Gwendoline Christie on Captain Phasma

gwendoline-christie

Gwendoline Christie spoke with Variety, discussing her upcoming roles in Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Read on for some minor details on her character Captain Phasma, and how J.J. Abrams wanted the actress to perform the role…

 

 

From Variety:

 

“It was very important to J.J. that I was there acting a part,” she noted. “I found it to be a really interesting acting challenge, not just because of what I felt this character was representing — and it was just what I felt, and we talked about it a little bit, but it was never like a manifesto, ‘this is what it must be’ — and it was exciting to me to have that weight of responsibility taken away, of having to be a certain way as a woman, to have to be mindful in a way that isn’t always useful. To have that stripped away was very liberating, and it meant that as an actor I had to focus on other things. I had to focus on what my body was communicating and what exactly my voice is communicating.”

 

She added, “It becomes about the way in which you hold your hand, the way in which you walk, where your weight lies and what you want that to mean, and I wanted to give the character identity. I thought it was interesting to make something about the character identifiably female in a non-superficial way, and I hope that comes across.”

 

Phasma Poster

 

While outwardly it might be difficult to imagine that a “Star Wars” villain would share similarities with a “Game of Thrones” heroine, Christie admitted that she found one link between her roles. “I don’t think many female actors get the opportunity to play a part where they’re not having to think about the way their face looks, but I found exactly the same thing with Brienne of Tarth, and that was very liberating,” she said. “It was great as an actor to work on your skills — that it isn’t about holding your head so you look beautiful. It’s about what you’re transmitting, and to be in service of an idea greater than yourself, whether it’s the character’s overriding objective or, beyond that, hopefully something more sociopolitical. We have seen an image of [Phasma] and again, it’s an unconventional kind of woman exhibiting a kind of strength, but in a very different way to my other two characters.”

 

 

The sentence I highlighted is particularly interesting. Long time ago I speculated that I won’t be surprised if Christie actually never removes her helmet in The Force Awakens.

 

What do you think? Are we going to see Christie’s face in The Force Awakens?

 

(Keep in mind that there is a fake Funko Pop figure on the web, showing Phasma unmasked. Ignore that one)

 

Phasma

Website | + posts

Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.

Born on April 24, 1980.

Val Trichkov (Viral Hide)

Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.Born on April 24, 1980.

78 thoughts on “Gwendoline Christie on Captain Phasma

  • September 22, 2015 at 6:45 pm
    Permalink

    No. For intrigue reasons, I don’t believe we’ll say her unmasked in episode VII. Maybe in Episode VIII or IX (if which I hope, she has a recurring a role).

    • September 22, 2015 at 8:16 pm
      Permalink

      Do we even know for sure that she will be in Episodes VIII or IX ? I’m afraid her fate might be similar to Fett’s.

      • September 22, 2015 at 8:47 pm
        Permalink

        I share your fears. With at least 3 prominent villains in the film and Serkis’ character waiting behind the shadows I have a strong vibe that 1 of our villians has to die a tarkin-esque death in the first movie. My money is on Hux, but phasma is not far behind.

      • September 22, 2015 at 9:01 pm
        Permalink

        Of course we don’t, but I hope she is.

  • September 22, 2015 at 6:48 pm
    Permalink

    Disney’s trying to make a woman the knight in shining armor instead of a man.
    They’re trying to flip the script…which I guess would be kind of interesting had women been knights in medieval times….but they were all men.

    • September 22, 2015 at 7:14 pm
      Permalink

      So… like George R. R. Martin’s Brienne of Tarth?

      • September 22, 2015 at 7:59 pm
        Permalink

        Hey, I just did some research and found out that there were no Jedi knights in human history! Not a single one! I guess Star Wars is irrelevent.

    • September 22, 2015 at 7:25 pm
      Permalink

      Like Joan of Arc and Viking Shield Maidens?

      • September 22, 2015 at 7:27 pm
        Permalink

        And the warrior queen Boudica.

        • September 22, 2015 at 8:46 pm
          Permalink

          Or tons of women, in almost every civilization. Hell, even Irish Cattle Raiders in epic stories had women as leaders and warriors. This doesn’t even get into pirates and vagabonds, some of who gave birth during battle because they clearly needed a big strong man to stfu.

    • September 22, 2015 at 7:55 pm
      Permalink

      I understand Eddie. There is a conspiracy against men in film. That’s why you can hardly find an action film starring a man, or a man starring in a lead role other than a romantic comedy, or heck, just a film where two men talk to each other about something other than a woman. Thanks for your enlightening comment…. not.

    • September 22, 2015 at 8:03 pm
      Permalink

      Your attitude is stuck in the medieval times.

    • September 22, 2015 at 9:44 pm
      Permalink

      The Official SW facebook page will probably ban this actress for trying to act “feminine” in Disney Star Wars.

  • September 22, 2015 at 6:52 pm
    Permalink

    I say no. I think they will keep her face underneath the helmet. Star wars is powerful when it leaves elements up to the imagination even though we know it’s her underneath. The mystic of Phasma is a very important element for her character IMO. But, you know how these things can go and I could be completely wrong.

    • September 25, 2015 at 8:42 pm
      Permalink

      I agree. I would prefer that she remain masked if it’s not necessary to unmask her for the story.

  • September 22, 2015 at 7:00 pm
    Permalink

    I think we may see her face once, and only once, so the audience and, more importantly, the characters know that she is female. But maybe she is scarred or super hard-faced. But I think it’ll be very, very brief and then she will don the helmet. Because, like Boba Fett, the Helmet is her face to the audience and to the characters; like Darth Vader also was.

  • September 22, 2015 at 7:19 pm
    Permalink

    I am probably most excited about her character in The Force Awakens. Just like she said, her character is not about her looks, it’s about how intimidating she sounds, how terrifying she walks, how much fear she spreads around her. I hope she will have a great story with herself too, because a badass woman, in my dictionary, is not just a character that kills a lot of people wildly.

  • September 22, 2015 at 7:23 pm
    Permalink

    i just hope her voice is not as boring as the toy. it sounded too calm. i love briennes character so i think she will do a great job. it would be cool if she had battlescars or cybernetic eye

    • September 22, 2015 at 9:15 pm
      Permalink

      I wouldn’t worry too much about how the toy sounds. She will sound similar to that, but keep in mind that the lines for toys are recorded months in advance (sometimes even before the first day of shooting). So she may not have really been as immersed in the character while saying generic lines in a sound booth. In the film we will have context and intention behind her lines, so she may sound calm, but it will be more of a cold authoritative calm, rather then a bored commander calm.

      I felt the same way about the Starlord toy marvel put out for Guardians of the Galaxy. Chris Pratt sounds really wooden reading his lines (that didn’t even make it in the film) but once I saw him on the big screen he was awesome! Don’t expect major modulation or a deep gravely voice or anything, but she will definitely sound cooler in the film 🙂

  • September 22, 2015 at 7:30 pm
    Permalink

    I don’t think we’ll see her face. Further evidence: The lego figure’s head is just jet black.

    • September 22, 2015 at 8:18 pm
      Permalink

      thats actually the strongest case I’ve heard. I would have bet we see her face, but that sways me to be pretty sure we won’t (at least not in TFA). Lego Boba Fett is the prime example of a helmeted figure who always had just a jet-black head underneeth the helmet since we never see his adult face in the films. Jango Fett, however, had the reversible head with a face since he unmasks several times.

      • September 22, 2015 at 8:51 pm
        Permalink

        My son has some of the newer Rebels legos and even the stormtroopers have faces, albeit generic…if the Lego face is black, I’m guessing we won’t see her face in the film, as Lego maybe had no reference for the character to go by.

  • September 22, 2015 at 7:37 pm
    Permalink

    I confess that of all the new characters, Phasma is my favorite, with Ren at a close second. The armor, the swag, the voice…I’m digging the character. I realize that I may be a bit premature on that and after viewing the film my opinion may change, but as of now, I can’t get enough of this character.

    I think we may get some backstory in the near future on Phasma in other mediums wherein we see her face, but I think that she will be helmeted at all times in the film. The voice and posture is enough to convey femininity. I think they will pull a Boba Fett with her, but make her obviously a more pivotal character than Fett ever was in the films.

    • September 22, 2015 at 7:40 pm
      Permalink

      its cool how they finally gave a stormtrooper some identity. she is the leader of the pack

      • September 22, 2015 at 7:58 pm
        Permalink

        I like how the “leader of the pack,” as you say, is a woman. (Of course if you’re a person like Eddie Van below you’ll be foaming at the mouth in anger.) I don’t think Phasma will be unmasked but will keep a secret identity like Boba Fett in the original films.

      • September 22, 2015 at 8:18 pm
        Permalink

        What if she only has 1 line?

        • September 23, 2015 at 7:14 pm
          Permalink

          she doesnt. the toy phasma had like 5 lines im sure there will be more. but even if she didnt its still cool

  • September 22, 2015 at 7:50 pm
    Permalink

    Gwendoline Christie on Captain Phasma /
    Unrated

  • September 22, 2015 at 7:52 pm
    Permalink

    I just wish they’d thought a little bit more about how stupid that name sounds. And then said Snoke three times and realized it was just as dumb.

    • September 22, 2015 at 8:13 pm
      Permalink

      I’m still praying that Snoke is an alias, or that he at least has another name that sounds less silly. I’m fine with most of the names, but snokes character should strike fear into my heart…I don’t want his name to make me laugh

      • September 22, 2015 at 8:17 pm
        Permalink

        S.N.O.K.E. is an anagram for Super Ninja Overlord (of the) Karkallian (new canon planet!) Empire. You heard it here first …

    • September 22, 2015 at 9:36 pm
      Permalink

      Captain Phasma sounds cool to me. Snoke does sound silly but then so does Yoda or Boba but once you see the character it transforms your feelings towards the name. If Snoke is a bad ass I predict the name will sound like it suits him a few months from now.

    • September 22, 2015 at 10:22 pm
      Permalink

      Yeah, like Sheev Palpatine. That name isn’t dumb. Snoke is Darth Plagueis!

  • September 22, 2015 at 7:53 pm
    Permalink

    I am glad Disney is expanding their outlook by casting actors/actresses other than the most readily available ex-Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings star.

    • September 22, 2015 at 8:02 pm
      Permalink

      Nah, instead only the most readily available Game of Thrones star instead :^)

  • September 22, 2015 at 7:56 pm
    Permalink

    I think we will see her. maybe not in the force awakens, but I think we will eventually see her.

  • September 22, 2015 at 7:57 pm
    Permalink

    My opinion is that all the first order characters are the most interesting atm but Captain Phasma is on the top of my list

  • September 22, 2015 at 7:58 pm
    Permalink

    It would be cool if she removes the hemlet in an Episode IX, not a moment too soon.

  • September 22, 2015 at 8:05 pm
    Permalink

    Cyborg…we called it in a thread in the forum

    • September 22, 2015 at 8:07 pm
      Permalink

      hang on I’ve got it….she is…

      Tarth Vader

  • September 22, 2015 at 8:09 pm
    Permalink

    I’d love if we find out why she seems to take delight in her oppression. Don’t get me wrong… I get that some people are just evil but they usually have a motivation. Translation… I hope she isn’t one dimensional. Her voice work seems to ooze a sadistic love for her work and position.

    As for her face… she’s such a talent it seems a waste to keep it hidden but it’s Star Wars… there may never be a reason to see her without it. However if they are willing to use Lupita as a CGI character… they seem ok with masking talent.

  • September 22, 2015 at 8:16 pm
    Permalink

    “It was very important to J.J. that I was there acting a part,” she noted. >> As opposed to what…? Skyping it? LOL Oh man the myth is now that the PT was 100% computer generated. Gotta love it. In fact this is the FIRST SW movie to use actors, apparently.

    • September 22, 2015 at 8:25 pm
      Permalink

      It would explain a lot though… especially the wooden acting. It’s all starting to make sense! 😛

    • September 22, 2015 at 8:25 pm
      Permalink

      Maybe she meant being inside the suit. Some films could have had a stunt person, or a stand-in, and then the actor would just record their lines later in post-production. Like with Darth Vader for example.

    • September 22, 2015 at 8:58 pm
      Permalink

      If Captain Phasma was a character in the PT, I could easily see Lucas making the character completely CG. Weren’t all of the clone troopers CG? And it was noticeable.

      • September 22, 2015 at 9:07 pm
        Permalink

        Nahh..only reason clones were CG in the prequels was so that they all looked the same in body structure since they are clones after all..it might have been difficult to find so many extras that are the same in height as well as body structure so CG was the best bet at the time I’m assuming. I’m sure if Captain Phasma was one of the antagonists in the PT I don’t think they would’ve wasted CG on one character lol

        • September 23, 2015 at 5:03 pm
          Permalink

          Stop making excuses for it.

          • September 23, 2015 at 5:38 pm
            Permalink

            It’s not really an excuse if it’s the truth..

        • September 24, 2015 at 3:44 pm
          Permalink

          That actually makes sense. Imagine if the clones were different sizes, even by millimetres… people would have bagged George Lucas for that, too.

      • September 22, 2015 at 9:30 pm
        Permalink

        Aurra wasn’t, Zam wasn’t, Jango wasn’t. So no I don’t see that. The clones all had to be identical i.e. CG was the best way to go.

      • September 22, 2015 at 11:31 pm
        Permalink

        there is actually a scene near the end of Phantom Menace where it looks to me like they tried to do a CGI Obi-wan talking to Qui-gon. More than likely its just all the computer generated lighting or filtering they did in post.

    • September 23, 2015 at 1:11 pm
      Permalink

      While the PT wasnt 100% CG … It was 100% crap no matter how you try to spin it.

      • September 23, 2015 at 1:13 pm
        Permalink

        Thank you for your informed and enlightening post. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind the next time I’m enjoying the heck out of the PT!

        • September 23, 2015 at 2:49 pm
          Permalink

          Will that be before or after you watch that block of Ed Wood Jr cinematic classics? 😉 Then again I do enjoy the heck out of The Room and Birdemic: Shock And Awe … Im just thinking its not for the same reasons … although the dialogue in those films are on par with each other

          • September 23, 2015 at 4:05 pm
            Permalink

            If you really think that three of the most ambitious, beautifully visualized, intricately imagined, financially successful and globally loved fantasy films ever made are analogous to Ed Wood…

          • September 23, 2015 at 4:28 pm
            Permalink

            Wow, i want a prescription to whatever it is youre taking sir! No joke! Id love to live in a world where the PTs werent complete and utter garbage … I tried SO HARD to like them (saw TPM 7 times in the theater, AOTC 5 times and ROTS 6) but eventually I became honest with myself instead of staying self delusional … So its not like im someone thats just bashing the PT for the pure sake of bashing them … Im bashing them because they are simply crap …. They were only financially successful because of the name, and the name alone off of the originals …. Btw, globally loved? Haha, theyre not even nationally loved! Theyre nationally loathed sir

          • September 23, 2015 at 5:02 pm
            Permalink

            I agree dude, i’ll take five of whatever Vincent is having. The prequels are a load of stinkin’ garbage.

