RENOWNED Port Elizabeth-raised actress Alice Krige celebrated her father, Dr Louis Krige's 90th birthday with close friends and family in the Bay at the weekend.

The Hollywood actress, known as the "Borg Queen" in the circles of sci-fi movie fanatics, and remembered for her celebrated appearance in the Star Trek series and film, spent the first 10 days of the new year with her family in Summerstrand, before she left for London yesterday.

"It was lovely, and my husband had a lovely time," said Alice's mother, retired clinical psychologist Professor Patricia Krige, 84, of having her daughter back home for a while. "Although Alice is quite famous as a film star, when she's at home, she is a daughter," said her mother.

Raised in Port Elizabeth, and having earned a degree in psychology and literature from Rhodes University in 1975, Krige left South Africa for London the same year to carve out her career in acting abroad.

She made her screen acting debut in 1981 and appeared in such celebrated movies as Chariots of Fire.

In the nineties she gained fame for her portrayal of the "Borg Queen" in Star Trek. Although she grew up without television, she went on to establish her name through the stage, cinema and television, working between America and London (the city she calls home abroad).

She left early yesterday, rushing back to London where rehearsals for a new play called Toyer will begin today. Prof Krige said the party had been an intimate affair for Dr Krige, who had previously suffered two strokes. Also at the function were Alice's brothers, Jake and Luke, both physicians, along with seven close friends.

Story by Herald Reporter: Thabo Jijana

HERALD (Morning Final) 12 Jan 2009 Page 3

Photo by: Scifipedia