advertisement
Gwendoline Christie plays fearsome fighters in both Westeros and a galaxy far, far away. And while the statuesque British actress keeps the two worlds distinct in her mind, her combat skills are actually a bridge between them.
Christie's fight with Finn (John Boyega) as Captain Phasma in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" and the face-off between Brienne of Tarth and Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) on "Game of Thrones" were created by the same choreographer, CC Smiff. (The Finn-Phasma fight is teased in "The Last Jedi" trailer.)
"It was CC who taught me to fight, taught me to sword fight and really facilitated me in terms of giving me the confidence to go further," she said in a recent interview.
Not that there was too far to go in "The Last Jedi." Captain Phasma's armor is "incredibly restrictive," Christie said:
Still, the 39-year-old actress was "delighted" to play the mysterious character in "The Force Awakens" and reprise it in "The Last Jedi." She said she loves Phasma's chromed appearance and genderless power.
Fans were so taken by Phasma's look when it was revealed ahead of "The Force Awakens" in 2015 that some balked about her brief screen time.
For her part, she's just grateful for her place in two vast and beloved worlds, regardless of what kind of fighting it demands.
"What a huge privilege to be part of these two amazing things. 'Game of Thrones' — nobody knew that it would enjoy such incredible success, it's become a global phenomenon — and I've grown up with Star Wars," Christie said.
(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT in partnership with #MyRightToBreathe to find a solution to pollution. Send in your suggestions to fit@thequint.com or WhatsApp @ +919999008335)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)