Disney provided hotel and transportation to LA for us to attend the Solo: A Star Wars Press Junket where we interviewed the Queen of Dragons, Emilia Clarke. Emilia Clarke wasn’t always a Star Wars Fan. Her brother was, and would always try to get her to dress up as a Star Wars character for Halloween. And it wasn’t until Star Wars The Force Awakens that she became a full blown Star Wars Fan. It was the enormity of Star Wars Episode seven that amazed her, because she thought, that’s how a movie should be done. 
Emilia Clarke was cast as Qi’ra, the major love interest for Han Solo. He always wanted to buy a ship, become a pilot and run away with her. However, fate had a different plan for both of them. Emilia Clarke describes her character Qi’ra as a survivor. “She does what she needs to do to keep being around”. She described the relationship between Han and Qi’ra as a Bonnie and Clyde situation and that they were just surviving. She went on to say that Qi’ra has lived a huge amount in a short time. She said that’s about all she has in common with Qi’ra. Emilia Clarke had to grow up quickly and that in life:
“You just gotta’ hustle, you gotta grow up real quick”
Emilia Clarke’s first job was on Game of Thrones as the mother of dragons and she had a “Baptims by Fire”. So she has grown up a lot since then. She continues to bring a strength to her characters and that includes Qi’ra. But when asked what she hopes little girls can learn from her, is not that women have to be strong, it’s more of we are women and strength is within us as women. And that strength is just part of being a woman.
You may not know this, but Emilia grew up in the theater. Her dad was a Sound Designer for a theater. So she grew up back stage and has a huge love for theater. She said it’s important for actors to do both theater and screen because with theater you have a tribe. You have this same group of people that you work with and it’s like magic being part of an ensemble. I know this to be true because my daughter was part of a tribe like this for 15 months. Emilia also said though that it’s the most beautiful thing ever, but it’s really exhausting and it sure don’t pay the rent.
As you all know, Ron Howard became the director of Solo: A Star Wars Story and Emilia loved working with him. She said she was surprised he chose to come work on the movie, but then reminded herself, uh, it’s a Star Wars movie, of course he did. 
“He literally couldn’t have been better and just to held us all in the most beautiful way and allowed us to be– he made us all feel heard, which in a movie of this scale is so impressive. “
A few interesting things Emilia Clarke had to say about working on Solo: A Star Wars Story. 1, Emilia said that working on set was a little stinky. The set was really small and tight. She also said that they all had to train for the action scenes. And that she didn’t steal anything from the set but she did receive a necklace and that it is safely stored in her safe.
I have to end this by telling you that Emilia Clarke has always wanted to be a LEGO. Of course, as a Star Wars Character, Emilia Clarke is now a LEGO character.
Solo: S Star Wars Story is in theaters May 25th.
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