A chat with Phoebe Waller-Bridge who plays the sassiest female droid, "L3-37" from Solo: A Star Wars Story, in theaters 5/25/18! #HanSoloEvent #HanSolo

2018-05-24T09:01:00.000-04:00

****Disney provided an all-expense paid trip for me to cover this great event, all opinions are 100% my own ****

Only 2 more days until Solo: A Star Wars Story hits theaters, I am excited to see this again with my family, to get you even more excited to see the film I have a great interview to share with you all. Recently in LA we sat down for a chat with the talked writer and actor, Phoebe Waller-Bridge. I never had the chance to talk to a droid before… so this was pretty cool… Read on to learn more about how it was to play L3-37, Star Wars sassiest droid.

Q: I read that prior to being cast for this role that you didn't know anything about Star Wars?

PWB: I did know about Star Wars. I hadn't seen any of the films. I think there's, five of us in the world! Which I think in some ways might've worked in my favor. Especially from the droid perspective, because I was very loose in the audition with the idea of what a droid was. They were, like, "Wow, you're taking the story thing very lightly." And I'm like, "Oh. Is she not a person?" I loved the film so much. I'm completely obsessed now.

Q: You were actually in costume and acting along with the characters. Tell us about that process of putting on the costume?

PWB: I had loads of fittings. I mean, the weirdest thing is, you get a kind of scan at the very beginning. I got a scan of my whole body, and then they'd build a complete replica of your body. Then they'd build this suit around it, so it fits perfectly. I had, this green suit, skin-tight, really attractive, green, leotard. Then, on top of that, I had the kind of legs drilled onto me, and the arms, and the chest plate, and then the head. It was amazing, but it was heavy. It was the first time that they'd created a droid that kind of move properly and be more flexible. I could move all of my joints. Because she's a self-made droid, so she created herself to be...as flexible, bigger, faster, stronger, than any other droids that she would've met.

Q: How does it now feel to be the spokesperson for droid liberation?

PWB: Well, I've actually been that for a very long time, before I even knew about it. It's so cool that she's got a cause, you know. She's like a social justice warrior, and she's a droid with an agenda that goes beyond her own existence, and that's very unique. It's good to have a message.

Q: Do you prefer the writing aspect? Or the acting aspect?

PWB: I like them both, for very different reasons. I was writing while shooting this film. And there was something really joyous about having to go from, having to be incredibly serious in the mornings, and having these lunch breaks where I was like, writing scenes about brutally murdering a politician. And then it was such a relief to put on that green suit and be a droid for, like, four hours, and then go back to it. I loved them both, and they are both liberating from each other in different ways, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Q: How do you prepare for a role as a droid?

PWB: I was ready to do all sorts of preparation for that. I was like, "Do you want me to work out? So I can carry the suit stronger?" And they were just like, no, no, that little weird, awkward walk you're doing is actually perfect. And the same with the voice. I think the vision through the whole production, was that she would feel -- because she's created herself, she's built herself to be more -- not like, more human, but more relaxed, in her voice, and her body, and everything. I would offer something droid-y, they would be like "stop that, pull that it back. Be more natural."

Q: What is the best advice you got from Ron Howard and Donald Glover? What are some life lessons you picked up from those relationships?

PWB: They are both so relaxed. Such consummate professionals. But there's a real sense of just being able to be really present with both of them, and I really learnt that from them. Just letting go of everything and letting your instincts speak first, really.

Q: How did you go ahead and bring such heart and humor that's not even flesh and blood?

PWB: I can't take full credit for that. The script does that. But I think you have to sort of start at the heart, with any character, no matter what they're made out of. I felt like she had a huge amount of heart and passion, and even though she sort of wakes up halfway through the film to what her passion is, and, it's nice, knowing you're building to something like that as well. And humor as well. Where there's humor, there's heart, and I think she's got a lot of it.

Phoebe and I at the Solo: A Star Wars Story after party

Q: How was it, working with Ron Howard?

PWB: He's a master. I was sort of ready to meet Ron Howard, you know, the king. And then he comes in, and he's just like, "Hey. How's it going?" So friendly, and that makes everyone feel so relaxed, and you can just feel instantly why people just want to work with him over and over again. Because he's so clear. His eye is so brilliant, and he's incredibly kind, and very clever. So you feel very safe.

Q: Did you have moments where you'd actually sit and say, "Hey, I'm in a Star Wars movie" and it's really setting in, and you kind of get excited?

PWB: Yeah, the two major ones -- there was a big one, and then when you involuntarily scream, and I did that when I saw the Falcon, and I did that when I met Chewie. But the big one really came, like, two weeks after we'd wrapped, and I suddenly just went, "What just happened?" I called my sister. And I was just like, "Was I just in a Star Wars movie?" She's like, "Yeah. Love, yeah. We came to set. We saw the whole thing." My God. How did that happen?

Q: Did you take any mementos from the set?

PWB: I really begged for my little green suit. No, I didn't, we parted ways. We're not really allowed to keep anything, but one of the model-makers made me a little -- like, her mouthpiece is a sort of little grill thing, and made me a little brooch out of that. So, I have her mouth. The best bit about her.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge was a sweet heart, who loved to laugh and had us laughing along with her, throughout the interview we laughed and laughed. She stole the scenes she was in as L3-37 one great moment after another. Why don’t you go and see the movie yourself, to see what a great job Phoebe did, I would love to hear what you think of the movie. Solo: A Star Wars Story is in theaters in a few days!!

Solo: A Star Wars Story is hitting theaters soon this weekend, May 25^th, 2018. I will have another great interview with the cast of Solo: A Star Wars Story up next is Woody Harrelson “Tobias Beckett”! Be sure to stay tuned!

Like Star Wars on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starwarsmovies/

Follow Star Wars on Twitter: https://twitter.com/starwars

Follow Star Wars on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starwars/

Visit the official Solo: A Star Wars Story site: http://www.starwars.com/films/solo

Solo: A Star Wars Story opens in theaters everywhere on May 25th!

Disclosure: The reviews and or opinions on this blog are my own opinions. No monitory compensation was received. I was not required to write a positive review. Your experience may differ. The opinions I have expressed are my own I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsement and Testimonials in Advertising.

Susan's Disney Family

A chat with Phoebe Waller-Bridge who plays the sassiest female droid, "L3-37" from Solo: A Star Wars Story, in theaters 5/25/18! #HanSoloEvent #HanSolo