          • September 23, 2015 at 5:14 pm
            Permalink

            Thanks for sharing your precious opinion 🙂

          • September 23, 2015 at 5:12 pm
            Permalink

            LOL Yes, your personal opinion is now Fact! Congratulations, you win the internet! Explain to me the masses of fan art, body art, cosplay costuming and other fan activity I see daily online devoted to the PT? And it comes from all over the world. If it was just the name, why wasn’t the Clone War “movie” a box office smash? And if TFA is a big hit can I say that it was just the name? Thanks for playing.

          • September 23, 2015 at 7:13 pm
            Permalink

            Vincent, my personal opinion is that the prequels were crap … Ill give you that … But the fact that the prequels didnt even come close to earning the same amount of money or respect is your own delusion …. Are you aware of adjusted income? In case not it means the value of money compared to the time it was in … Putting that into perspective the original movie is STILL the number 2 movie of all time … and to further expidite the point the first 3 original releases still outgrossed the prequels by a LONG SHOT … with the exception of The Phantom Menace which made almost ALL of its money off of nostalgia hope (built in audience) … Point and fact is the prequels sucked in both monetary and critical aspects …. enjoy it as much as you like it doesnt take away from the the fact that they were inferior movies because Lucas didnt have the right people behind him to tell him what worked and what didnt … Plain and simple.

          • September 23, 2015 at 7:43 pm
            Permalink

            “The Phantom Menace made almost ALL of
            its money off of nostalgia hope (built in audience)” LOL That’s why people went back to see it multiple times, watched it on TV, bought the VHS, DVD & Bluray, buy anything to do with Darth Maul, still dress up as the characters, draw the characters, get tattoos of the characters, collect memorabilia featuring the characters etc? I’m not comparing the PT to anything. Just as their own films they were incredibly successful and I’m along with a huge global audience that loves them. Cheers!

          • September 24, 2015 at 3:29 am
            Permalink

            Avoid the facts all you want … Pretending they dont exist doesnt make them go away … The ONLY good thing about the Prequels was the inclusion of Maul …. The fact still stands that the prequels were a HUGE disappointment no matter which way you try to spin it … No little kids were impressed with trade negotiations … George had no clue where he was aiming this movie at

        • September 24, 2015 at 3:40 pm
          Permalink

          Good on you Vincent! I also enjoy the prequels. Sure, they weren’t perfect, and the original trilogy will always be better in my opinion, but there is a lot that I enjoyed in the prequels, and if I ever ran into George Lucas on the street, I would shake his hand and tell him sincerely “thank you for making them”.

          Why people feel the need, 10 years later, to tell everyone they meet how much they hate the prequels, or post on every forum they can find that they hate the prequels, I’ll never understand. People are allowed to like things or dislike them.

          The prequels were 10 years ago. If people still want to whinge and complain about the movies today, then the problem is with them, not the prequels.

  • September 22, 2015 at 8:19 pm
    Permalink

    Serious conjecture: she switches sides in the 3rd act.

  • September 22, 2015 at 8:48 pm
    Permalink

    I don’t know if we will see her face, but the sentence doesn’t imply that we won’t see it as she said she had the same feeling with Brienne, whose face we do see. It could refer to the makeup and/or prosthetics being non-glamorous.

  • September 22, 2015 at 10:05 pm
    Permalink

    I believe she will remain masked in The Force Awakens, but at the same time, you don’t cast someone like her unless she is important in some way. It could have been anyone underneath there and then maybe have her do voice work, like with Darth Vader. That’s why I think she will be important to the trilogy, and will definitely be unmasked at a certain point, but not for now.

    • September 22, 2015 at 10:17 pm
      Permalink

      I agree! Why have Gwendoline Christie if we won’t see her face? I’m sure she wasn’t cast just for her voice.

    • September 23, 2015 at 3:21 am
      Permalink

      Did you read what you said? It’s more than the mask it’s a complete performance. Think Tom hardy as bane. More than just reading lines under a mask.

