Hana Hatae

US audiences first got a glimpse of a young Hana in Star Trek: The Next Generation as Molly O'Brien. A grown-up Hana later resurfaces in Chef Gordon Ramsay's reality show Kitchen Nightmares (Season 3 Episode 11). Her father's restaurant Sushi Ko is failing and this is causing a family rift. Her mom and dad are no longer getting along and her dad Akira has apparently given up. They are in danger of losing everything and have no more money to fund the restaurant as evidenced by the reuse of barbecue sticks on the Japanese grill and broken kitchen equipment.

Through the episode she would cry as it really pains her that her parents are constantly fighting and they are on the verge of losing everything. She serves as one of the waitresses in the restaurant in order to cut costs so she sees everything that is happening. She gets reassurance from Chef Gordon Ramsay that he will do everything in his power to help them.

Gordon changes the restaurant's menu and spruces up the place. He also gives the kitchen top of the line equipment. Akira smiles and is overjoyed for the first time in years. The grand relaunching happens and the episode ends with Akira trying to find a place with cheaper rent.

While Gordon was able to temporarily increase business, they got hit hard by the Great Recession. Slow business combined with high overhead spelled doom for the ailing restaurant and closed on August 2009.

Hana is apparently trying to pursue a film career as evidenced in her Facebook page where she lists herself as an actor / director. She recently got the role of Nurse Yagi on the movie 5th Passenger.

READ MORE...