Zoë Steiner emerged as a prominent new face in the science fiction landscape with her starring role in the expansive Star Trek universe. She gained widespread recognition for her performance in the streaming series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, a cornerstone of executive producer Alex Kurtzman's vision for the franchise's future. As part of the ensemble cast portraying a new generation of cadets, Steiner helped usher the iconic property into a fresh era, acting alongside established stars and fellow newcomers.

The series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, was created by Gaia Violo and serves as the twelfth main series in the storied franchise. Set in the 32nd century, a timeline previously established in Star Trek: Discovery, the show follows the first new class of cadets in over a century. Steiner stars alongside cadets played by Sandro Rosta, Karim Diané, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins, and Bella Shepard. The cast also features Academy leadership portrayed by Oscar-winner Holly Hunter and veteran actors Tig Notaro and Oded Fehr, reprising their roles from Star Trek: Discovery, as well as Robert Picardo returning as the Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager.

Production on the first season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy took place from August 2024 to February 2025 at Pinewood Toronto Studios in Canada, with showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau at the helm. The series premiered on Paramount+ on January 15, 2026, with its first two episodes, launching Steiner into the international spotlight. While the show received generally favorable reviews from critics, its release was reportedly met with instances of review bombing, a phenomenon not uncommon for major franchise entries. Despite this, the series moved forward with confidence, as production on a second season commenced in August 2025, solidifying Steiner's place in this new chapter of Star Trek history.