In Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, a crack team of intelligence operatives, mercenaries, thieves, assassins, and soldiers of fortune embark on a potential suicide mission to retrieve the design plans for the Galactic Empire’s planet-destroying superweapon. And why, exactly? Well, they are rallied together thanks to an unlikely figure whom audiences are meeting for the very first time: Jyn Erso.

Played by Felicity Jones, Jyn Erso is a web of complexities, a lone wolf who must learn to place the greater good above her own instincts for self-preservation. Without giving too much away, Rogue One chronicles, amongst other things, Erso’s journey from alienated outsider to a fighter for the Rebellion who leads by example and inspires her fellow freedom fighters to attempt the impossible. As Erso, Jones gives a fierce, dynamic performance as she metamorphoses from distrustful and unwilling collaborator to a galvanizing force for the Rebel Alliance.

But what was Jones’ favorite part of playing Jyn Erso? While at a recent press day in San Francisco, I sat down with the actress and asked her. In addition to spilling the beans on what she enjoyed most about playing Jyn, Jones told me about a particularly memorable moment from when she was on vacation in Italy and encountered an unexpected surprise from the galaxy far, far away.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is in theaters on December 16, 2016. You can read our spoiler-free review here.

Be sure to check out our interviews with Rogue One director Gareth Edwards about directing Darth Vader and how co-star Diego Luna’s kids reacted to their dad being in Star Wars, too.

What is your favorite part of Jyn Erso’s character? Let us know in the comments below.

Dan Casey is the senior editor of Nerdist and the author of books about Star Wars and the Avengers. Follow him on Twitter (@Osteoferocious).