Guinan (played by Whoopi Goldberg) was the extremely mysterious bartender at Ten Forward, the lounge aboard the USS Enterprise-D. She was an El-Arian: a race of listeners from somewhere in the Delta Quadrant who were scattered by the Borg. Q once suggested there is far more to her than could be imagined. Once can only speculate as to the meaning of this...

Guinan was born over sixhundred years ago on the El-Aurian homeworld. As a mature adult, she hid out from her father on Earth in that planet's 19th century. (TNG: "Time's Arrow") She was a refugee aboard the SS Lakul in 2293, when she was first trapped into the Nexus: an experience she described as "being inside joy". Guinan, together with the other El-Aurian refugees, was thus in great shock upon being pulled out of it. In 2371, she was again trapped into the Nexus, this time together with Captain Picard. With her guidance, Picard was eventually able to escape from the Nexus. ("Star Trek: Generations")

Guinan came aboard the Enterprise in 2365 at Captain Picard's personal request. She and Picard shared a long-time relationship, which, according to her, went "beyond friendship and beyond family". (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds") At Ten Forward, she kept a selection of alcoholic beverages for special occasions, in opposition to Starfleet's synthehol regulations, and kept a variety of non-syntheholic drinks, including a bottle of Saurian brandy given to her by Captain Picard. (TNG: "Relics") As lounge host, she made herself available to anyone in need, especially to the senior staff, as an informal counselor.

In mid-2366, Lt. Commander Data believed spending time in Ten Forward observing human social interaction would be beneficial for his android offspring Lal. With Guinan's guidance, Lal worked as a waitress for a brief period. (TNG: "The Offspring") No stranger to the phaser range, she once beat Worf on Level 14, firing left-handed. (TNG: "Redemption") When in 2367 REM sleep-deprived crewmembers began to draft conspiracy theories about the Enterprise's inability to escape the Tyken's Rift, Guinan was able to defuse the situation, thanks to an energy-beam rifle she had acquired on Makus III. (TNG: "Night Terrors")

In early-2369, Guinan, together with Captain Picard, Ensign Laren an Keiko O'Brien, was "youthened" due to the effects of a molecular reversion field. Unfortunately, a group of Ferengi commandeered the Enterprise at the time. Believing Guinan to be a child, she was confined to a classroom aboard the ship. Picard, Guinan, Laren and O'Brien, however, were able to design a plan to retake the Enterprise from the Ferengi. (TNG: "Rascals")

In 2371, Guinan was among those who survived the emergency landing of the Enterprise. Prior to the vessel's crash, she had told Captain Picard that Dr. Tolian Sorian was seeking to return to the Nexus, which she described to him as a doorway to a paradisical place. She also warned Picard that anyone who entered the Nexus would never want to leave it. When Picard was trapped in the Nexus shortly thereafter, Guinan reminded him to focuss on his mission: to prevent Soran from destroying the Veridian sun. With the aid of Captain Kirk, Picard succeeded in stopping Soran, and was able to escape from the Nexus. ("Star Trek: Generations")

Guinan had "some dealings" with Q sometime during the 2100s, at which time Guinan, according to Q, went by another name. Q almost treated her as an equal, although a mutual hatred existed between them. As Q put it: "where she goes, trouble always follows".

When they first met aboard the Enterprise in 2365, Q immediately stood back when he sa her, backing off as if to be physically attacked. He adviced Picard to get Guinan off the ship, and added he would be more than pleased to expedite her departure. Picard responded Q was talking about himself rather than about Guinan, and refused to do any such thing. Picard and Q continued their discussion: Q had claimed humanity was not ready for what awaited it to which Picard disagreed. Guinan added humans learn to adapt, on which Q responded by throwing the Enterprise seventhousand lightyears into uncharted space where the vessel would be the first Starfleet starship to make first contact with the Borg.

