Star Wars character Cara Dune helps Gina Carano embrace her strength in 'The Mandalorian'

Alex Biese | Asbury Park Press

Show Caption Hide Caption 'The Mandalorian' trailer brings a whole new 'Star Wars' universe 'The Mandalorian' trailer has finally been unleashed, heading for Disney+.

It's safe to say that venturing to the "Star Wars" universe changed Gina Carano's life.

Carano, the actress and former mixed martial artist, co-stars in "The Mandalorian," currently in the midst of an eight-episode first season run on streaming service Disney+. The series is set in the aftermath of 1983's "Return of the Jedi" but decades prior to the 2015's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

Featuring "Game of Thrones" alum Pedro Pascal as the titular helmeted bounty hunter, "The Mandalorian" features Carano as Cara Dune, a former trooper for the Galactic Rebellion.

It was at a meeting with "Mandalorian" showrunner Jon Favreau that Carano first had the role pitched to her, complete with concept art of Cara that bore a striking resemblance to the actress herself.

“(Favreau) said that I was the first actress or actor that they’d met with, and I just think I kind of blacked out, out of adrenaline, after that, just thinking, ‘Oh my God,’ " Carano said.

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Carano, 37 was a pioneer in women's MMA more than a decade ago and has the distinction of appearing in the "Fast and Furious," "X-Men" and "Star Wars" franchises (2013's "Fast and Furious 6," 2016's "Deadpool" and "The Mandalorian," respectively). But prior to joining the Disney+ series she says she was "a bit stranded out there in the indie filmmaking" world.

“I felt like I was drowning," said said. "And I felt like Jon and ‘Star Wars’ came along at the right time and plucked me out of there and gave me some fresh water and passionate people. And on top of that one of the biggest, if not the biggest world, you can put an actor in is ‘Star Wars,’ and now I’m going to have a spot in this world forever."

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That world has gotten a lot bigger and far more inclusive in recent years, becoming far more representational in terms of gender, race and body type and, with 2016's "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" and "The Mandalorian," telling stories in the galaxy far, far away not principally concerned with the franchise's Skywalker family.

“I’m just so happy," Carano said of the series' growing inclusivity. "Everybody can enjoy this story, everybody can see themselves in this story."

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That includes Carano herself, she said.

“I don’t really look like a normal actress. Usually when I tell people I’m an actor they say, ‘What? What do you do, stunts? You’re not an actress,’ because I don’t look like a sample size. I wear sweats and yoga pants around. I’m not super-glamorous — I don’t think — all the time. But I think that little girls and boys can look at me and think, ‘OK, so there’s a regular-sized woman.’

"I mean, I was born with these legs. There’s nothing I can do; my legs are strong, thick legs that I used to get cheesed about in high school. And now people are embracing these kinds of certain body types. They’re embracing all sorts of different types, shapes, everything. And I think that that’s really important because the ‘Star Wars’ universe, that’s what it represents: everything different, all these different species. I mean, you fall in love with droids, you fall in love with everything."

Working with "Mandalorian" stunt coordinator Ryan Watson and his team, Carano utilized her combat sports history to craft fight sequences that she said left her and her armor "absolutely drenched" in sweat while utilizing her particular set to specialized skills as a performer.

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"I enjoy it because I feel like I bring that to the table in a very unique way," she said. "I go to these movies and I see these previews and I see these big action ladies, or big actresses, doing the action and I think, ‘Oh my God, I could make that (stuff) look so real.’ If somebody gives me the right opportunity and the right story, I can actually make you really believe that I can do that to that person, and (with) that kind of power."

It's just another way that her time on "The Mandalorian" has helped her stand in her own power on one of modern media's grandest stages.

"More than anything, it’s helped me embrace myself in a way that I’ve always shied away from, being the strong character and (having) the confidence because I am actually naturally very shy," she said. "So this has made me come out of my skin and embrace my body and embrace my strength.

"Jon was like, ‘OK, I want your arms to show,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t like to show my arms.’ And he was like, ‘No, I want your arms to show. I want people to see a strong woman. I want them to see you and everything you are.’ And so I had to really kind of look inside myself and be like, ‘OK, you have to embrace yourself.’ And that’s what Cara Dune has done for me. She’s helped me embrace myself. She’s helped me be confident.”

Season One of "The Mandalorian" is now streaming on Disney+. New episodes are scheduled for release on Nov. 22, Nov. 29, Dec. 6, Dec. 13, Dec. 18 and Dec. 27. For more information, visit www.disneyplus.com.