Entertainment

Laura Dern's 'Last Jedi' Character Has Amazing Hair

by Mary Grace Garis

In heated anticipation for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, we've been introduced to a slew of new characters — one of which gives Leia's iconic cinnamon buns a run for their money. In their cover story on the film, Vanity Fair debuted a photo of Laura Dern's character Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo (among other old and soon-to-be faves), and, while details on the Vice Admiral are scant, she's looking downright majestic. The reason? She has perfectly coiffed magenta-hued hair that feels more District 1 than Tatooine.

Would that be a hint to who she is, aside from being "a high-ranking officer in the Resistance"? The article goes onto say that, although the color is uncommon in Star Wars lore, Lucasfilm Story Group creative executive Pablo Hidalgo confirms she "is human." However, he notes that the hair has to do with her “cultural background."

This is a peculiar statement across the board. I mean, for one thing, I believe "humans" in the Stars Wars universe might just be characterized as "humanoids," since they're not of our planet. Or does that still make them human, just not Earthlings? I don't know how the rules work for this. I just want to throw that out there.

As far as Vice Admiral Holdo goes, it's interesting to suggest that her hair is the result of her "cultural background" versus a Manic Panic experiment gone so, so right. It means, very likely, we're going to be introduced to an entirely new universe with this film. But could it be a species that's pre-existing in Star Wars canon? When you look up aliens with violet hair within the universe, you may come across the Keshiri race of planet Kesh. They're capable of having purple hair, but it usually comes with skin that matches that hue, so that would be a combo breaker unless she's half-Keshiri or they altered this for the film. There's a similar conflict with the Pantoran species, who are also capable of having oddly-shaded hair, albeit with blue skin.

Considering that the films are taking notes, but not concrete elements, from Star Wars material outside of the numbered films, the magenta hair could be attached to some other species entirely. And, at the end of the day, it's far from the most freakish thing we've seen in the galaxy, let alone in our every day life. I mean, it's 2017, fam, she's not rocking anything we haven't already seen on Katy Perry or your most cantankerous Starbucks barista.

Regardless, we're intrigued to see what Dern and the other fresh faces will add to the franchise when we take a return trip to the galaxy December 15.