Following the encounter, Guinan talked to Picard about how Q had set a series of events in motion. Their contact with the Borg had come long before it should have. When they would have been ready, it could have been possible to establish a relationship with the Borg, but now humanity was only raw material to them. And since the Borg were now aware of humankind's existence, they would be coming. Picard replied Q might had done the right thing for the wrong reasons as the Federation needed a good kick in their complacency to get it ready for what was ahead. (TNG: "Q Who?")

Guinan's second encounter with Q while on board the Enterprise came one year later, in 2366. Q, stripped of his powers by the Continuum, had requested asylum aboard the Enterprise -- a request Captain Picard had reluctantly complianced with. When Data informed Guinan that the captain and much of the crew were not yet convinced Q was truly human, she casually picked up a fork from behind the counter and sharply stabbed Q's hand. When the latter burst out in great agony, Guinan concluded: "He's human". She told Q he was a pitiful excuse for a human and the only way he was going to survive would be by the charity of others. Q's powers would later be restored by the other members of the Continuum. (TNG: "Déjà Q")

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS: Guinan is well over 600 years old, and in her life has married at least 23 times ("Star Trek: Nemesis"), and had "a lot" of children. She had a good relationship with her uncle Terkim, the "black sheep" of the family. (TNG: "Hollow Pursuits") As of 2369, her father was still alive at a ripe old age of at least 800 years. (TNG: "Rascals")

Immediately upon coming aboard the Enterprise, Guinan was able to draw the attention of many people because of the mysteries surrounding her age and origins. Except for Captain Picard, she had not met previously with any of the Enterprise crewmembers, but would soon develop a friendly relationship with many members of its senior staff. (TNG: "The Child")

In 2365, Guinan and William Riker attempted to advise Wesley Crusher on his relationship with Salia. As Riker pretended to be flirting with Guinan, their assistance rapidly went off track from its original intention. (TNG: "The Dauphin")

JEAN-LUC PICARD: Guinan and Picard shared a long-time relationship, which, according to her, went "beyond friendship and beyond family". (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds") She also once said to Geordi La Forge that she was attracted to bald men. (TNG: "Booby Trap") In return, Picard once remarked Guinan to be "very selective about whom she calls a friend". (TNG: "Ensign Ro")

In 2365, Data's rights as an individual were challenged when cybernatics expert Commander Bruce Maddox wanted to disassemble the android for study. Picard challenged Maddox's assessment before the local Judge Advocate General. As the trail neared its end, Picard admitted to Guinan he feared he was losing the case. Guinan asked what Maddox gained if he would be successful in disassembling and reassembling Data. Picard responded he would posses the ability to build many more androids. He remembered Guinan's words that the decisions we make today have implications for the future, and so Picard reasoned that if it would be decided Data was indeed Starfleet property, all future androids would. Guinan noted there was an ancient word for that - slavery. Eventually, Picard would win Data's case by pointing out that an entire race of Datas would be used as slaves. (TNG: "The Measure of a Man")

In 2367, Guinan featured as cousin Gloria in one of Picard's Dixon Hill holonovels. She was not much impressed with the program. (TNG: "Clues") Besides joining Picard on the holodeck, they would occassionally share a game of chess, and Guinan was also coached in fencing by Picard in 2368, begun when she considered exercise too strengthen her arm. In november that year, she initially lost one of their matches, saying she didn't think she liked this sport. Picard replied she liked it well enough two weeks ago, when she scored two touches on him. After their first match, they took a short moment to relax and soon they found themselves talking about Hugh: the Borg drone Picard had allowed to be taken on board. On Guinan's question whether taking Hugh on board was wise, Picard replied it was an errand of mercy, and that Dr. Crusher decided for humanitarian reasons to care for him.

They rose again for their second match in which they advanced and retreated a few times, parrying. Then Guinan lunged, stumbled and grabbed at her leg - apparently, she had pulled a muscle. Picard dropped his foil and started toward her in concern. Suddenly Guinan was up and on him in a flurry of thrusts, and actually knocked the foil from his hand. "You felt sorry for me," she said. "Look what it got you," holding his look, defiant - and unquestionably angry.

