
The Balcony
The Balcony is a play by the French dramatist Jean Genet. Since Peter Zadek directed its first production at the Arts Theatre Club in London in 1957, the play has attracted many of the greatest directors of the 20th century, including Peter Brook, Erwin Piscator, Roger Blin, Giorgio Strehler, and...
. She won excellent notices playing Josie in A Moon for the Misbegotten
A Moon for the Misbegotten
A Moon for the Misbegotten is a play by Eugene O'Neill. The play can be thought of as a sequel to the autobiographical Long Day's Journey into Night...
at the downtown Circle-in-the-Square theatre in the late 1960's in New York, and she did a Cleopatra at Stratford.
Jens' debut was in the title role of Terror from the Year 5000
Terror from the Year 5000
Terror from the Year 5000 is a 1958 American science fiction film directed by Robert J. Gurney Jr. starring Ward Costello, Joyce Holden, John Stratton, Salome Jens and Fred Herrick....
, which was later featured in the 8th Season of Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
. She subsequently had major roles in Angel Baby
Angel Baby (1961 film)
Angel Baby is a 1961 film starring Salome Jens in the title role, Mercedes McCambridge, and George Hamilton. Burt Reynolds, in his motion picture debut, plays Hoke Adams...
and the television series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman is an American soap opera parody that aired in daily syndication from January 1976 to May 1977. The series was produced by Norman Lear, directed by Joan Darling and starred Louise Lasser...
. In 1971, she also appeared as a widow with two children in the 1971 Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West....
episode, "Captain Sligo," with Richard Basehart
Richard Basehart
John Richard Basehart was an American actor. He starred in the 1960s television science fiction drama Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, in the role of Admiral Harriman Nelson.-Career:...
in the title role as an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
cattle buyer who courts her.
She also appeared in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
as an "Ancient humanoid", a member of the race responsible for populating the galaxy with humanoid lifeforms. She had previously played Clark Kent
Clark Kent
Clark Kent is a fictional character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Appearing regularly in stories published by DC Comics, he debuted in Action Comics #1 and serves as the civilian and secret identity of the superhero Superman....
's mother Martha Kent on the popular TV series Superboy
Superboy (TV series)
Superboy is a half-hour live-action television series based on the fictional DC Comics comic book character Kal-El's early years as Superboy. The show ran from 1988–1992 in syndication...
. She also appeared in the 1966 film Seconds
Seconds (film)
Seconds is a 1966 American film starring Rock Hudson. Characterized sometimes as a science fiction thriller, but with elements of horror, neo-noir, psychedelia, and drama, it was directed by John Frankenheimer with a screenplay by Lewis John Carlino. The script was based on a novel by David Ely...
by John Frankenheimer
John Frankenheimer
John Michael Frankenheimer was an American film and television director known for social dramas and action/suspense films...
, in a 1963 episode of The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)
The Outer Limits is an American television series that aired on ABC from 1963 to 1965. The series is similar in style to the earlier The Twilight Zone, but with a greater emphasis on science fiction, rather than fantasy stories...
, "Corpus Earthling", and in 1981's Harry's War
Harry's War (1981 film)
Harry's War is a feature length independent film from American Film Consortium and Taft International Pictures, released in 1981. Starring Edward Herrmann, Geraldine Page, Karen Grassle, David Ogden Stiers, Elisha Cook, Salome Jens and Noble Willingham...
. She also appeared in the I Spy episode "A Room with a Rack" in 1967, as a globe-trotting pilot friend of Kelly Robinson and Alexander Scott. In 1976 she played the role of Mae Olinski on the soap spoof Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman is an American soap opera parody that aired in daily syndication from January 1976 to May 1977. The series was produced by Norman Lear, directed by Joan Darling and starred Louise Lasser...
.
She has a very distinctive and sultry voice, and has also narrated a number of documentaries
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
including The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century
The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century
The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century is a 1996 documentary series that aired on PBS. It chronicles World War I over eight episodes....
and the film "Clan of the Cave Bear" starring Darryl Hannah. She also voiced the female guardian in the Green Lantern
Green Lantern (film)
Green Lantern is a 2011 superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett and Tim Robbins, with Martin Campbell directing a script by Greg Berlanti and comic book writers Michael Green and Marc...
movie (2011).
Deep Space Nine appearances
- "The Search", Part I and Part II
- "Heart of Stone"
- "Broken Link"
- "Behind the Lines"
- "Favor the Bold"
- "Sacrifice of Angels"
- "Treachery, Faith, and the Great River"
- "Penumbra"
- "'Til Death Do Us Part"
- "Strange Bedfellows"
- "The Changing Face of Evil"
- "Tacking Into the Wind"
- "The Dogs of War"
- "What You Leave Behind"