As one of the stars of HBO's smash-hit TV fantasy drama Game of Thrones, Gwendoline Christie is used to being part of a pop-culture phenomenon with a huge, extremely devoted – and demanding – fan base.
However, when she was cast in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, she realised that there was an even greater level of fan adulation and public scrutiny.
The first time she truly understood the power of Star Wars to move people was when she attended Comic-Con in San Diego to help promote the film.
Director J J Abrams wanted to give something back to the thousands of fans who had camped out to see the stars –including Christie (who plays villainous Captain Phasma) and Harrison Ford (Han Solo) – talk about the long-awaited new chapter in the smash-hit sci-fi saga. So he invited them to a secret Star Wars concert where the San Diego Symphony Orchestra played parts of the soundtrack while clips from the films were screened in the background.
“There were free lightsabers,” says Christie, with a smile. “I was escorted to the stage by Stormtroopers. There were the best fireworks I have ever seen. It was genuinely one of the best events I have ever been to.”
Afterwards, the British actress talked to Abrams. For her, the feeling in the room that July night in San Diego was more than hysteria or even euphoria – but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
"And then J J told me," she says. "He said it was hope. And he's right. This is what Star Wars inspires in people, a wonderful feeling of hope that connects us back to a place of simple happiness."
Like so many of the newcomers to the long-running saga, 37-year-old Christie’s formative years were spent falling in love with, as she puts it, “these magical, special and exceptional films”.
It’s to Abrams’s credit that he has managed to draw on such deep reserves of goodwill and ally that with a cast and crew who feel a sense of responsibility towards telling the best story possible.
In keeping with the incredibly high levels of secrecy that have surrounded the film, Christie was giving little away about the role her character plays in the continuing Star Wars story.
"Phasma is the first female Star Wars villain, captain of the Stormtroopers and part of the Dark Side," she says. "She has a blaster ... and I think that's all I can say about her story." It's not only being a part of this new Star Wars era that thrills her – it is also the character she is playing. "Here we have a female character who we judge on her choices," she says. "It isn't about her being stereotypically female, it is about her being a villain. So we form a relationship with her based on her actions rather than the way she looks in the flesh."
Certainly the way Phasma looks on screen is striking, with her chrome-look Stormtrooper armour. But she is not, as Christie puts it, “conventionally female” – after all, the 6ft 3in actress is playing her role behind full armour and a helmet. This meant that Christie had to use all the classical training she received at drama school and on the stage to devise a physical language for Phasma.
“It was actually very exciting to do that,” she says. “You realise that acting isn’t all about facial expressions or the way you make your clothing look. Instead, every way you choose to move your body says something about the character, gives a message to the audience.”
Of course, Christie is no stranger to such restrictions imposed by wearing a suit of armour. In Game of Thrones, her character, Brienne of Tarth, is a knight constantly dressed in armour – so playing a role that is as much about the way she moves as how she speaks has become second nature.
Of course, the big difference between Phasma and Brienne of Tarth – or indeed Commander Lyme, her character in the recently released fourth film in The Hunger Games saga, Mockingjay, Part 2 – is that in Star Wars she's very much a baddie.
“I really like villainy,” she says, with a laugh.
It is interesting that, after many years of playing classical theatre roles, this striking and endearing actor has forged a reputation as a star of three of the biggest fantasy/sci-fi franchises of all time.
"It was never a choice and I think the reason I was interested in Star Wars, Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games was the fact they're all brilliant stories, rather than prescriptive genres," she says.
"I do think there's something about a strong aesthetic which is outside our usual frame of reference that can allow us to connect more strongly with the humanity of storylines," she says. "And with Star Wars, it was so exciting to be part of something that means so much to me and other people."
artslife@thenational.ae
The Lowdown
Kesari
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Anubhav Singh
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The%20specs
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The specs: 2018 Mazda CX-5
Price, base / as tested: Dh89,000 / Dh130,000
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 188hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 251Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.1L / 100km
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Aayan%E2%80%99s%20records
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20UAE%20men%E2%80%99s%20cricketer%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWhen%20he%20debuted%20against%20Bangladesh%20aged%2016%20years%20and%20314%20days%2C%20he%20became%20the%20youngest%20ever%20to%20play%20for%20the%20men%E2%80%99s%20senior%20team.%20He%20broke%20the%20record%20set%20by%20his%20World%20Cup%20squad-mate%2C%20Alishan%20Sharafu%2C%20of%2017%20years%20and%2044%20days.%3Cbr%3E%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20wicket-taker%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20taking%20the%20wicket%20of%20Bangladesh%E2%80%99s%20Litton%20Das%20on%20debut%20in%20Dubai%2C%20Aayan%20became%20the%20youngest%20male%20cricketer%20to%20take%20a%20wicket%20against%20a%20Full%20Member%20nation%20in%20a%20T20%20international.%3Cbr%3E%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20in%20T20%20World%20Cup%20history%3F%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAayan%20does%20not%20turn%2017%20until%20November%2015%20%E2%80%93%20which%20is%20two%20days%20after%20the%20T20%20World%20Cup%20final%20at%20the%20MCG.%20If%20he%20does%20play%20in%20the%20competition%2C%20he%20will%20be%20its%20youngest%20ever%20player.%20Pakistan%E2%80%99s%20Mohammed%20Amir%2C%20who%20was%2017%20years%20and%2055%20days%20when%20he%20played%20in%202009%2C%20currently%20holds%20the%20record.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Day 1 results:
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded