Afrigather [This story contains spoilers for Andor’s first three episodes.]
On the peak of the pandemic, Andor star Adria Arjona flew all the best way to London to audition alongside Diego Luna (who performs the titular Insurgent Alliance officer Cassian Andor), and inside a span of 10 minutes, collection creator Tony Gilroy welcomed her to Star Wars. Arjona performs Bix Caleen, who’s a mechanic and one in every of Cassian’s oldest mates on the planet Ferrix. Of their first scene collectively at Bix’s small enterprise, it’s urged that the 2 characters have untapped emotions for each other, leading to Bix’s present love curiosity, Timm (James McArdle), to jealously betray her by reporting Cassian to Imperial Safety.
In keeping with Arjona, the backstory for Bix and Cassian’s relationship continues to be up within the air.
“They’re childhood mates, and there’s this thriller of, ‘Had been they ever actually in love?’” Arjona tells The Hollywood Reporter. “So it truly is form of unknown, however by their lengthy friendship, belief has been constructed after which damaged after which constructed again up after which damaged once more. However she all the time finally ends up selecting him over the whole lot, and it form of sucks.”
Andor’s first three episodes have now premiered on Disney+, and the response has been overwhelmingly constructive for the reason that collection is a welcomed departure from the earlier Star Wars exhibits. Arjona credit one particular person for this new route.
“The selections which are made all through the present — with the writing, the units, the costumes and the worlds — are very a lot Tony [Gilroy], going, ‘I feel it’s that, I feel it’s that, and I feel it’s that.’ And that’s why [Andor] works: as a result of we had a vicious chief,” says Arjona.
In a current spoiler dialog with THR, Arjona additionally recollects the story of how her mom gave her the constructive reinforcement she wanted to fly to London and audition throughout a precarious stretch of the pandemic.
Properly, we will lastly say the identify Bix Caleen.
Thank God! I’ve been eager to get a tattoo of Bix.
I do know you place it off due to spoiler fears, however are you continue to planning to get it?
Yeah, I’m going to do it. I’m going to get some type of Star Wars tattoo, however I’m undecided what.
After we spoke in April, you described Bix as a sensible girl. Had been you referring to the truth that she’s a mechanic of kinds?
Yeah, it’s arduous to speak about her at such an early stage. I imply, she is extremely sensible and fearless and daring and dependable, even generally to her personal detriment. She cares so deeply in regards to the individuals round her, and it actually takes her on a journey. So I’m in love together with her in a method. I simply assume she’s the good.
Courtesy of Lucasfilm
What are you able to inform me about her historical past with Cassian? What makes her so protecting of him?
I do know they’ve had an extended friendship. They’re childhood mates, and there’s this thriller of, “Had been they ever actually in love? Had been they ever collectively? Is there jealousy between Cassian and Timm? Is that this a love triangle?” So it truly is form of unknown, however by their lengthy friendship, belief has been constructed after which damaged after which constructed again up after which damaged once more. However Bix nonetheless cares deeply for Cassian. He’s extremely complicated and complex, and he all the time appears to get himself in bother or do issues a unique method. And like I stated, Bix is so sensible. She has her personal enterprise, and she or he is lastly operating it the best way she needs to run it. She’s on the prime of her sport. She lastly has stability, however each time Cassian is available in, he simply disrupts it somewhat bit. So she virtually needs higher for Cassian, and she or he’s extremely protecting over him. However she all the time finally ends up selecting him over the whole lot, and it form of sucks.
Yeah, Cassian is unreliable in a number of methods, however Timm (James McArdle) is a man who will bounce by hoops for Bix, to a fault.
Mm-hmm.
So did she accept Timm as a result of she was uninterested in Cassian’s unpredictability?
I personally assume so. Timm is secure. Timm is accountable. They operate effectively collectively. They run a enterprise collectively. Possibly she had hopes and goals that it may’ve been Cassian, however who is aware of? It’s simply unimaginable with him, therefore that line that Cassian provides Bix, and Bix responds, “I don’t ask you about your private life.” So you possibly can actually really feel the stress in that second of, “Oh, he doesn’t like that Timm is in my life.” (Laughs.) However he comes and goes lots. That’s his method of defending the people who he loves.
For anybody who could have missed our final interview, would you thoughts retelling the story of the way you landed the function within the room?
Oh my God, I did let you know that. I didn’t inform that story to too many individuals. So I despatched a tape in, after which I obtained known as to go to London in the midst of the pandemic. So I known as my mother, and I used to be like, “Mother, they need me to go to London, however there’s this factor known as COVID. What ought to I do?” I used to be simply so scared. I’m a real hypochondriac at coronary heart. I used to be like, “What’s going on with the world?” And he or she principally stated, “Adria, you’re a swan. You can swim in a lake of shit and never get stained. Let the Drive be with you, my daughter.” After which she hung up the telephone on me.
So I ended up going to London, and I met Tony [Gilroy] and Diego [Luna] in particular person. We did one scene collectively, and Tony simply stood up and was like, “Diego, meet your co-star. Adria, meet your co-star.” And I used to be like, “I’m sorry, what?” And Tony was like, “Welcome to Star Wars.” After which my coronary heart simply dropped. That entire testing interval solely lasted 10 minutes, and I did the scene as soon as, plus one other fast little scene. And abruptly, I used to be in Star Wars. It was the wildest factor, and it doesn’t communicate to my appearing skills in any respect. I feel it speaks extra to Tony’s capability to see one thing and go, “That’s proper.” The selections which are made all through the present — with the writing, the units, the costumes and the worlds — are very a lot Tony, going, “I feel it’s that, I feel it’s that, and I feel it’s that.” And that’s why it really works: as a result of we had a vicious chief.
Courtesy of Lucasfilm
Bix helps Cassian meet Stellan Skarsgard’s character, Luthen Rael, and he’s doubtless going to be the one to place Cassian on the trajectory in direction of changing into the Insurgent hero who steals the Demise Star plans in Rogue One. And that effort finally led Luke Skywalker to destroy the primary Demise Star and save the galaxy. So, technically, Bix had a hand in saving the galaxy, too. Have you considered Bix’s function within the grand scheme of Star Wars?
I’ve. I actually have. When Bix despatched that message [to Rael], I considered what that meant and what it meant for her future, Cassian’s future and the way forward for the galaxy itself. However it actually lies extra on Cassian than Bix, particularly. Bix is somewhat bit unaware of what she is definitely getting herself into, however she’ll discover out eventually. So I don’t assume she’s precisely conscious of what’s taking place or the connection to what’s about to occur, however she realizes it fairly fast, although.
Episode three ends in tragedy as Timm will get stitches and dies in entrance of Bix. Cassian additionally flees Ferrix with Luthen. It’s secure to say you’ll be again in some unspecified time in the future, proper?
I can’t let you know that. It might be wild of me to do this.
What’s your favourite episode quantity?
Episode one. (Laughs.)
Wow, you’re good at this.
(Laughs.) You’ve gotta watch it.
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Andor’s three-episode premiere is now out there on Disney+. This interview was edited for size and readability.
