There were afew incarnations ofObi-Wan Kenobibefore becoming the final product that is now unfurling on screens on Disney+.
(Hello, Darth Vader!)
Played byGame of Thrones’Indira Varma, Tala was first shownin theObi-Wan Kenobitraileras a very intense looking Imperial officer.
Indira Varma as Tala in ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’.Lucasfilm Ltd.
(Then again, she also got Leia captured, but you win some, you lose some.)
“There had already been different incarnations of the script and the story line,” explains Varma.
“And I think, originally, she was going to be a love interest.”
Indira Varma as Tala on ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’.Lucasfilm Ltd.
At least that is the way that Varma sees it in her portrayal.
“I do think in my heart that she’s in love with him,” says the actress.
“Because she’s prepared to give up everything to further his quest and to help him out.
Indira Varma as Tala on ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’.Lucasfilm Ltd.
So that’s my little secret thing that’s going on inside.”
“We talked about several different versions of what her back story could be,” reveals Varma.
She’d become an Imperial officer because she thought they were going to do good.
There were all these storylines that were being bandied around."
Varma’s life has been pretty busy of late.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Okay, so how did you end up in a galaxy far, far away?
And I was like, “Yeah, of course I would.”
I thought it was fantastic, and I was really engaged with it.
I loved the humor in it.
I loved the humanity in it.
Which is, of course, why I’m interested in acting.
Plus, who doesn’t want to work with Ewan?
And who doesn’t want to be in theStar Warsworld?
So many boxes were ticked, I was really excited.
And then, of course, that’s literally the first second that you see me on screen.
And then my cover is blown 20 seconds later.
So that was really hard to bite my tongue with.
I wouldn’t do that.
I would just cut and run.
What can I say?
She will do anything.
She’s very courageous.
She will risk it all.
What am I doing here?"
Listen, day one on set was like that.
And I kept laughing.
I kept giggling because it was just too wonderful.
This is in 3D!
It was really exciting.
Working with Ewan, it was just so easy.
He’s the loveliest guy and he’s such a laugh.
I mean, it was dangerously giggly, to be honest.
It’s kept alive.
He is playing with you.
I’m no style maven, but that Imperial uniform was a pretty snappy outfit.
Were you kind of bummed you only got to wear it for a few minutes of onscreen action?
Although I guess we might see it again.
Might get to see it again!
you’re free to’t think in that way.
It would be incredible.
So yeah, I’d love that.
Because you do think, my God, how can this person work for both sides?
It’s so dangerous.
How did it first happen?
I was curious about that.
I’d like to know too.
What else can you tease in terms of what’s coming up for Tala?
Well, I think I’ve already hinted.
I think I’ve dropped two, actually.
That’s all I’m saying.
How is that going?
We have done three days of rehearsals.
It’s about what happens in the space between things, and the space between people that void.
So we are doing that kind of experimental stuff.
Two-and-a-half years ago we actually did four previews of it [before COVID].
But we’re re-rehearsing it in a completely different way.
And we have four new cast members as well.
So it’s very exciting to revisit it.
It’s one of Chekhov’s best plays ever.
And it’s great to be working with Emilia again.
it’s a brilliant cast, so I’m excited.
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