A Tearful Celebration Welcome

Host Krystina Arielle welcomes actors Jodie Turner-Smith and Rebecca Henderson to the Star Wars Celebration LIVE! stage to talk about their upcoming series, The Acolyte. Krystina asks the duo what it felt like to witness the massive crowd’s immediate reaction to the exclusive footage shown earlier on the main stage. Jodie admits that the emotional weight of the moment completely overwhelmed her, sharing that she actually cried when she heard the crowd erupting. She praises the energy of the community, noting that any roar from a crowd like that feels amazing and concluding that the fans are simply the best.

Feeling the Gravity of the Garb

Jodie describes the transformative experience of stepping into the Star Wars galaxy for the first time through her character’s wardrobe. She notes that the process of getting fully costumed and seeing herself in character was deeply moving. She explains that when you put everything on and see yourself, you feel the true gravity of it all, adding that the entire experience feels incredibly important, real, and profound. Krystina warmly responds by officially welcoming both actors to the Star Wars family, emphasizing how lucky the franchise is to have them.

Bringing Vernestra Rwoh to Live Action

Rebecca opens up about the unique privilege of playing a character with an established history in the expanded lore. She points out that fans who read the High Republic books are accustomed to seeing Vernestra Rwoh as a sixteen-year-old prodigy. However, because The Acolyte takes place a century later, Rebecca portrays her as an elder Jedi Master who is highly revered and immensely powerful. She reveals that Vernestra has found herself operating in a complicated liaison position, balancing the interests of the Jedi Order with the politics of the Senate.

Creative Wings Flapping

The conversation touches upon the creative environment fostered by series creator Leslye Headland. Rebecca, who is married to Leslye, laughs about her own steep learning curve while watching her wife write and build the show from the ground up. Jodie thoroughly praises Leslye’s fierce leadership and artistic resilience, calling her an absolute force. Jodie highlights how difficult it can be to protect an artistic vision inside a massive corporate structure where ideas often get closed down. She commends Leslye for fighting for her team, stating that she made sure their creative wings were flapping from start to finish.

Learning to Dream Bigger

Rebecca reflects on how unexpected this entire career milestone has been for her. She shares a grounded confession, admitting that she did not grow up dreaming about being in Star Wars. However, after experiencing the magic of working on the sets, her perspective completely changed. She notes that once she was actually in the middle of it, she found herself wondering why she had never dreamed of it before because the experience was so incredible. The realization inspired her, joking that she needs to start thinking about her dreams and what she wants to achieve next.