Despite Guinan's initial reluctance to speak with Hugh, Geordi La Forge convinced her to meet with the former drone. Upon their conversation, she could not but acknowledge this Borg was developping a personality, becoming an individual. Shortly thereafter, she convinced Picard to speak with Hugh as well. (TNG: "I, Borg")

BEVERLY CRUSHER: In 2366, Beverly, while seeing her son socialize with other teenagers, asked Guinan whether she had any children. Guinan replied she had a lot, and Beverly informed whether she had ever had trouble with one of them. Guinan said she had with one, and upon Beverly's remark that all children go through that, Guinan explained this was not the case among a species of listeners. Asked about how he had grown out of it, Guinan explained a mother shapes her child in ways she doesn't even realize; sometimes just by listening. (TNG: "Evolution") When in 2369 Beverly was relieved of duty, Guinan visited her in her quarters, claiming she sought treatment for her tennis elbow. As Beverly began to talk about her recent actions, she explained she had illegally performed an autopsy on the Ferengi scientist Reyga who had appeared to have committed suicide. As Beverly later found out, the Takarian scientist Jo'Bril had in fact murdered Reyga in order to discredit the Ferengi. Upon Guinan's encouragement, Beverly eventually discovered Jo'Bril's plan, prevented him from stealing Reyga's research data, and proved the technology was valid. She was exonerated and returned to duty shortly following the incident. In order to thank Guinan for her encouragement, she presented her with a state-of-the-art tennis racquet, on which Guinan admitted she had never played tennis. (TNG: "Suspicions")

WESLEY CRUSHER: In early-2365, Wesley Crusher was reluctantly preparing to leave the Enterprise and join his mother, who had departed to become head of Starfleet Medical. When he was staring out of the windows of Ten Forward, Guinan approached him, asking him whether he wanted anything to drink. As they talked, Guinan asked him three more times during their conversation, and when Wesley pointed that out, she replied it was what she was expected to do, asking if he didn't always do what was expected of him? He replied he tried to, because sometimes you have to consider others more than yourself. Guinan responded that the game is to know when to consider yourself more than others and to give yourself permission to be selfish. Their conversation made Wesley decide to stay on board the Enterprise after all. (TNG: "The Child")

GEORDI LA FORGE: Guinan would often advice, or rather cheer up, Geordi after one of his dates went troubled. Thus, in early-2366, Geordi sought her advice after his date, Christy Henshaw, admitted she was not in love with him. When Geordi asked about what Guinan sought in a man, she replied she was attracted to bald man, because a bald man was very kind to her once and took care of her. Geordi went on explaining he never knew what to say around woman. When Guinan remarked he did not appear uncomfortable at the time, Geordi replied that he wasn't "trying" when he was speaking with her. Guinan replied: "Exactly", making him realise he was only uncomfortable when trying to chat up a girl. A few days later, Geordi found himself rather smitten with a holographic recreation of Dr. Leah Brahms. (TNG: "Booby Trap") A little over a year later, he got the chance to meet the real Dr. Brahms, and found her much less charming than her holographic version. At the time, he again sought Guinan's advice. (TNG: "Galaxy's Child")

WORF: In mid-2366, Guinan first approached Worf, introducing him to the Terran beverage of prune juice. Although the drink was generally unpopular among humans, Worf called it "a warrior's drink". As Guinan seated down at his table, she asked why Worf always seated alone. Worf looked at her with vague irritation as the conversation was venturing into areas he'd rather avoid. Worf replied he would require a Klingon woman for companionship as human females were too fragile. Despite Guinan's claim she knew one or two woman on board who may have found him a bit tame, Worf refuted this as "impossible". Guinan teasingly called him a coward for not wanting to meet them, upon which Worf replied he was merely concerned for the safety of his crewmates. (TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise")

