How did you learn that you’d gotten the part?

J. J. rang me. And it’s weird, because I thought I was still half-auditioning. I thought I had to convince him. I was like, “I could totally do this.” Thinking, “I can’t do this.” And then he told me and I’m pretty sure I was like: “Are you sure? Are you sure?”

Were you able to keep this a secret from your friends?

My friend was working at [the gym where I exercise] — a really fancy gym. I had stopped working at a pub in December, and I was on minimum wage. She was probably thinking, “How on earth are you here?” My birthday was the hardest, because I was exhausted, the training was intense and I had to sit around with other people. That was probably the worst moment. I just got home and cried. I hate lying.

Your last job before “Star Wars” was in a pub?

It was a beer and alehouse. I knew a lot about beer. Guys used to come in and talk to my co-workers.

They didn’t trust your opinion because you’re a woman?

Absolutely. Guys would ask, and I’d be like, “So this is nice and hoppy with a grapefruit note.”

Did you bond with John Boyega while filming?

Me and John are bezzymates. We are like brother and sister. It’s not that I’m like, [discombobulated] “Ehhhh,” all the time. But he’s very sure of himself. Together we are really silly. It keeps you from getting dragged down, to: [sobbing voice] “Oh, what am I doing? The pressure’s too much.”

What was it like to learn, eventually, that Rey was so prominent in the movie?

When I read the script I was like [eyes widen]. But Rey is just living her life. She doesn’t know what’s going to happen later. So I tried not to think too much about everything that was coming. The thing about “Star Wars” is that every single person is important. Even though Rey is a big role, everyone influences everyone. If that wasn’t so, why would so many people remember Admiral Ackbar?