I have been meaning to write this article since The Force Awakens was released. As great and amazing as the movie is, there was a key piece that made it flow so nicely, and that is the actors and actresses of The Force Awakens! Today I am going to focus on the new stars of the film and really just give them a massive thank you.

Daisy Ridley as Rey 

Daisy is without a doubt one of the shining stars of The Force Awakens. This is Daisy’s first feature film and she nailed it! Her acting was always on par, and her portrayal of Rey was perfect. One of my favorite things about Rey is her generosity and innocence in the movie. She’s been through so much but she never lets that get her down. Rey/Daisy has genuine beauty, she doesn’t need fancy outfits like many other characters in other franchises or any of that to make her who she is. We see the opposite of that so much in Hollywood so I’m more than thrilled for a genuine role model that is both Daisy Ridley and Rey. Rey is also such a badass. She kicks major butt and doesn’t need anyone’s help to do that (even up to defeating Kylo Ren)! Her reaction to The Force Awakens trailer is priceless; it really shows her excitement for Star Wars. She also interacts with her fans on Instagram which is awesome. Being a autograph collector and how much I love to meet the actors, as well as doing celebrity interviews on my podcast, Daisy Ridley is the number one person I want to meet and interview–she’s just to awesome! You can follow Daisy on her Instagram page and Facebook page. Rey is easily my new favorite character and I can’t wait to see her in Episode VIII!

John Boyega as Finn

John Boyega’s portrayal of Finn is flat-out amazing. He gives the perfect level of humor and emotion to the stormtrooper-gone-rogue. Finn has one of coolest and unique storylines ever in any Star Wars movie. From wielding a blaster to a lightsaber, the dude is a badass and John is the perfect actor for the role. John’s enthusiasm for Star Wars shows in each of his social media posts. His reaction to The Force Awakens official trailer was awesome; you could see the joy and pure excitement in him. He also visited a ton of theaters in New York the day The Force Awakens was released, surprising a bunch of Star Wars fans. John is a class act and I really hope to meet him or interview him sometime soon at a Star Wars Celebration or different con. Make sure to follow John on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron

Oscar Isaac has been a fan of Star Wars for almost all his life. He always explains in interviews that all his family are Star Wars fans. He even dressed as a Gonk droid once for a Star Wars movie. Poe Dameron is a straight-up cool character. He’s been described as a cross between Luke Skywalker and Han Solo and I can say without a doubt that is true. Oscar rocks the role, and it shows. Oscar also happens to be a great singer, he sung “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with Rey herself, Daisy Ridley. Also from what I have heard, Oscar is a new heartthrob for some fans, as are Daisy and John. Poe Dameron is for sure in my top 15 favorite characters! Hopefully I can meet Oscar at a Con.

Adam Driver as Kylo Ren 

OK, how awesome was Kylo Ren and his heated temper tantrums? Kylo is one of the best new villains in cinematic history. Between his tension with General Hux, his heritage, and of course being master of the Knights of Ren, how much cooler can you get? I remember J.J. always saying how right Adam Driver was for the role and indeed he was! Adam brought such a outstanding performance, and he is a fairly new actor. The scene where he confronts Han Solo is one of the most emotional scenes in all of Star Wars. You can really see the hesitation within Kylo, and Adam does a perfect job portraying that.

Domhall Gleeson as General Hux 

Domhall Gleeson’s preformance as General Hux is simply stunning. When Hux is acting like a very Nazi-type villain giving his speech to the First Order troops, you really see how good at acting Domhall is. It was totally believable from start to finish. Hux’s hatred toward Kylo Ren is also a very interesting storyline and I love how both Domhall and Adam portray that. Domhall also seems to be a pretty huge Star Wars fan–there is one interview where he talks about how excited he is to have his own action figure!

Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma

Game of Thrones actress Gwendoline Christie portrays Captain Phasma in The Force Awakens. While Phasma doesn’t have a large part in the film, when she shows up she shines. Gwendoline’s voice is absolutely kick-ass, and every time Phasma talks she sounds so cool. Gwendoline herself is a massive Star Wars fan and it totally shows in any interview she gives. She is always so joyful when she talks about Phasma and how excited she is to play the first on-screen female Star Wars villain. She always says that “Star Wars is part of a fabric of our being,” and how impactful it was for her as a kid, so for her to step into that world is unreal for her. She is literally living out every fan’s dream. She is for sure someone I want to meet one day.

Lupita Nyong’o as Maz Kanata

I loved Maz Kanata. She was a very unexpected favorite character of mine. Lupita’s performance as Maz was top notch, and Lupita’s voice was incredible in this role. Maz’s scenes where some of the coolest in the movie. I loved seeing how she runs a cantina in a castle and how she is strong in the Force. I am really hoping to see her more in Episode VIII!

So I just want to give a huge THANK YOU to the entire cast of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. You all have a talented future ahead of you, your passion for acting really shows in this film, and I can’t wait to see Episode VIII! A question for our readers: who do you want to meet the most from the new cast?