When the Klingon Civil War erupted in 2367, Worf was torn between remaining in Starfleet service and joining Gowron against the House of Duras. While practicing their skills in the phaser range, Guinan asked Worf about how his son, Alexander, was doing. Worf replied he was having difficulties adjusting to life on Earth, onto which Guinan responded the time would come when Alexander found out what it really meant to be Klingon, just as the time had now come for Worf. Worf would later request a leave of absence, and with the help of Captain Picard, would reveal Romulan aid to the Duras cause in the civil war. (TNG: "Redemption")

RO LAREN: When in 2368, the Bajoran ensign Ro Laren came aboard the Enterprise, she was able to immediately draw everyone's attention. Upon talking about her with Geordi, Guinan seated down at her table to talk with her. Although Laren initially claimed she did not want any company, Guinan remarked she would have stayed in her quarters if that were true. As they talked, Laren said Guinan was not like any bartender she had ever met. Guinan responded Laren was not like any Starfleet officer she had ever met, and that this might be the start of an interesting relationship. When Laren replied she never stayed anywhere long enough to make friends, Guinan replied she had just made one.

When Laren was later grounded, Guinan visited her in her quarters. Laren decided to confide in Guinan after her new friend had told her that people like themselves, who had lost their homes, sometimes felt they have no control over their own lives. When Laren told she was in great trouble, Guinan responded she was in great trouble once, and that she would still have been had she not trusted one man. Later, both found themselves in Picard's ready room, where Laren told the captain that Admiral Kennelly had made a pact with the Cardassians in order to eliminate Bajoran "terrorists". (TNG: "Ensign Ro") Laren would remain on board the Enterprise until 2370, when she decided to join a Maquis faction. (TNG: "Preemptive Strike")

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION & CHRONOLOGY: Guinan's quarters aboard the Enterprise-D were located on Deck 8, Room 3150. Her office was located on Deck 10, adjacent to Ten Forward. (TNG: "Q Who?")

1893: Guinan hided from her father on Earth. (TNG: "Time's Arrow")
2293: Guinan was rescued by the USS Enterprise-B after her transport ship, the Lakul was caught in the Nexus ribbon. ("Star Trek: Generations")
2365: Guinan came  aboard the Enterprise-D at Captain Picard's personal request.
2367: When REM sleep-deprives crewmembers began to draft conspiracy theories about the Enterprise's inability to escape the Tyken's Rift, Guinan was able to defuse the situation thanks to an energy-beam rifle she had acquired on Makus III. (TNG: "Night Terrors")
2368: Guinan convinced the former Borg Drone Hugh that, despite the Collective's claim, resistance was not futile, and that her own survival was the living proof of that. (TNG: "I, Borg")
2368: Together with Captain Picard, Ensign Ro and Keiko O'Brien, Guinan was "youthened" due to the effects of a molecular reversion field. (TNG: "Rascals")
2371: Guinan was among those who survived the emergency landing of the Enterprise. ("Star Trek: Generations")
2379: Guinan was present at the wedding of William Riker and Deanna Troi. ("Star Trek: Nemesis")

ALTERNATE TIMELINES: In an alternate version of 2366 created when the USS Enterprise-C disappeared from the year 2344, Ten Forward was suitably altered to befit the military nature of the new timeline. Luxuries were limited, besides Guinan, the civilian wait staff was gone, and crewmembers were often forced to consume TKL rations since replicator power was generally diverted to the defensive systems. Guinan was the only one aboard who noticed the changes that had followed upon the Enterprise-C's appearance. On her suggestion, Captain Picard sent the Enterprise-C back to its own time to restore the timeline. (TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise")

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Whoopi Goldberg's character was first introduced in the episode "The Child". Goldberg got the role after she expressed interest to the producers, being a fan of the original series -- mostly due to Nichelle Nichols, one of the first regular black woman to feature in an American television series.

In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Rivals" the writers, Jim Trombetta and Michael Piller, intended the character of Martus Mazur to be a son of Guinan. Guinan herself was to appear in the episode, but Whoopi Goldberg was unavailable. All the references to Guinan were removed and only Martus' status as an El-Aurian was retained. The episode was the first to name Guinan's species and Guinan herself would be not identified as an El-Aurian until "Star Trek: Generations".