Nothing pushed her to the limit like playing Rogue Ones Jyn Erso, the loner whose scientist father has knowledge vital to both the Rebels and the Empire. To help the Rebellion secure the plans that will eventually help Luke Skywalker destroy the Death Star, her conscripted outlaw will fight in space, on land, in the pouring rain, and under a sweltering desert sun.
Im laughing now, but at the time, it was physically exhausting, says the actress, 32. It took a lot of hours of practice, and I worked with a kung fu coach, and I learned to fight, even though I never thought beating up Stormtroopers was something Id be doing in my job. It came through hard work and lots of practice and rehearsals.
At 5-foot-3, Jones is not the typical war-movie brawler, but she says thats part of Jyns underdog appeal.
She is absolutely a very unlikely heroine, the actress says. Shes someone on the edges and fringes of society. Physically, shes smaller than everyone else around her, but
when someone has something they believe in, thats what powers them, thats what motivates them, thats what can give someone enormous strength.
Edwards says he chose Jones because she wasnt so kick-ass and shields-up that the audience couldnt empathize with her.
There were a lot of people who could learn how to fight and beat people up and do the physical side of it. For me, the most interesting thing is when theres a crack in the armor, when you can glimpse the vulnerability in someone, the director says. You can just hang the camera on Felicity and not say a word, and you can feel her having a million different thoughts. You get interested in what shes thinking and whats going on. She can be very observant within a scene. It doesnt always have to be about her directly, but were experiencing it through her. She just has that knack for pulling you in.
observation, what appears to be the TIE-Striker pilot appears to have two glowing tipped sticks/weapons. - http://i.imgur.com/ivJES7y.jpg?1
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