-Welcome to the show. -(exhales) Thank you so much.
And congratulations on a whirlwind ride.
This movie is... so highly anticipated,
and yet, at the same time,
we know nothing about it.
Like, nothing.
Like, normally, when I'm gonna do, like, an interview,
they might send me the movie beforehand.
And then I was like, "Yo, Disney." And they're like, "No."
No, Din-- Disney, they're true ninjas.
They're just like, "We're not gonna tell you anything,
-but you're always gonna wonder." -Right.
Are they strict like that with you as well?
'Cause I've heard, like, some actors,
they won't even give the full movie.
They'll just give you, like, the parts that you're in,
and then you don't even know what the movie is.
Yeah. So, strangely enough,
so, we-- I mean, I read the script, the entire thing.
-Aw, man. -But then... (laughs)
I know everything. (laughs)
But, truly, I mean, when you're shooting these scenes,
it's so piece-y, if that makes sense,
and it sort of changes as you're going.
-So sometimes you don't really know how it's gonna end up. -Oh.
So, do you think-- Like, have they shot multiple--
Or is there, like-like, a possibility
that you don't even know what the movie is,
so if you go watch the movie, you'd be like,
"I think it..." and then you don't know?
Uh, I think that's possible. I did see it last week.
-Oh, you've seen it? -Yeah, I have seen it. Yeah. (laughs)
I hated you, and now I'm over it.
It is-- it is pretty epic how your life turned.
I mean, you know, it's one thing to-to get into acting
and-and start out, you know, going to sketch classes
and saying, "I'm going to become an actor"
and-and then getting into movies and then graduating.
But you literally jumped into Star Wars,
which has been a complete
just, like, flip for your entire life.
How have you handled that?
Um, lots of therapy, Trevor.
-(laughs) Lots... -You're being serious though.
Oh, I'm being completely serious and everyone's laughing
but it's-it's truly true.
Um, I-- Yeah, I-I had this really weird
immediate life change,
where I was truly doing improv shows,
not even at UCB or iO or Second City-- all these great places.
I was doing improv shows, like, underground indie scene improv,
you know what I mean? Like, and I was doing small parts on,
um, like, TV shows
-where I'd have a line here, a line there. -Uh-huh, uh-huh.
Um, and it was-- And then it completely changed.
So it's sort of been a really big mental overhaul, in a way.
It's-it's really interesting, because you experienced,
as well, the best and worst of social media at the same time.
-Yeah. -Because, you know, when-when you...
when you got the role and when the first movie came out
that you were in, there was this backlash,
where people were like, "Oh, what is she doing in the movie?
"Why do you have this Asian woman?
This makes no sense."
But then you had this huge wave of support
where people came to support you.
But-but you made a choice. You said after that,
you're like, "You know what? I'm done with being online.
I'm not gonna get harassed by trolls online. I'm off."
And you-you just don't do social media now?
-No. That might be the best choice I ever made, truly. -How?
-(applause and cheering) -Yeah. -How do you...?
How do you know that you're valid in life?
-Like, how do you...? -(laughter)
I don't want... I don't want to make everyone mad,
'cause everyone loves you, but, I'm, like,
dude, you should... you should try it.
-You'd, like... -You should try it for a little bit.
But-but I'm being serious, though,
-because the whole world is on social media. -Yeah. Yes.
And then, you just did this thing where you're like,
"No, I'm gone," and you're happy about it.
It's not even like, you're like, "Oh, I-I miss it."
-You're-you're just gone. -I'm truly... Yeah.
You know what's weird is, I think...
Again, I came from this place
where I was working this day job and-and struggling,
and then sort of had this huge, public... public space.
And I felt that need that you sort of just referenced--
-the idea that I needed to be validated. -Right, right, right.
Or to be like, "I'm wearing this dress.
I want everyone to know I'm wearing this dress."
Like, just weird things.
And I'm like, "Kelly, what are you thinking?"
-Like, that's not a normal person thought. -Right.
And so, I think I sort of thought to myself,
"This is unhealthy for me. I need to get out of here."
And it's been the best thing I've ever done.
-That is so amazing. That really is amazing. -Yeah. Yeah.
(applause and cheering)
You...
You-you also have...
You're in this space where,
you know, your role takes so much significance.
Not just because of the character you're playing
in the series and because of how you're, like, part
-of this end of this saga of the series. -Mm-hmm.
But also because this was the first time
we had seen an Asian-American actress,
like, playing a powerful role like this
-in a Star Wars franchise. -Yeah.
Does that not come with a ton of stress?
Oh, it absolutely does.
Yeah, it absolutely comes with this sort overwhelming pressure,
-like this desire to represent well. -Right.
But also, on the other hand, I'm like,
"Guys, what's the big deal?
"Asian women speak and have feelings
"and can have a-a full existence in life.
-It's not that crazy!" -Right.
-Yeah. -And so... so when you... when you're on this movie,
and you're creating it, I mean, like,
is there ever a moment where you think to yourself,
"It's-it's all downhill from here"?
-(laughter) -No, I'll tell you.
-Because it's Star Wars. -Yes.
It's Star Wars.
Like, you-you can get any other movie afterwards and be like,
"Yeah, but I... I did Star Wars."
-(laughter) -Like, how are you...?
No, 'cause I'm... I wouldn't be humble enough to be...
If I started with Star Wars,
everywhere I go, people will be like,
"Hey, would you like to be in this movie?"
I'll be like, "Is it about the Jedi?"
(laughter)
Like, is that... is that, like, a weird trip
for you to be on, as well?
I think it is kind of a weird trip.
I mean, forever I will always,
I think, be grateful to have been part of this thing
-Right. -...that is such a cultural touchstone
to so many generations of people.
Uh, but at the same time, I feel like
it's also because it feels like it was a big franchise,
I'm like, "Oh, now I just want to do something
-totally different and weird." -That's amazing.
-Yeah. -Yeah, you can just... you can just go into it.
-Yeah. -You can just go into any role.
-You can do whatever you want. -Yeah.
I would be stuck in Star Wars. I won't lie.
-(laughter) -I would be... I would, like, bring...
I feel like I would bring Star Wars to movies
that didn't need Star Wars in it.
It would be, like, a dramatic scene, like The Notebook,
and then I would be in there, and it'd be like,
"He's in the bed." (whooshing like lightsaber)
(laughter, applause, cheering)
-Uh... -I think... I think
you're better at acting than I am. I...
-I'm excited to see the movie. -Thank you so much.
But I mean, I'm more excited to see you as a human being
and as an actress just, like, changing the world
and not being on social media.
Thank you so much for being on the show.
Thank you so much for having me.
Good to have you. Thank you very much.
Congrats on everything.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
opens in theaters December 20.
Kelly Marie Tran, everybody.