Page 48 - Star Wars Insider #177

INTERVIEW

“She [iden] understands that there is
strength in quiet. She is very smart to hold

back and stay reserved until the moment

she needs to pounce.”

I also did the audiobook [of Inferno How did you find recording not the person or environment she’s in.

Squad]. That was the hardest thing I’ve only Iden’s voice for the audiobook, There’s nothing superfluous about Iden,

ever done vocally. Since we were under but the entire novel? she’s always ready to engage.

the gun, I did really long sessions. I I was terrified! I was so scared I would
had to do more than eight one-hour be terrible at doing all the voices What were the core things you that
sessions just to get the book done, because most of the characters are male. kept in mind when performing? Was
which is not normal. The only way I got There’s such a huge variety of them there an image or a line that you
through it was because I knew how to and I did not have long to prep for it. based your performance around?
support my breath and save my voice. Honestly, I only had time to read the With Iden it was more of a breath and a
book once and jot down some notes stance than basing it around a line from
before we started recording. So, in the script.
addition to voicing my entire squad, I We worked with military consultants
had to mimick Paul Blackthorne and TJ before we began shooting, and there’s
Ramini’s characters, Gideon Hask and obviously a physicality that comes with
Del Meeko respectively, and also play that training. We were very adamant
my father! And all the while I had to about getting the way we hold our guns
make each one of them sound different, in combat correct. By the way, the way
somehow. Even more daunting, there to do that and the tactics of how to
are times when these three characters, move in combat have changed. So we
who are all English, are talking to one were moving in a way that I had not
another. So there are some cases where moved on camera before. That was a
I thought to myself, “Do they sound huge thing! Where my body would be
different enough? How can I change my in rest in this character was different
voice to make these three Englishmen to other characters, so that helped a
sound different enough?” But it all lot. Any time they called action, I was
comes back to acting: I had to think standing in a position with a gun in my
about the intention in every single line, hand. As the hours, days, and months
and that helped. I haven’t listened to went by of being this character, it
the audiobook yet; I’m a little terrifi ed started becoming easier to fall right into
of hearing it! the physicality of what is rest for her.
JANINA GAVANKAR
In an interview with StarWars.com One of my favorite things about
No stranger to the sci-fi and
fantasy genre, Gavankar has you talked about Iden Versio having Iden’s characterization is one of her
starred in such notable series as a certain “rhythm” of calmness. great hardships—how much she
Stargate: Atlantis, True Blood Can you talk more about how you expects her father’s disappointment.
and Arrow. Having majored
in Theatre Performance at the portrayed that? What did you dig into when thinking
University of Illinois at Chicago, Her character is very different from me. about that troubled relationship?
she pursued a career in acting I’m easily excited about the things I’m How many times, especially growing
after a long time training as a
pianist, vocalist, and percussionist. passionate about—I can’t hold back. up nerdy, have you felt that someone is
A self-confessed fan, Janina is I’m quick to tell anyone who will listen expecting you to fail?
an avid gamer who was thrilled all of my thoughts! Iden is the opposite. I don’t feel that the Admiral wants
to earn the part of Iden Versio in
Star Wars: Battlefront II. Utilizing She understands that there is strength Iden to fail. I think that he wants her to
her vocal training and ranging in quiet. She holds back and stays succeed but perhaps he expects her to
skillset, Janina gives a powerful reserved until the moment she needs fail. I have certainly felt underestimated
performance as the Imperial to pounce. She knows how to ration in my life. You can either be defeated
squad leader.
her energy. She has the ability to listen by that or you can use it to your

and find a moment of vulnerability in advantage. Iden does the latter.

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