Thandie Newton s mixed feelings on Star Wars role

Los Angeles May 21 (IANS) Actress Thandie Newton thinks it is "awful" that she is the first woman of colour to have a leading role in a "Star Wars" movie as it should have happened earlier.
The 45-year-old actress portrays Val in "Solo: A Star Wars Story" and though she thinks it is "great" that she got such a significant part in a major film she is upset that it has taken so long reports theguardian.com.
"I am the first dark-skinned woman in a lead role in the Star Wars legacy which is both great that it is finally a correction and awful that it s taken this long " Newton told the Observer magazine.
"I don t feel like I m an actress for hire any more in the way that I used to be. I am not a person for hire " she added.
The "Crash" actress has been working on two screenplays one of which is set in the US and one in the UK and she s very proud of them.
"They are both very personal human stories. I really want to get to the f***ing core of why we do what we do. I certainly don t think that I know but I love stories that are really trying to find out " said Newton.

--IANS ks/sug