Zoe Saldana is to recreate Nichelle Nichols' iconic Lt. Uhura role in the upcoming J.J. Abrams Star Trek epic. The New Jersey-born actress, who co-starred with Britney Spears in Crossroads and played Anna Maria in Pirates of The Caribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearl, is the first woman to be added to the cast of the new sci-fi film.

Nichols played Uhura in the original Star Trek TV series and reprised the character for the first six movies.

She also made history with the character when her on-screen kiss with co-star William Shatner's Capt. Kirk became the first interracial TV smooch.

Saldana joins Heroes star Zachary Quinto, who has signed on to play Spock, and Anton Yelchin, who will play Chekov.

The original Mr. Spock, Leonard Nimoy, will also play a cameo in the much-anticipated Trek film.

-Zoe Saldana Pictures

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)