Maisie Richardson-Sellers Confirms Star Wars: The Force Awakens Role.
Exactly a week after we posted our thorough examination on why Sellers is The Force Awakens’ Worst Kept Secret, the actress herself confirmed her involvement with the upcoming movie. She has just made her debut in The Vampire Diaries spin-off, The Originals, spoke with Refinery29 and discussed how she landed the role, what it was like to work with J.J. Abrams, and more…
Excerpts from the interview with Refinery29:
That must be a strange sentence to say ‘My first acting job was Star Wars?’
It is really strange, but it’s also fantastic. I’d always done theater, and his was my first screen experience. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to introduce me to the world of screen acting.
How were you discovered?
My agent came to see a play that we did at Oxford, because they’re always looking for people who are not just trained at drama school. We all submitted our CV’s, and I got a phone call a few weeks later inviting me in for a meeting. We got on so well and it kind of took off from there.
How did Star Wars happen?
I auditioned along with thousands of other people. I think it was a worldwide audition process, and it just took off from there, step by step. I’m not allowed to say a lot, unfortunately. But, I think the great thing about J.J. is that he really hunts for talent. It’s not just about the name or what you’ve done. If you look at a lot of the people he did end up casting, many of them haven’t done much before, and I think that’s really exciting — that he gives people that kind of opportunity.
Exactly how shrouded in secrecy was the filming process?
I had to sign many, many contracts. It’s very, very secret. But, everyone who’s working on it loves and respects the franchise so much, they all want to keep it a secret. We wanted to hold it tight, so it wasn’t hard for anyone. It wasn’t a forced thing; it’s our little child which we’re going to present to the world in a year.
How familiar were you with the Star Wars universe?
I grew up watching them and I’ve always been fascinated about how they use the epic nature of the story — but also make it really personal. It has tender relationships, and it’s funny and quirky. I feel it’s really well-rounded and that’s why it’s so popular; it’s so accessible for so many generations and backgrounds. Even though it’s such a surreal story, it feels very true. All the relationships are very true. It breaks down the age old story of good versus evil in a very accessible manner.
Did the huge reaction to the trailer blow you away?
It was amazing! It’s fantastic to see so many people still so engaged and so thrilled. It’s so nice to be a part of something that can bring so many people such excitement and such happiness.
For the full interview go to Refinery29
Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.
Born on April 24, 1980.
Thank god I love her, I wish she was the lead!
Unfortunately Daisy Ridley already has the sympathy of a highschool frat girl. Her acting skills seem average at best, but obiously JJ wanted to have her. This one, well there is one thing to be said about her charism, but that is better not written in public forums. JJ does have an interest in these kind of “teen actors”. His top most question in casting interviews is reportedly: “Do you promise to laugh about my jokes on set?”. It is also reported that Patrik Steward replied No to this question. At least that is the only explanation why a director would prefer to cast a talentless, plasticfaced actor like Chris Pine instead of one of the best Shakespearean stage actor, like Steward.
I bet your fun at a party.
Ain’t he just a hoot?
You’re*
I bet your fun at a party too. Nobody likes grammar police.
You are repeating yourself :). But you can still book me for a party.
By the by: This is a forum were people write oppinions (their oppinions). At absolutely no point it was claimed that other should adopt it.
JJ’s Star Trek reboot was base on the originals, not the Next Generation. There was no need to show Patrick mug on screen and label him a Krik. The Trek community would have crucified JJ. That is why he needed a fresh face. Also lets face it, Sci-Fi films historically speaking are not well known for their A class acting or actors for that matter. So lets not reinvent the wheel here, and just go with the flow.
Yes that why JJ Trek films were a step back. TNG has brought acting quality, wit, humor, sophistication, complex diplomacy to at least a part of the SciFi genre. JJ went back to something we already saw and have surpassed: TOS style. This cowboy in space stuff is really getting boring, particularly as its not even done very well (compared to say Firefly/Serenity).
So I am all fine with going with the flow as long as its an improvement and no backstep.
The developments in the 90th (DS9 and B5 were probably most influential here) with complex story arcs, develloping characters and the choice of talented stage actors was IMO a mayor breakthrough.
I assume you mean Patrick Stewart, the actor who played Picard in Star Trek The Next Generation. He is already recognizable in the Star Trek franchise as that character, it would make no sense to put him in it as a completely different character.
Hey guys check out the new Prequel Special Editions.
Star Wars Attack of the Clones Special Edition: http://youtu.be/eKP-IFWpYYA
you again? drop dead.
You will have to explain what this ‘Special Edition’ entails, because there is nothing in the youtube description box.
She kind of is a lead. Why else would they audition ‘thousands’ of other actresses for her role?
She also confirmed that she’s smoking hot.
So many positive signs regarding this film. Maisie seems quite impressive. Congrats again Kathleen and JJ…We love you…Me again.
I think she ‘ll be a Calrissian… 😉
Shave her head.. Asajj Ventress!
If she doesn’t resemble Lando’s offspring, I don’t know who does.
Who would her mom be then?
Her mom doesn’t have to have appeared in the past films.
