From the moment Jolene Blalock first appeared onscreen as Enterprise's stern science officer T'Pol, it was clear that she would be playing a different kind of Vulcan. True, her T'Pol was as cool and logical as one might expect, but she also possessed an unmistakable sensuality — just witness that famous decontamination scene from the first episode that she shared with Connor Trinneer ("Charles 'Trip' Tucker III"), not to mention the third season consummation of their relationship. Critics and viewers took immediate notice and TV Guide even included her as part of their "TV's Top MVPs" issue, calling her character "a voluptuous Vulcan with a grip on us all." For their part, Entertainment Weekly deemed that she was "the best-looking Vulcan this space quadrant has ever witnessed."

Blalock's T'Pol, however, wasn't just another pretty face. Throughout the show's four seasons, she served one of the key roles in Star Trek: Enterprise, the logical counterpoint to Captain Archer's very human passion. She has also managed to forge unlikely bonds with various characters, including Archer and fellow alien-among-humans Dr. Phlox. A number of episodes spotlighted Blalock, adding new layers and facets to her character. "Breaking the Ice" had T'Pol choosing between a Vulcan arranged marriage and serving on Enterprise, while "Fusion" explored what might happen if Vulcans were to reintegrate their emotions into their daily lives. In the second season, T'Pol shared the story of one of her ancestors in "Carbon Creek" and confronted past demons in "The Seventh." In the third season, who can forget her performance in the now-classic "Twilight," as well as "Azati Prime." In the fourth season, "Home" and the Vulcan trilogy that started with "The Forge" all shed more light on T'Pol's family, her race and her character.

Star Trek fans aren't the only ones who noticed Blalock's performance. In the third season she received her third consecutive nomination for a Saturn Award as Best Supporting Actress. In 2004 she won the Saturn on her very first nomination, beating out the likes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Alyson Hannigan and The X-Files' Annabeth Gish. Blalock also took home a "Faces of the Future" award, courtesy of the readers of genre entertainment magazine Cinescape. In the press room, Blalock expressed gratitude to a certain other Vulcan from the Trek universe. "Leonard Nimoy is actually someone that I grew up watching," she said. "I mean, I collected the episodes before I got this job. It is huge to me carrying on that torch. I've read quite a few of his interviews, and he's very intelligent, which makes me feel scared if I was ever to meet him." (Related story.)

Prior to being cast in Enterprise, Blalock starred as princess and sorceress Medea in the NBC miniseries "Jason and the Argonauts," as well as guesting on such shows as C.S.I: Crime Scene Investigation and G vs E. But even during Enterprise she squeezed in a couple of guest spots on Stargate SG-1, as "Ishta." During that time she also shot a film with Ray Liotta called "Slow Burn" which — appropriate to the title — is finally getting a theatrical release next month. Jolene plays a manipulative assistant D.A. named "Nora Timmer."

In addition, a thriller she recently filmed called "Shadow Puppets" in currently in post-production. Jolene stars with Buffy's James Marsters along with Tony Todd, who has played several parts in Star Trek including "Kurn." Also coming down the pike is another thriller called "First Fear."

STARTREK.COM would like to wish Jolene Blalock a very Happy Birthday and many thanks for all her great work on Star Trek: Enterprise. We would also like to wish her best of luck with her new films and all her future endeavors!

You can wish her a Happy Birthday on the Star Trek Message Boards!