Can you have a droid rating system in Star Wars? With fan favorite droids such as R2-D2, C-3PO, and BB-8, make room for Star Wars’s sassiest droid – L3-37. We talk with Phoebe Waller-Bridge who plays L3-37 in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Lando’s hilarious co-pilot. She is the droid we’ve been looking for.
Thank you, Disney, for inviting me to the #HanSoloEvent and providing travel and accommodations. All opinions on the need for more sharp-tongued droids in this world are my own.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge on Being a Droid
When Phoebe Waller-Bridge auditioned for the role, she wasn’t aware L3-37 was a droid. Let’s just say she was a Star Wars novice. She quickly caught on that she wasn’t human and soon became part of the fandom.
How do you prepare for a role as a droid?
Phoebe: “Well, I was ready to do all sorts of preparation for that. I was like, “Do you want me to work out, so I can carry the suit stronger?” And they were just like, “no, no, that little weird awkward walk you’re doing is actually perfect”.
And the same with the voice. Because she’s created herself, she’s built herself to be more — not like, more human, but more relaxed, in her voice, and her body, and everything. I would offer something droid-y, they would be like “stop that, pull it back. Be more natural.”
On the Costume of a Droid
Y’all know I’m a costume fanatic. So it was interesting to hear about the process to create L3-37.
I like that you were actually in costume and acting along with the other characters. Tell us about that process.
Phoebe: “Well, I had loads of fittings. I mean, the weirdest thing is you get a kind of scan at the very beginning. I got a scan of my whole body, and then they build a complete replica of your body. And then they’d build this suit around it, so it fits perfectly. And so I had this green suit, skin-tight, really attractive green leggings and leotard. And then, on top of that, I had the kind of legs drilled onto me, and the arms, and the chest plate, and then the head.
But it was the first time that they’d created a droid that could kind of move properly and be more flexible. And I could move all of my joints. Because she’s a self-made droid, so she created herself to be as flexible, bigger, faster, stronger, than any other droids that she would’ve met.”
L3-37 is a More Humanized Droid
How does it feel to be the spokesperson for droid awareness?
Phoebe: “Well, I’ve actually been that for a very long time, before I even knew about it.Yeah. It’s so cool that she’s got a cause, you know. She’s like a social justice warrior, and she’s a droid with an agenda that goes beyond her own existence, and that’s very unique. It’s good to have a message.”
L3 is kind of sassy. Are you sassy in real life, too?
Phoebe: “No, I’m afraid not, no. I can dream of being sassy though.”
Photo Credit: Louise Bishop, MomStart.com
How did you bring such heart and humor to a character that’s not even flesh and blood?
Phoebe: Aw, well, I can’t take full credit for that. The script does that. But I think you have to sort of start at the heart, with any character, no matter what they’re made out of. And I felt like she had a huge amount of heart and passion, and even though she sort of wakes up halfway through the film to what her passion is, and it’s nice, knowing you’re building to something like that as well. And humor as well. Where there’s humor there’s heart and I think she’s got a lot of it.
How can Solo: A Star Wars Story inspire us?
What do you hope people learn as far as an inspirational message within the film?
Phoebe: “It’s a film celebrating individuality and individual causes and having courage of your own convictions. So that would be wonderful. People being like, they want to fight for their own sh–. But also there are so many amazing relationships in it, and I think it’s inspiring, and the trust it takes to partner up with somebody, and I hope that inspires them as well.”
Photo Credit: Louise Bishop, MomStart.com
Phoebe Waller-Bridge nails it. Solo: A Star Wars Story is about relationships, and it is inspiring. L3-37 has a mouth, and she is not anyone’s property. This is the droid I’ve been looking for for my daughters. She’s self-made, she’s got a sense of humor, she’s fearless, and she rocks.
Check out my non-spoiler review of ‘Is Solo: A Star Wars Story kid friendly?” to see if Solo is ok for kids!
For more Solo interviews, read about Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo, Paul Bettany as Dryden Vos, and Emilia Clarke as Qi’ra!