Christie is a star trouper

ENGLISH actress and model Gwendoline Christie plays a stormtroopers commander, Captain Phasma, in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, out next week on DVD and Blu-ray. Also known for portraying the warrior Brienne of Tarth in the HBO fantasy-drama series Game of Thrones, she says the Star Wars role is exciting because as a villain, Captain Phasma is judged on her actions, not her looks. way that we look – but we judge her on her choices. We judge her on her character. It isn’t about her being typically or stereotypically female, it is about her being a villain, so we form a relationship with the woman based on her actions rather than on the way that she looks in flesh. That’s exciting to me. want to watch them because it puts you into a joyful mindset.

We had a stormtrooper escort down to the stage that they had secretly built in San Diego, and the John Williams orchestra played while they showed clips from the films on Jumbotron screens – and everyone was given a free lightsaber to wave along with the music. Everyone was euphoric, and then they let off the best fireworks I’d seen. It was one of the best events of my life.

This role has been exciting to me because you start to realise that acting isn’t about the subtleties of facial expressions all the time. It isn’t just about the way in which you make your clothing look, it’s actually about the way you choose to move your body; that’s what dictates the character. It was really exciting to start to look at a physical language; to look at what was neutral about the physical language, about what might indicate her gender and what that might mean – and where you put the emphasis on your body. – Supplied

The Force Awakens. Star Wars: RISING STAR: Gwendoline Christie at the Hollywood world premiere of How did it feel to be part of that moment of fandom? What were the challenges of playing a role inside a stormtrooper helmet and suit?