Lesley Headland Love’s Star Wars
Leslie Headland exudes confidence and consideration, carefully choosing her words as she discusses her upcoming Star Wars TV series, The Acolyte. As the showrunner, director, and writer, she navigates questions with the skill of a Jedi, guarding against any potential spoilers like a faithful guardian of the galaxy. While she doesn't divulge any secrets, she patiently entertains quirky inquiries, such as whether humans exist in the Star Wars universe and if Luke Skywalker is one of them. Despite the speculative nature of the conversation, Headland maintains her composure, leaving me eager to delve deeper into the mysteries of a galaxy far, far away.
In a galaxy far, far away, the question arises: where is he from? "Tatooine. He's a human who lives on Tatooine now," she confidently states. Is there more to immigration in the Star Wars universe? "Oh." This conversation takes place in the basement of Bang Bang Tattoo in New York City, where I'm seated with my wife, Rebecca Henderson, waiting for our preferred artist, Mr. K. We anticipate spending the entire afternoon in the studio, indulging in one of my greatest hobbies - getting tattoos.
Fittingly for Headland, known for her diverse work spanning from the 2015 romantic comedy Sleeping With Other People to the recent TV hit Russian Doll, most of her tattoos are movie-related and just as diverse in inspiration as her work. Today, she's choosing a design based on the cover art for the score of Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides, depicting a woman's face surrounded by flowers and hearts, aiming to place it near a fist-size, yellowing bruise just below her right elbow, a souvenir from the family's recent trip to Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Her collection of tattoos is genuinely captivating. They range from a Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy piece to a photorealistic portrait of Marla from Fight Club and even a "Redrum" tramp stamp as a nod to The Shining. Each tattoo holds personal significance, including a tribute to Donnie Darko's Frank the Bunny and a cursive "Babe" dedicated to her wife, making her Princess Leia tattoo a standout creation.
The show won't be released until June, so there's still a chance for things to go wrong and for the passionate Star Wars fan base to pass judgment, even though the robed Leia was inked before the pre-pandemic job and the public announcement on May 4, 2020.
Working on Star Wars has always been a lifelong dream for Headland. She has brought together a talented cast, including Lee Jung-Jae, Amandla Stenberg, and Carrie-Anne Moss, whose names she excitedly recites with a genuine grin, to breathe life into her contribution to the Star Wars universe. Witnessing her lightsaber duels come to life has been an incredible experience for her. Describing the iconic nylon-room sound of the Jedi weapon, she admits, "I didn't say it out loud, but I could hear it in my head."
Meet Mr. K, the former graphic designer from Korea, who welcomes us in an oversized white hoodie and platform combat boots. With a substantial waitlist, a high-profile clientele, and prices to match, he casually corrects me when I comment on the rhinestones on his phone case, revealing that they're "probably diamonds." This article also delves into Headland's relationship with Mr. K, likening it to the trust in filmmaking collaborations, highlighting her all-consuming dedication to her work, and acknowledging her struggle to balance her emotional energy with the need for downtime as a female filmmaker.
Downtime becomes even more crucial when you consider the unexpected early arrival of her and Henderson’s one-year-old daughter, born while they were in London shooting The Acolyte. "We joked about her being born on May the fourth, and then we found ourselves in the hospital on May 3, wondering if it was happening," Headland reminisces.
On the morning of May the fourth, it all went down. "And that's how we ended up naming her Chewbacca." Just kidding!
Inspired by the meaning of "firstborn daughter" and Winona Ryder, Baby Winona recently experienced sand for the first time in Mexico, leading to Headland getting a "Winona Forever" tattoo as a tribute. At the same time, Henderson plans to bring an ornate W. With projects like the play Cult of Love and various film scripts in the works, Headland is happily busy pursuing her passion, feeling less anxious about the future after completing her dream project, The Acolyte.