This weekend, Star Wars: The Last Jedi was unleashed on the crowds attending its world premiere in Los Angeles, which meant we got our first teases and reactions to the movie (surprise, people liked it!). But the highlight of the premiere was Kelly Marie Tran having an absolutely outstanding time.
Image: Walt Disney Studios/Alex J. Berliner
In The Last Jedi, Tran plays Rose Tico, a reluctant Resistance mechanic who gets thrust into the spotlight when she goes on a mission with Finn. Much like Rose herself, Tran was thrust into the spotlight of Star Wars mania at this weekend’s premiere, and naturally reacted the way many of us would upon realising we’re a major part of one of the biggest and most beloved franchises of all time: She laughed, she cried, she freaked out, and she excitedly hugged people cosplaying as her.
Kelly Marie Tran is how all of us would be if we were cast in a star wars film pic.twitter.com/9s0LTT4TQT
— Dani Fernandez (@msdanifernandez) December 10, 2017
Beautiful moment at #TheLastJedi premiere! Breakout star Kelly Marie Tran thanks producer Ram Bergman for this opportunity pic.twitter.com/vCw7ottrPN
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) December 10, 2017
The overwhelming nature of it all led to a heartwarming consolation between Tran and Daisy Ridley, who of course went through all this two years ago with the release of The Force Awakens – captured by Star Wars: Battlefront 2‘s Janina Gavankar:
I feel strange posting a private moment, like this. But this level of emotion, met with this level of support, is @StarWars encapsulated. pic.twitter.com/lYd1bCcr1V
— janina gavankar (@Janina) December 10, 2017
The power of what Star Wars has become to so many people is a wonderful thing, but it’s something that doesn’t just affect fans – it affects the people who are part of it all, too.