Star Wars Villain Captain Phasma 'Very Progressive' Says Gwendoline Christie

Gwendoline Christie has been discussing her upcoming villainous role in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ describing her character as “very progressive”.

The 'Game of Thrones’ star plays Captain Phasma, the instantly-iconic chrome-plated Stormtrooper leader.

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“We know very little about her at this stage,” Christie told Entertainment Weekly. “What I think people are drawn to is that this is a very progressive female character.

"We see Captain Phasma, and we see the costume from head to toe, and we know that it is a woman. But we are used to, in our media, connecting to female characters via the way that they look, from the way they are made flesh.”

Her initial comment infers that we’ll learn very little about Phasma in this first film of this new trilogy, and that she will maintain some mystery. We don’t even know if she’ll talk.

The 'Star Wars’ villain she is most reminiscent of is Boba Fett, who became a fan favourite character through strong design and minimal character development.

Phasma is also interesting because, as Christie says, she’s a female character who is dressed head to toe for function not titillation.

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“It wasn’t just about what I was expressing above the neck, it was also as focused on what I was expressing below the neck. It was an interesting acting experience as well as a fangirl’s dream.

"She’s 'Star Wars’s first female villain,” Christie says. “It’s incredible, it’s timely, and I’m very proud to be a part of it.”

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits cinemas on 17 December in the UK.

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Picture Credits: LucasFilm / Vanity Fair.