Star Trek legend Nichelle Nichols who played Nyota Uhura in hospital after suffering a stroke

Star Trek legend Nichelle Nichols was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital on Wednesday (3 June) night after suffering a mild stroke, it has been reported.

According to TMZ, the 82-year-old actress was taken ill at her Woodland Hills home.

A statement on her official Facebook page reads: "She is currently undergoing testing to determine how severe the stroke was. Please keep her in your thoughts."

The actress is reported to be"'awake and resting comfortably".

Nichols earned her place in both Star Trek and entertainment history as communications officer Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on the USS Enterprise in the 1960s and 70s NBC sci-fi series.

Uhura was one of the first characters of African descent to be featured in a central role on an American television series. In the 1968 episode "Plato's Stepchildren" she and William Shatner who played Captain James T. Kirk, made history when they shared the first inter-racial kiss on United States television

Nichols also went on to star in six of the film spin-offs.

Fans have taken to social media to send their best wishes to the much-loved star. One dedicated Trekkie wrote: "Sad to hear about Nichelle Nichols suffering a stroke. Hailing frequencies way open right now for a healthy recovery."