If there's one indisputable fact about the Star Wars mythos, it's that the work of the Resistance is never quite finished. Even with the group having destroyed The First Order's Starkiller Base in STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, General Leia Organa's followers will need to recover their resources fast if they're to stand a chance of defeating The First Order, once and for all. The thing about gaining the upper hand in a battle spread across several galaxies is that sometimes, even the most capable of leaders could use a little help; So enters actress Laura Dern's Admiral Holdo into the Star Wars fray.
Recently, paleobotonist Ellie Sattler, I mean actress Laura Dern sat down for an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly and shared some details regarding her new role in STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS as Vice Admiral Holdo.
“She enters the Resistance to shake things up,” Dern told EW. Hmm, shake things up, you say? You'll have to pardon my weariness, but I've learned not to trust anyone too quickly when faced with meeting a new player in the Star Wars universe. Truth be told though, I'm not the only one who seems reluctant to embrace Vice Admiral Holdo's arrival, as Oscar Issac's Poe Dameron also appears to be on-the-fence about whether or not he can trust the Resistance's newest authority figure.
“It’s definitely appropriate that they’ve paired us because a lot of the friction and conflict comes between Poe and that relationship with Admiral Holdo, who is this person that’s been — at least temporarily — put in charge of the Resistance,” Isaac says.
It's also being said that Holdo's approach to leadership is quite different than General Leia's. I think a lot of us can relate to this. How many times have you been blind-sided with a change in leadership at your place of employment? It's already hard enough to take orders from someone you barely know concerning day-to-day activities, now imagine if the fate of a rebellion were to rest on the shoulders of this new authority figure. Ugh.
“You have to sort of figure out who’s side you’re on or what your feelings are about her,” Dern says of Holdo. At a glance, you'll notice that Holdo is sporting an unconventional shade of violet-colored hair, and that her stately robes give her the appearance of being someone who's not about to swallow any of your sass. “She doesn’t particularly look like your typical military leader, and so I think there’s a bit of distrust for Poe,” Isaac says. “He’s not sure what to make of her, and then the way she speaks, the things she says.”
Dern also told EW that her character is there to represent and buck some of the practices happening in our own real world. She says that Holdo represents “stereotypes about women bosses,” Dern explained. “Like if she looks a certain way, she can’t achieve the job or she must be brazen. You know, all the different versions of what we label someone. I mean, there are reasons why I might look the way I look.” Dern also spoke to her admiration for the character's military glamour by saying, “I think it’s beautifully subversive. From the director to the producers, everyone was painstaking about not only the look, but even the exact color of hair, what it should be and trying different versions. And all I know is I think it’s so cool. I love the way she looks. I want to be Holdo for Halloween. Does that just seem horrific and narcissistic? I get a free pass.”
In talking more to the outlet about Holdo, Dern professed that she welcomes to opportunity to portray a headstrong character in the Star Wars universe. “Sometimes you need somebody to show up and yeah, teach you a thing or two,” Dern says. In regard to the tension between Dern's Holdo and Isaac's Dameron, it's to be understood that the two will clash when it comes to matters of action. Simply put, Poe wants to fight; she wants to strategize. “Poe is grappling with how to become a leader and not just a hero pilot, which means keeping those emotions in check, to keep his fervor in check and think things through a bit more,” Isaac says.
“Even if something seems like it’s not the most heroic thing to do in the moment, thinking about the bigger picture is sometimes more important,” Isaac says. “That’s something he’s trying to wrap his mind around, but at the same time, with the Resistance being in such a precarious situation, he wants to do the right thing, and doesn’t want to just wait and let things happen. He doesn’t necessarily agree with the way Holdo sees the role of the Resistance in this particular moment.”
As both Dameron and Holdo are students of General Leia Organa's teachings, it will be interesting to see if the two characters can set their differences aside for the good of the mission, and work as one in and effort to win the day.
What do you make of Vice Admiral Holdo? Do you think she'll help lead the Resistance to victory, or is she a puppet master for The First Order in disguise? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI will force its way into theaters on December 15th.