Kelly Marie Tran is finally in a good place in her career. She’s proud of who she is and the roles she’s taking on. But just a few years ago, things were very different.

When Tran joined the Star Wars universe in 2017 as Rose Tico in The Last Jedi, she faced terrible backlash. Some fans reacted with racism and sexism, sending hateful messages and attacking her online. Now, Tran is speaking up about how that time affected her.

“I was persecuted,” