The amazing women of Star Wars
Captain Phasma
Where to begin here? I guess I’ll start with the fact that Gwendoline Christie’s character of Captain Phasma is the first female villain in any of the live-action Star Wars films.
Her character design is an incredible take on the traditional stormtrooper garb that we have grown accustomed to seeing.
Phasma’s armor is all chromed out from head to toe (with a customized blaster rifle to match!) and it provides her with a significantly higher level of protection and shielding from blaster bolts than the armor of the more conventional stormtroopers that are under her command.
Related Story. Gwendoline Christie talks Phasma’s possible return in Star Wars: Episode IX. light
During the film documentary, Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey, with regard to Captain Phasma’s armor, Christie herself stated:
"”I thought it was great that they had not feminized the armor. I thought that was fantastic. But I thought it’s good to know there’s a woman in there.”"
At first glance, you may not think Captain Phasma is a woman, especially under the helmet, but the posture and mannerisms Gwendoline gives the character subtly shows off Phasma’s feminine traits without weakening her or exploiting her gender in order to make her appear in a lesser stature.
Captain Phasma, General Hux, and Kylo Ren form an unholy triumvirate of underbosses with leadership roles within Supreme Leader Snoke’s First Order.