She did it by asking.

In 1988, when she debuted in the role of Guinan, the starship Enterprise's bartender, Goldberg was an A-list star. She had just finished starring in a couple of hit films that were built to showcase her specific comedic persona and she had also earned an Oscar nomination a couple of years earlier for her role in the much more serious "The Color Purple" (1985).

With that sort of background, she felt confident enough to call up the producers of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and just ask for a role.

She had been a fan of the original series as a kid, and said that seeing a Black woman, Nichelle Nichols, playing a person with authority (Lt. Uhura) was an eye-opening experience for her. It was something she wanted to be a part of as well. 

Interestingly, she reportedly wanted the role of the ship's doctor first. According to ScreenRant.com, she wanted to don the space lab coat after original actor Gates McFadden departed the series, but producers didn't think that was the right fit and offered the role of Guinan instead.

Goldberg was only ever a part-time cast member, but she's remained committed to the role. So much so that she'll be reprising it again next year on the second season of "Star Trek: Picard."

As for how that happened, it was again just a matter of asking. But this time, it was someone else asking her.

Series star Patrick Stewart (the Picard of "Star Trek: Picard") went on Goldberg's talk show "The View" and offered her the role right on the air. And she said yes.

Sometimes it's just that easy.

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