Star Wars Episode 9 cast: Who is Naomi Ackie? Who will she play?

Despite its stratospheric success and rabid fanbase, Star Wars has always had a major diversity problem.

The past cast announcements have drawn criticism for the prolific use of white, brunette females.

Thandie Newton, who appeared in Solo: A Star Wars Story, discussed this at length – after all, she was the first black woman to appear visibly in the franchise.

Star Wars seems to have gotten the message and is taking a single step in the right direction with the casting of Naomi Ackie.

Who is Naomie Ackie?

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Her name is not one that rings many bells except, perhaps, to keen-eyed Doctor Who fans or those who pay close attention to awards circuits.

Ackie appeared in the 2016 movie Lady Macbeth (as well as 2017’s stage play version) as the secondary-main female Anna, the housemaid and victim of Katherine.

For this role, Ackie won the British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer in 2017.

Her other credits include appearances on Doctor Who and the ITV crime drama Vera.

She is a British actress, and her unnamed role in Star Wars Episode IX is her first blockbuster credit.

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Ackie also appeared in the Idris Elba helmed movie Yardie as Mona.

She has had plenty of stage appearances to her name, at theatres like The Young Vic and the National Theatre.

Who will Naomi Ackie play?

So far, her character remains unnamed, as do many of the new cast members’ roles.

Undoubtedly, fans will do their best to draw inferences – Star Wars is a universe made up of family connections and blood ties (which is why so many fans were disappointed with Rey’s lack of impressive lineage).

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Naomi Ackie was born in 1992 and is a London native according to her representation at Hamilton Hodell, and she trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

During an interview with Screen Daily, Ackie said: “I see my acting career as a gallery and ultimately I’m the curator.”

“I want to be able to curate a vast piece of work collected over years that makes sense to who I am as a person and what I want to say, personally and politically.

“I don’t think there’s anything better than being an actor and really thinking about your work and what you want to say, what impact do you want to have on the world with your work and the stories that you are telling?” she added.

Star Wars Episode IX is in cinemas Thursday, December 19, 2019.