התמלול המלא של Emily Swallow Interview 2026

Mandalorian and the Mandalorians are warriors, it seems like she's more of a pacifist. 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:56.879 And I think that that moment showed so much power, both because of the what she was able to do, but also realizing that she keeps that in, you know, she doesn't just go off on people as soon as she's triggered. 00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:00.079 And I think that that really speaks to her strength as a leader. 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:21.360 And then I I really enjoyed in season three the scene between that Katie and I shared between Bo and the Armorer, where I told her to remove her helmet because it's it's such a subtle scene, you know, there's not a whole lot going on, but it's so important and it's such a moment between the two of them. 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:23.040 There's so much riding on it. 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:28.560 You wonder, and she and I talked about it, you know, neither of them really knows whether they can trust the other one. 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:35.439 And so they're really taking a chance and and kind of embarking on the next part of this journey together, and I love that. 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:39.839 I just thought it was so so beautiful that they were willing to trust each other that way. 00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:42.160 Yeah, and your character really grew, didn't it? 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:49.439 Because in the first series, you had a few episodes, but then um by the third series, your character was in it a lot, wasn't it? 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:49.920 Wasn't she? 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:57.120 Yeah, and then honestly, it made me kind of nervous because I feel like she's a character who benefits from a lot of mystery, you know. 00:05:57.279 --> 00:06:06.480 And so when I of course I was thrilled that they were going to use me more in season three, but I was also nervous about it because I thought, well, what if what if we see too much of her and what if it makes her less interesting? 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:17.279 But I John and Dave are such incredible, brilliant storytellers, and I think that they found the right calibration, and it was and I was obviously very happy to get to do more. 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:23.040 And what's that like when you film on the set of Star Wars for people who don't know what's it like? 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:23.839 Yeah. 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:25.680 I mean, I don't know where to begin. 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:30.000 What's my frame of reference for someone who's just never been on any kind of set at all? 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:34.399 Or well, how does it differ from sets that you have been on, for example? 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:38.720 Well, definitely the tech element plays a much larger part into it. 00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:46.399 And because of the scope of the show and the amount I mean, it feels to me like filming for anything is always rushed. 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:49.920 Like it's amazing to me how long it can take to get a project off the ground. 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:52.639

And then once you're going, it's like hurry up and get it done. 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:54.560 So organization is very important. 00:06:54.639 --> 00:07:00.879 And what really impressed me because we were at most most of the time, we were shooting two episodes at once. 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:02.959 And there were two different camera crews. 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:05.120 Um, we would go back and forth between sets. 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:10.319 We were shooting the season out of order, which is not unusual, but the tech element is definitely different. 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:26.639 And what was so helpful, and again, it just speaks so much to John and Dave as storytellers and as good team captains, I think, is that every day started with us sort of having a little putting our heads together, saying, What's the story that we're telling today? 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:37.600 So that we didn't get lost in the hours of having to wait for the volume when it had a glitch, or you know, how long it takes to get people in special effects makeup or get them in armor. 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:49.839 And with the volume, it is much easier to get caught up in the world because you have so much of it available around you as opposed to a green screen where that's not being projected on there till afterwards. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:53.120 But it's still, you know, it's it can be pretty disorienting. 00:07:53.279 --> 00:07:56.560 And so it's so helpful to know. 00:07:56.720 --> 00:08:02.639 I I just never doubted that everyone around me was totally focused, totally generous and giving. 00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:14.319 Um, and that we we are we all were trying to hold on to the heart of the story, no matter what fancy tech elements were happening, no matter what like imaginary thing we were having to watch fly through the air. 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:28.639 And everyone had a good sense of humor about it, even when there were technical mishaps, because there were some days when there would be a glitch with the volume with the computer, and so we'd just have to wait for several hours and hope that it was going to get resolved. 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:38.240 And, you know, everyone's wearing their armor, and we we definitely made up a lot of stupid songs and a lot of alternate scenarios for these characters. 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:50.320 Um, and it it's just such a I love everyone that I got to work with so dearly, and I just I'm in awe of how much heart and effort and skill everyone was willing to put into it. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:52.240 And what's it like wearing the armor? 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:53.679 What's it like wearing the helmet? 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:54.960 It's very awkward. 00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:56.159 You can't see much. 00:08:56.320 --> 00:09:00.879 You know, you can't see peripherally, you can't really see down. 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:12.399 And we realized quickly that you couldn't, because the the helmets draw so much attention, you can't really like glance down to see where you're going because it looks like a huge gesture. 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:26.480 So I would definitely, when I got to the set, I would, without my helmet, you know, make sure I walked around, sort of had a good feel for how far apart everything was, and then I just did my best once I put it on. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:35.200 Um, and my armor is definitely not the heaviest or the most cumbersome, but it's not super free in terms of um allowing movement. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:42.320 And I I know like on days when I had to hammer a lot, that would get really uncomfortable because it just didn't, everything would chafe. 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:52.480 And but everyone had such a good good sense of humor about it, even when they were uncomfortable, partly because I think it all of the the armor looked so magnificent. 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:58.320 So we knew no matter how we felt, we looked good, and you know, vanity helps in those situations. 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:00.720 Yeah, I definitely I agree with you actually. 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:03.440 I think your helmet is probably the best Mandalorian helmet. 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:04.399 Well, thank you. 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:05.120 Yeah. 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:10.240 So you were also in the FET series as well, uh briefly for one episode. 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:10.799 That was good. 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:11.679 That was a good episode. 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:15.919 Yeah, I was excited about that because I wasn't in season two of Mando at all. 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:21.279 And then they called me, and once again, it's it's so you never know exactly what they're calling you for. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:28.480 And it sort of felt like it was the next season of Mando, but I hadn't heard anything about that happening, and I didn't have a script. 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:30.159 I just knew they wanted to use me for something. 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:36.879 So Brendan Wayne, who is like the main one who's in Dinjarin's armor, he's always been my inside source. 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:39.519 So I I messaged him and I was like, What's going on? 00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:42.240 And he said, Well, you're gonna be in an episode of the Book of Boba Fett. 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:43.360 And I was like, Oh, okay. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:47.440 I still don't really get it because I don't know why I would be, but great. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:11:02.000 Um, so yeah, that was, I mean, it sort of feels like that was uh an episode of Mando inserted into the Book of Boba Fett, but I loved that one because I loved all of the lore that I got to uh communicate. 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:18.159 And my theater background really came in handy for that because it was, you know, the armorer sometimes speaks in these very long and sort of uh ornamented passages when she's telling stories of the songs of Eon's past. 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:34.879 And so to be able to break down that text and make sure I knew like what all the

images were and communicated in a way that didn't just stop the action or that didn't just get lost in all the details, that was definitely helped by all the Shakespeare that I've done and you know all of that text work. 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:42.639 So that was gratifying too, to say, like, oh wow, I never knew when I was doing gads of Shakespeare plays that it would come in handy for Star Wars of all things. 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:43.840 Oh, it definitely did. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:48.879 And yeah, he has to go to the wells, doesn't he, or Mandalore um in the third series. 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:49.519 Yeah. 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:55.039 I mean, your character does play a big role in it, really, um, for him, the main character. 00:11:55.440 --> 00:12:00.960 Well, yeah, I feel like she's she's definitely sort of his Yoda, you know, she's the one mentoring him. 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:04.080 And I love the way she does guide people. 00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:10.000 I think she's one of the best kinds of mentors because she doesn't shove you along your way. 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:15.440 She knows that it's more valuable for you to figure out what the way is as you are going. 00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:18.480 And sometimes that means taking missteps. 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:27.679 You know, people were so mad at me after that episode of the Book of Boba Fett when I told him he had to go bathe in the the living waters, and they were like, Why'd you do that to him? 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:28.639 That's so unfair. 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:30.559 I was like, look, the rules are the rules. 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:36.320 He knows what the rules are, and it could be that there's something on that journey that's going to be valuable for him. 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:37.759 And of course there was. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:50.879 So I I do, and I I love, I love how their relationship deepened and how it felt like in season three they were more friends, and it wasn't quite as much of her being in a position of authority over him. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:58.879 He always deferred to her still, but I think he had earned a lot of her respect, and that was that was really enjoyable to to map out and to explore. 00:12:59.200 --> 00:12:59.840 This is the way. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:04.080 And what's it like when you go to conventions and comic cons and you meet the fans? 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:05.279 Oh, it's wonderful. 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:18.559 It's uh, I mean, my previous experience with a very passionate fandom is from Supernatural, and that was such a life-changing experience, and they are so invested and so generous. 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:51.919 But you know, Star Wars has been around for almost 50 years now, and so that fandom is even vaster, and I think it it's just represented by every single age and nationality and demographic, and hearing how these stories have helped people at different times in their lives has just been such a gift, and hearing the impact that that the armorer especially has had on people, especially when I I get to meet young girls and young boys who are inspired by her and who see her as somebody to admire, that just means so much to me. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:59.440 And it's such a blessing, and it's so and it's also gotten me, it's given me a chance to travel all over the world, which is incredible. 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:02.879 And I get to meet people from every single corner of the United States. 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:12.720 I've gone to most of the continents, and just getting to experience that variety of humanity is really, really cool. 00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:13.360 Yeah. 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:16.320 Uh do you think there'll be a fourth series of The Mandalorian? 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:17.519 I honestly don't know. 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:19.919 I hope so, but I have no idea. 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:21.440 Have you seen the film? 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:22.320 I have, yes. 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:24.080 I went to the premiere here in LA. 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:24.639 Nice. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.600 Yeah, I saw it too. 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:26.480 It was good, wasn't it? 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:27.440 I really enjoyed it. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:31.679 Yeah, I thought that they they scaled it up nicely for the big screen. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:42.960 And I mean, I've always I I'm so glad that that the series was on streaming and you could watch it at home, but it already feels like such a it feels like something that's made for a a big screen. 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:48.080 So it was really fun to get to watch it in community that way and hear everybody cheering together. 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:49.519 And I loved it, yeah. 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:50.240 Definitely. 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:52.240 And you've said about some of your favorite scenes. 00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:54.720 Do you have a favorite line that your character says? 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:57.279 Well, obviously, this is the way is right up there. 00:14:57.360 --> 00:15:06.000 And I'm so glad that I have a catchphrase that is useful in many situations and easy to write, because I I write that on a lot of Funko Pops. 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:10.879 Um, but one of my favorite things she says is uh we all begin as raw ore. 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:14.159 We refine ourselves through trials and adversity. 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:27.200 And I just think there's so much wisdom in that, and it's such a reminder that even when we're going through trials, there is good coming from it, and that life was never guaranteed to be smooth sailing all the time. 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:33.679 And sometimes I think we benefit even more from the challenges than we do from the the times when it's smooth sailing. 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:36.000 So I I do really enjoy that one. 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:38.399 But yeah, she says a lot of pretty smart things. 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:39.519 She's a smart lady. 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.559 Yeah, she is.