      • September 23, 2015 at 4:23 am
        Permalink

        I mean that someone like Gwendoline Christie is somewhat wasted if it is a helmet and armor performance, as great as it can be, because she is a great actress beyond the armor. It does become about the character then, and what body language means, so you are definitely right…but I feel like even if it’s the case for Episode VII, it won’t last for the trilogy or however long her character lasts.

      • September 23, 2015 at 7:02 am
        Permalink

        Though Bane DID appear without his mask – for 3 seconds in a flashback.
        I think that it’s good to have her appear JUST ONCE without the mask, no more than once though. Just to prove IT IS her under there. They did the same thing with Gollum, give Andy Serkis a no-CG scene in a flashback just so we [the audience] get that behind-the-monster peek at what he looks like in his most human form.
        It’s interesting that you contrast her to Bane, because I think Bane is EXACTLY what she should follow: Known for her twisted mask, with ONE little peek at her “normal” self just so we know she’s there.
        In fact, pretty much every masked villain of greatness has some sort of unmasking scene [albeit brief]. There ARE two exceptions: Boba Fett and Joker. Boba Fett should have never been given a face, and Nolan wisely avoided showing the Joker’s face [except for a split-second shot that was obscured and from an odd angle].
        Honestly I don’t care either way. :/

  • September 22, 2015 at 10:33 pm
    Permalink

    I see this kind of interaction {or would love it}…

    Han runs to the loading ramp of the Falcon. Phasma is there is suprised herself. Shoots a huge blast that hits right next to Han burning his shoulder and causes it to smoke. Ramp goes up. “Chewie, Out!! Now!!”

    Flacon takes off. Daisey’s character is on board, helps Han. As the take off progresses, He jumps into an external gun port and fires a giant barage with no effect. Smoke clears. Phasma standing, arms at side. looking up.

    She pilots, Han being fixed up by Chewbacca. “Chewie, you’re getting hairs in it. OW!!” (beep beep)

    A female voice over the com. “I didn’t know that was you, Solo. Double-back or We’ll meet. I have something for you. Something, especially the Skywalker girl. will appreciate.”

    “Full stop Chewie. We all need to talk.”

    —–

    Essentially, what if she is a Lando kinda fair-weather-friend? Maybe Kylo is simply too much?

    • September 23, 2015 at 5:00 pm
      Permalink

      That sounds great, but I don’t think The Force Awakens will have this much personality

  • September 23, 2015 at 2:59 am
    Permalink

    Wow, Game of Thrones comes to Star Wars. Now I feel conflicted. Should I watch it at the movies or illegally download it?

  • September 23, 2015 at 4:50 am
    Permalink

    It could work very well either way. I imagine that they’ll only show her face if they want to humanize her in some way, or give her some sort of tragic death scene.

    Remember Jango Fett? Seeing his face right away really cheapened his character for me. He was just another guy. And it’s why Boba will always seem so much more menacing. It’s also why Darth Vader’s reveal in RotJ is so shocking.

    I dunno which I would prefer. But I do hate the trope where characters lose their masks or headgear for no story reason just to give the actor more face time.

    • September 23, 2015 at 9:27 am
      Permalink

      I didn’t mind it all. It was interesting because it was halfway between the movie, where you had seen him a little bit with the helmet before that. I guess not too much, but still.

  • September 23, 2015 at 7:03 am
    Permalink

    Anyone else looking forward to Phasma’s character the most?

  • September 23, 2015 at 4:02 pm
    Permalink

    I have enjoyed her acting in GOT. Adding her was a wise move, she really knows how to portray a militaristic personality. Also not having her unmasked works for me, kina like Boba.

  • September 23, 2015 at 4:13 pm
    Permalink

    ..perhaps ‘she’ is a droid..?

Comments are closed.

LATEST POSTS ON MOVIE NEWS NET