Winners’ Press Conference interview with John Boyega for EE Rising Star
Q. Congratulations, how does it feel to win the Rising Star Award?
JOHN BOYEGA: This is crazy. I haven't realised and fully taken in what's just happened. All I know, that this is blue and it's so comfortable to hold. I'm so happy. So happy.
Q. Where is it going?
JOHN BOYEGA: I don't know. I'm moving house at the moment so this blue goes really well with the white walls we're thinking about. So who knows.
Q. Did you have hopes of winning tonight? The Star Wars fan base is a huge fan base, they were galvanised in their thousands, millions maybe?
JOHN BOYEGA: There's always definitely a hope but every time a hope comes up in your mind you're trying to fixate on the fact that it's actually just so awesome to be nominated and there were fantastic choices in terms of the other people who were also nominated - specifically Taron who I freaking love. It was great to win this and I feel really, really honoured. It's nuts.
Q. Does it mean more in a way that it's voted for by the public?
JOHN BOYEGA: It does mean more because these are people who had to vote when they didn't need to. I voted for EE Rising Star in the past and I know how much effort you have to actually go to on your phone to vote, making a conscious decision. You don't just say yes, no, yes. So it means a lot. That means they were definitely entertained and I really appreciate that.
Q. Who did you vote for in the past?
JOHN BOYEGA: I voted for Adam Deacon and I voted for Lupita Nyong'o.
Q. Very good. Let's take some questions from you guys. Yes please.
Q. Hello John. Huge congratulations. Is it true that you're about to start work on Episode VIII?
JOHN BOYEGA: Guys, let me be honest on you, I'm running on fumes here. I start work at 6am. I have a 6am pick-up, I'm supposed to be in the car and go straight to doing the whole Star Wars stuff again. So tomorrow is my first day on set.
Q. How does that feel to go back to it?
JOHN BOYEGA: All I'm saying is that this is going to look great on the Millennium Falcon. It feels amazing. I'm definitely going to have a chip on my shoulder, I hope there aren't dark scenes tomorrow, I wouldn't know how to act. It's going to be fun.
Q. Does the character go on a nice little journey?
JOHN BOYEGA: (Nods). Yes.
Q. Which is about as much as you can say?
JOHN BOYEGA: Yes, I know. Ryan is here somewhere.
Q. Are you going to take the award with you tomorrow?
JOHN BOYEGA: I'm going to consider it. Yes, I think I am.
Q. It would win any argument that you get into. Do you get into arguments?
JOHN BOYEGA: I'm going to get into arguments tomorrow, just because I have this. You were driving too slow.
Q. Congratulations. I know it's probably hard to quantify these things but since being in Star Wars, what has been the biggest change to your life do you think?
JOHN BOYEGA: I think, for me, it's scheduling. I think when you're involved in a school curriculum, education, you kind of know how your whole year is going to go in terms of a term. However, with this it's different schedules, different places, interesting events and that's definitely different and when I go to certain places people come up to me and go, John Boyega, and that's so strange to me because the only time I heard my full name like that is when my mum is calling me to wash the plates. Let's not talk about that though. I won a BAFTA.
Q. John, have you managed to pinch anything from set?
JOHN BOYEGA: No but you know what, I'm going to go back for what's mine this time. This time I'm going to do it right. I've got my list together and I'll definitely get all the props I want.
Q. What's at the top of the list?
JOHN BOYEGA: A lightsaber, Fin's jacket and various other things.
Q. You don't have Fin's jacket?
JOHN BOYEGA: I don't have Fin's jacket (audio cut out).
Q. What is your opinion on diversity in the film industry and what do you think should be done to move the agenda forward?
JOHN BOYEGA: It's important that the conversation carries on and I
Think (inaudible).
Q. How did you feel about that and would you have been up for playing that?
JOHN BOYEGA: Do you know, it's so funny, I posted a picture of myself working out, doing some skipping and in the background (inaudible) but now I'm learning what Mark Hammill said before when he didn't know that Darth Vader was his father (inaudible) so who knows?
Q. The last question from this lady here.
Q. Congratulations, John.
JOHN BOYEGA: Thank you.
Q. Clearly, you're really popular with the fans. You've won this award, it's won lots of craft awards. Would you like it to be up there nominated for (inaudible)?
JOHN BOYEGA: ... and I think it's a change starting to happen with Sci-fi. Sci-fi is known for good social commentary alongside the Sci-fi element and I think that's a balance that The Force Awakens has, so why not?
Q. On that note, I imagine you have to go to bed (inaudible)
JOHN BOYEGA: ... party, I can't lie, Jack's here so wherever Jack goes, I go.
Q. When is the cut off point?
JOHN BOYEGA: I don't know. I'm going to have to figure that out. My mum and dad are in Nigeria so they can't call me and tell me nothing.
Q. How many stamps?
JOHN BOYEGA: I still don't have (inaudible) he bought loads so I'm going to take it from him.
