Holly Hunter revisits her Oscar-winning 'Piano' role

Holly Hunter looked back on her unforgettable performance in the 1993 film The Piano while charting new territory in science fiction.

The 67-year-old actress, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as pianist Ada McGrath, shared her memories during an exclusive interview with People at the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy FYC event in Hollywood on March 10.

“Oh, I loved having the experience with my cast, that Jane [Campion] was there and Jan Chapman and Anna Paquin,” Hunter said. 

“It was fantastic to be there with Jane, who conceived, directed, and edited it. And of course I was in love with the character, so that made it really special.”

Paquin, 43, played Hunter’s on-screen daughter Flora in her first major acting role and won Best Supporting Actress at just 11 years old, becoming the second-youngest competitive Oscar winner behind Tatum O’Neal. 

The Piano also earned Campion the Best Original Screenplay Oscar and the Palme d’Or at Cannes.

Hunter spoke warmly of her former co-star, noting, “She’s extraordinary, and I’ve loved my time with Anna over the years. I haven’t seen her recently because I haven’t really spent a lot of time in L.A.”

Currently, Hunter stars as Nahla Ake, Chancellor of Starfleet Academy and Captain of the U.S.S. Athena, in Paramount+’s Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. 

“I was really drawn to the character as soon as I read her,” Hunter said, “and it’s captivating to play somebody who’s over 400 years old.”

Hunter also reflected on the moral universe of Star Trek, saying, “I’ve never really liked projects that deliver a big message, but I love the moral universe of Star Trek.”