“I HAD NEVER SEEN A TREK FILM BEFORE”

Sofia Boutella is Jaylah

How would you describe Jaylah?

Jaylah is a survivor, and she is someone who thinks outside of the box. She’s an alien warrior, but her look is relatable to humans; her alien appearance in the film is not extreme. She has more in common with Kirk than anyone else in the film; they’re both very independent, and they’re both honest and direct in their approach. She makes her own weapons.

what attracted you to the role?

I wanted to be part of this big franchise, which is a great opportunity for me. I was attracted to this character, because she’s an alien, and she’s a completely original character in the Star Trek universe, so I don’t have to compare myself with anyone who came before me. I am Jaylah.

what was the most challenging part of making the film?

This is not a CG-created character; I spent four hours in make-up every morning, and when I put on the prosthetic, and saw myself in the mirror, it instantly put me into the character, this alien warrior, along with holding her main weapon, which looks like a stick and which she is very skilled with.

How familiar were you with Star Trek before you started work on the film?

I had never seen a Star Trek film before. I watched them all after I was given the part. During the filming, I relied on Justin Lin, who knows everything about Star Trek and guided me through the series. This is why it’s so much fun to be creating an original character like Jaylah. David Grove