Female Force is strong for Star Wars Rogue One star Felicity Jones

A LONG time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

Every single Star Wars movie has begun with the familiar yellow words scrolling on the screen, getting smaller and smaller until they fade out of sight into the blackness of space.

Well, not this time around, as the new movie in the franchise, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, is said to have done away with the usual opening line.

It also features a story entirely about a female lead.

OK, Princess Leia was no small role for Carrie Fisher, and Daisy Ridley was brilliant as Rey in last year’s The Force Awakens, but it’s still exciting that girl power is alive and well on Alderaan.

This time, we meet Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones, whose dad Galen was the one who created the original blueprints for the Death Star which was, of course, crewed by Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers.

The Death Star is no mere name, though, with just one blast from its superlasers capable of destroying an entire planet.

Was Felicity pleased to be a part of the film?

Absolutely, it seems.

“It was a real ‘pinch me’ moment, and what actually hits you is the affection and warmth for the franchise,” says the actress, who starred with Tom Hanks earlier this year in Inferno.

“It’s just been such a wonderful experience. It really, really has.

“You can’t help but be touched by those characters. You have such empathy for them and you invest in them, and I hope that in Rogue One, we do the same.”

Another element of the film that Felicity, 33, enjoyed was being able to play a strong, independent woman.

“I’ve always been a feminist, and what I love in my work is being able to explore a woman and not patronise her,” she says.

“Particularly with Jyn, it’s such a rare opportunity to be able to play a female who’s not just thinking about romantic relationships.”

Jyn also isn’t sexualised, as some other female action roles can be, which pleased Felicity.

“We don’t even see Jyn’s arms!” she says. “That’s not her priority. She’s a survivor, and she has a mission to complete.

“It’s about a group of unlikely heroes who band together to steal the plans to the Death Star.”

Apart from the introduction of another new female lead, Rogue One brings us another robot.

BB-8 delighted fans in The Force Awakens.

A small droid, more R2-D2 than C-3PO, he was a cute little character who teamed up with Rey after he was split up from his master.

You wouldn’t have to watch your back with harmless-looking, cute BB-8.

K-2SO, on the other hand, is a tad more sinister, having previously been an Imperial fighter.

Now, he works for the good guys, but he has a violent past.

“He can say insulting things very casually if he thinks they’re true,” says Alan Tudyk, who plays him.

“He’s not an overly-emotional guy.

He’s not like C-3PO, who’s like a neurotic mess. He’s flappable. Kaytoo is much more in the unflappable category.”

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is in cinemas now