00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:45.200 And um apart from Star Wars, what are some of your other favorite roles that you've done? 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:47.919 Definitely Amara in Supernatural. 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:59.519 Again, somebody who I mean, I loved the arc that she had because she started out as sort of the baddie of the the season, but you could understand why she acted out the way she did. 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:05.200 I always tell people, I do not condone smiting people and sucking their souls, which is what she did. 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:15.679 But I can understand why she didn't know how to handle her feelings because she'd been hurt and she felt misunderstood and she felt like nobody was really listening to her. 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:19.679 And that's something that I think many of us can relate to at some point. 00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:28.159 And then I love that from that she she really grew and she was willing to make herself vulnerable and take a chance on trusting people. 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:30.799 So I was so grateful that they gave her that journey. 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:35.360 And I mean, I've I've just gotten to I've gotten to play so many great characters. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:38.080 Some I mean, some of my favorite things have been on stage. 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:48.399 I did a couple of off-Broadway shows last year and uh got to tackle uh a role that's usually played by a guy in Richard II, one of Shakespeare's plays. 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:51.440 Um, and that was tremendously gratifying. 00:16:51.759 --> 00:17:01.679 And uh earlier last year I did a uh new adaptation of a Molière play called The Imaginary Invalid, that was just ridiculous slapstick and idiocy. 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:12.559 And I love that because I I get to play very strong, grounded characters, and I enjoy that, but I I just love the absurdity of people. 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:27.599 And so I love doing comedy and getting to find sometimes what that line is between like somebody being very put together and very powerful, and then suddenly just falling apart, and the humor that's in that and the tragedy that's in that. 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:34.000 I'm always I mean, I feel like my favorite parts are always like just whatever I'm doing at the moment, because I love to be working. 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:34.640 Yeah. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:40.000 And with the armor, was there a moment where perhaps the helmet would have come off at some stage? 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:41.279 I don't think so. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:47.119 I mean, look, I'm sure if they ever do it, I bet they'll have a great reason. 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:52.480 But I kind of hope they don't simply because I mean there's there's two parts to it. 00:17:52.640 --> 00:18:10.400 As an actor, I'm sure it would be better for my career if I took off my helmet, but I think for the character, it doesn't serve the story because I think I don't know what we gain by attaching a person to this character who feels like she represents more than any one person. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:16.240 And I think there would be that momentary, you know, flicker of excitement of oh, that's what she looks like. 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:16.799 But then what? 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:17.839 Like who cares? 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:31.519 I mean, unless they're gonna take it down some important backstory, which they might, I think it it just serves the character more if we don't know what she looks like, because then I think she's able to stand for so much more. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:34.000 So that that's where I've been with it. 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:36.960 I and I honestly don't know if they will ever have her do it. 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:41.119 No, but like you say, it adds a bit of um mythicalness to it, doesn't it? 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:43.359 If you don't know what they look like underneath. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:45.200 But it's been lovely to speak to you, Emily. 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:47.759 It's been great to see about the Mandalorian. 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:49.599 I'm excited to come to Wales. 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:51.759 I know that it's August 8th and 9th. 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:52.160 Here we go. 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:54.720 Comic-con Wales in Newport. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:57.759 And let me tell you who else is gonna be there. 00:18:57.920 --> 00:19:00.319 The Monopoly Comic-Cons are always great. 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:04.319 And for anyone who's never been to a Comic-Con, it's just a great chance to go. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:16.319 I mean, first of all, I think it's a fantastic opportunity to meet other fans, and people build incredible cosplay, but you can meet different actors from your favorite shows and have conversations. 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:18.400 You can get autographs, you can get photos. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:22.960 It looks like several of the ladies from Supernatural will be there, which I'm excited about. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:27.680 There's some wrestlers, Jamie Bamber from Battlestar. 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:29.680 I worked with him on another show. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:32.160 Some great voiceover artists. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:35.359 But yeah, that's happening August eighth and ninth. 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:35.839 Great. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:36.960 Well, we look forward to that. 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:38.160 It's been lovely to speak to you. 00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:39.039 You too. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.079 Thank you so much.