From the moment J.J. Abrams introduced the new Spock, "Heroes" actor Zachary Quinto, by bringing Leonard Nimoy onstage at Comic-Con 2007, it was clear the director of the upcoming "Star Trek" reboot would be aligning his new cast with the old.

Nimoy, of course, has weighed in on what he thinks of Quinto. But what words of wisdom does original castmember Nichelle Nichols have for Zoë Saldana, who was recently announced as communications officer Uhura?

"Well, I think she might be able to tell me, because the story is [a prequel] to the first mission," Nichols joked. "She's playing the younger Uhura, so I'm going to be looking to see [what I can learn.]."

Nichols, who made the character famous in the television series and first six feature films, was contacted by Abrams before the casting went public, an outreach indicative of his great respect for the series' history, she said.

But it's what he said about Saldana that has Nichols singing her praises.

"I talked with J.J. Abrams, and he was telling me about her, that he felt she brought to Uhura what he found fascinating in my having created the character," Nichols enthused. "He says that she has the charisma and presence [I did]."

That's good news for fans, Nichols thinks, but charisma and presence aren't enough to get her to the finish line, which is why she can't wait to meet with Saldana so she can tell her more about the character's history she created with creator Gene Roddenberry.

"I have a few things to tell her — where Uhura came from, what her feelings are, what her background is and how she came to be," Nichols explained. "What qualities that were necessary for her to be chosen as the fourth in command crew on the Starship Enterprise, boldly going where no woman has gone before."

Abrams, of course, may very well be writing his own back story for Uhura (whose name comes from the Swahili word for freedom), but no matter, Nichols says there's more to talk to Saldana about than where Uhura came from — like where Roddenberry wanted her to go.

"There are a lot of stories that Gene wanted to do with Uhura that we never got to do, and I would love to talk to her about that," Nichols said. "Mostly you saw the no-nonsense woman in charge. [In those other stories you] get a little glimpse of the poignant Uhura, the lovelorn Uhura, the serious Uhura, and the fun Uhura. I would like to see her [get to] do those."

Meeting with Saldana will represent the best part of playing the character, said Nichols: namely, being a part of a large family. Now that Saldana is part of the "Star Trek" family herself, one day, Nichols says the young actress may even get to pass down her wisdom as well.

"That's as it should be," the 74-year-old actress said. "You must hold your hand out and reach out and bring the next generation in to follow it."

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