Nana Visitor ( July 26 , 1957 ) is an American actress . Visitor , who was born in New York , is most famous for playing Kira Nerys in the Star Trek television series Star Trek : Deep Space Nine . Nana Visitor ( born July 26 , 1957 ) , born Nana Tucker , is an American actress , best known for playing Kira Nerys in the television series Star Trek : Deep Space Nine ( DS9 ) and Jean Ritter in the television series Wildfire .