While Alden Ehrenreich and Donald Glover are taking on younger versions of characters established within the Star Wars universe, Emilia Clarke’s character, Qi’ra, is being introduced for the first time in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Entertainment Weekly talked with her about playing Qi’ra, how her character knows Han Solo, and tough women in Star Wars.
This interview was a little difficult to parse in order to avoid potential spoilers, but here are a few of the safer excerpts:
*Please be aware that clicking links to the Entertainment Weekly website may expose you to spoilers about Solo*
[Entertainment Weekly] Is there pressure to make a movie like this match up with the ones that came before?
[Emilia Clarke] The joy of this movie is, it’s like we’re the kids at the back of the bus. Do you know what I mean? Like everybody else is doing the big stuff and we’re just kind of making this stupid, cool, really funny, weird movie and no one’s looking. All the Star Wars films have got, obviously, a beautiful flavor of humor in them, but this … this gets to be Han Solo funny, which is not the comic interlude — the comic interlude is it.
From the look of her, the elegant gowns and capes, I would have assumed this is somebody who is thriving. She looks wealthy.
Well, if you have got a really glamorous lady in a really sordid environment you kind of know that maybe the glamour is hiding a few rough roads.
We’re seeing a lot of strong women in the Star Wars movies now, with Rey, Jyn Erso, Rose, Phasma, Ahsoka, Padme, Holdo, and others now standing alongside Leia. Does Qi’ra fit into that tradition of strong warrior women?
Oh hella yeah. [Laughs] I am never going to take a job that doesn’t tell that story, because I think it’s a very important narrative that we are telling all ages at all stages. And whilst it is Han Solo’s movie, this girl gets to be badass. And strong. And has her own journey. Qi’ra’s journey is definitely one of survival and strength. The way that I felt about her was yeah this girl has got a core of steel.
As the dad of a little girl who loves Star Wars, I’m glad there are a lot of strong women for her to choose from. A lot of variety now.
Very much. And there is a female presence to this movie. Han Solo is only surrounded by strong women. He doesn’t know any woman who doesn’t stand up for herself, has got game and chops and intelligence and wit. Those are the only women in his life. And then he meets Leia, so it all kind of falls into place.
The rest of EW’s interview can be found at EW.com.
Entertainment Weekly‘s Solo cover and exclusive images can be seen here and here. Interviews with Alden Ehrenreich, Kathleen Kennedy, and Donald Glover are found here, here, and here.
Powered by Sidelines
