Actor revealed why he hadn't watched much of the franchise before joining the cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds during its second season.

During a July 2025 interview with Mr. Will Wong at the Star Trek: SNW Season 3 premiere, Quinn acknowledged that he is the first Scottish actor to play his character Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, who is famously from Scotland. The character was originated by Canadian actor, , in the original Star Trek television series, which ran from 1966 to 1969. English actor also portrayed Scotty in the ' Star Trek films.

According to Quinn, he wasn't all that interested in watching Star Trek because Scotty didn't have an authentic Scottish accent.

"It's part of the reason I hadn't really seen much Star Trek before because I knew that there was someone doing a dodgy Scottish accent. So it kind of puts you off a little bit," said Quinn during the interview. "So I think that shows the power of representation in itself. There's only 5 million Scottish people but let's see if we can reach them."

Quinn discussed playing the iconic engineer during a July 2025 interview with Trek Movie. He said he wanted to portray the character as "authentically Scottish, not just a stereotype."

"I think that I can kind of bring a youthful energy, and an authentic kind of Scottish-ness to it, if that’s a thing ... Because I am Scottish, yeah. I have at least that qualification," said Quinn to the publication.

He also reminded Star Trek fans that his Scotty is younger than Doohan's version.

"Well, you know, he's got a long way to go before he's the Scotty everyone knows and loves from TOS. And he’s got a lot of learning to do," said Quinn in the interview. "And he's not quite the miracle worker, quite yet. And I think it's more interesting if he's not exactly what everyone has in mind in the future. Do you know what I mean? I think watching him on that journey is going to be more interesting than getting an impression of James Doohan personally. But that’s just me covering my back."