I don’t see it at all
Why? Is he the only non-white in the galaxy?
I have to wonder if the IMDB page is right and “Korr Sella” is her character’s name. Though I do think that she does look like she could be related to Lando Calrissian in-universe, so I kind of want her to have ties to the old pirate.
And I didn’t gave a fuck that day about surreal relationships and awesome work with Jar Jar, JUST GIVE US SOME GOOD INFO already Disney!!!
Hhhhhhmmmmmm….
Like you mean Yuuuuummmmmm!!!
Right?
?
As in delicious.
Gorgeous would be the word.
“it’s our little child which we’re going to present to the world in a year.”
This sounds like she really has a lead role
Well it’s obvious that she will be Finn’s love interest. It can’t be Rey. She may be living with Rey or maybe Finn finds her on his travels
Are you sure about that…?
Dude just so you know at some point Finn and Rey will be sucking face, so get use to it.
Ha ha ha.
Why can’t Finn’s love interest be Rey?
Because the person that seid that I stuck in the 1950’s where people of slightly different skin complexions are not supposed to do that.
not living with Rey. Remember, Disney doesn’t like making movies where two girls talk to each other. It might give women the idea that men don’t 100% define their lives.
Yeah, why the hell can’t Rey and Finn get together?
REATRD
Alright, lets not make this into a thing.
Personally, I’d like to see Rey’s love interest be in Maise’s character.
I hope Chewbacca and BB-8 get together.
………….. Bantha, i wish you didn’t say that……..
Surely BB-8 is a better match for R2-D2? I don’t know if BB-8 is “male”, but if “he” is, we could have the first same-gender romantic relationship in Star Wars!
Sort of. Extremely sort of.
But hey, it would still be PROGRESSIVE, hm?
From what we now know is that at least three people have been picked from the public casting call. Pip, Crystal and now Maisie. Wonder how many more, if any?
To be honest, ”HOLLYWOOD CANON-CODE” just cast ”beautiful” people, fit people (MODELS), and when they act no scratch can be on them, it’s like ”Heroes only are top-models”, so normal people are left watching, this 21. Century is just terrible, absolutely terrible!…
Steve Bushemi is so hot
Danny Trejo is the epitome of beauty.
She plays a twilek…
What exactly is the reason some fanboys are obsessed with a character that looks like she is wearing a goofy joker hat and was on screen for all of two minuntes in the real sw movies?
Chubby Leia is gonna kick that skinny ass around kessel
Thats why he send all the talented Startrek actors away, rebooted the universe and populated it with cheep teen actors.
She is going to play an Alien called Plastica from Planet Botox.
Did you get peed on?
Man, she is only 22 years old and lands a role in SW? She basically won the lottery.
Um, I wouldn’t be too sure about that.
Carrie Fisher, Jake Lloyd, Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman were all younger than this girl when they appeared in the previous SW films. And aside from Portman, acting in SW didn’t exactly lead them to very successful careers.
Since she’s not white, we know she won’t be a villain.
I don’t have a clue what you are taking about. But I can’t see her as a villain. Any more than I can daisy as one
BB-8’s love interest?
She is really beautiful, and her answer to “How familiar were you with the Star Wars universe?” is spot on. Hope she gets a decent role, would like to see more of her.
It’s odd how similar Daisy and Maisie’s facial features are. Perhaps Rey is Leia’s daughter with Han, while Maisie’s character is Leia’s secret love child with Lando.
She’s probably gonna be good, in some sort surprise character we’re NOT SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT.
As far as Daisy goes, you can’t judge what you don’t know about. Daisy is a gamble because we haven’t really seen her being directed by good director, which for a small part makes a Load of difference. Plenty of potentially good actors are stuck in bad roles with no direction, even at this moment. As far as Daisy’s Actual Acting Ability, we will find out in One Year. Here’s hoping JJ cast Daisy for the right reasons.
BTW, Maisie seems cool.
This news is exactly 7 months too late.
Any word on the spinoffs? Want to mention the info is dropping in February 2015. Or the announcements and then Celebration in April 2015 is when footage debuts. Gabriel Gray strikes again? Please run the story.
Wow she seems pretty cool… good to hear she’s already a fan & she seems to be very smart/ put together. Who knows what role she has… hope it’s not the alien chick with the weird nose in the concept art.
So they cast a daisy and a maisie. I’m thinking that daisy head maisie will figure prominently in this movie
So I’m the only one who thinks Rey and Korr Sella should end up together?
It’s 2014, as they say.
Just say no to muff-diving in Star Wars
http://i.imgur.com/MvjoW31.jpg
From the very beginning, there were clear rumors about Maisie from industry publications:
1) Small but significant role in VII.
2) Role becomes bigger in VIII and IX.
3) Possibly the “mixed race or black” Obi-Wan descendant.
I hope they dont giver too complicated a dialog. From the interview it seems she has the ego the size of a rancor (“… hunts for talent” –> me me me I am talented) and the IQ of a … well rancor.
“I hope they dont giver too complicated a dialog.” You gave yourself too complicated a sentence to write, apparently.