Rose Tico is a new Star Wars character being introduced in The Last Jedi. But who is she? How does her storyline impact on Finn? And who is the actress playing the part? FANDOM has been investigating…
Who is Rose Tico?
Rose is normal. The Star Wars universe is filled with aliens, Jedis and droids. Rose is none of those things. Instead, she’s a member of the ‘Ground Logistics Division,’ and Entertainment Weekly described her thusly: “She is a gearhead, a grease monkey, a behind-the-scenes jack-of-all-trades.”
Kelly Marie Tran — who plays the character — goes further. “She’s not cool,” the actress told EW. “She’s this nobody, this background player, which is what makes her interesting. She’s not the best. She’s not royalty. She’s someone who is like everyone else.”
In a separate interview with the publication, Tran spoke of the character’s bravery. “Rose is smart and she’s confident and she’s loyal,” Tran told EW. “She’s going to be such a cool character because she’s someone who isn’t a model. She’s not a superhero. She’s just kind of an everyday person, and that’s something special about her. She’s someone who is able to face her fears in the face of adversity even though she kind of is a background player in the Resistance.”
How is Rose Connected to Finn?
In The Last Jedi, Rose’s storyline becomes intertwined with Finn’s. She looks up to the former Stormtrooper and idolises him. “She’s not a soldier,” director Rian Johnson explained at Star Wars Celebration. “She’s not looking to be a hero, and she gets pulled a very big way into an adventure in this movie with Finn.”
John Boyega — who plays Finn — told EW: “He’s a hero to people like Rose, who fight for the Resistance because their homes have been destroyed by the First Order.”
The pair travel to the party town of Canto Bight — think Vegas with aliens — where Rose inspires Finn. “It’s now an opportunity for him to be the best he can be,” Boyega told EW. “He has to make a decision, and Rose is there to help him make that choice.”
Who is Kelly Marie Tran?
Hailing from San Diego, Kelly Marie Tran popped up in comedy shows like College Humor, Comedy Bang! Bang! and About a Boy, but landing the role of Rose in The Last Jedi is her most high-profile part to date. And it was a challenge keeping her Star Wars involvement a secret from her family…
“They didn’t know for four months,” Tran told Variety. “I told them I was doing an indie movie in Canada. At one point, I actually got some maple syrup so I could bring it back to them so they actually thought I was in Canada.”
She also loves Porgs…
And is even cosplaying as herself in Disney stores…
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is released on December 14 in the UK and December 15 in the States.