Amandla Stenberg Talks About The Acolyte on The Tonight Show
Amandla Stenberg, known for The Hunger Games and The Hate U Give, debuts in The Acolyte, the latest Star Wars installment now streaming on Disney+.
The Acolyte is set in the High Republic Era, the series revolves around a crime spree investigation that pits a revered Jedi Master against a formidable warrior from his past. Stenberg’s characters, the enigmatic Sith assassin Mae Aniseya and her twin sister Osha, bring a new dynamic to the Star Wars cinematic world.
During her appearance on Jimmy Fallon‘s The Tonight Show, Stenberg shared intriguing details about her role in The Acolyte and its promotion. She revealed that she had been a part of the TV series for three years but was only recently able to discuss it, following her and her castmates’ appearance at the Star Wars Celebration in London. At the convention, Stenberg made a unique and memorable entrance, dressed as Padmé Amidala, a character initially portrayed by Natalie Portman in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Notably, she was the only cast member to dress in Star Wars fashion, adding to the excitement surrounding her role.
Later in the interview, Stenberg recounted an amusing anecdote about accidentally stumbling upon a furry convention. After hearing EDM music outside her hotel, she ventured out wearing her bunny ears hat and found herself amidst a gathering of furries. Embracing the moment, she joined their festivities, later reflecting on the experience with appreciation and understanding for the furry community. “I was just having the time of my life, and it didn’t even occur to me; I was like, ‘Oh, they think I too am a furry.’ It was honestly beautiful,” she shared.
Moreover, upon returning, she found the furries had vanished, leaving her feeling a sense of loss yet enlightened by the experience. “I really understand furries now, and I didn’t understand them before, but it was so nice just not to have to say anything and just wave your paws around. And I think that’s what life’s really about,” she added.
Stenberg is also an accomplished violinist, and one of her intimate goals was to play her grandfather’s violin on record for Star Wars. Fortune favored her as she fulfilled this dream in a Disney behind-the-scenes featurette, where she played the violin for a recording session at the John Williams Music Building. Williams composed an exceptional solo performance for her, and she also performed the Star Wars theme song on The Tonight Show before concluding her interview with Fallon.
You can watch Stenberg on The Tonight Show below.
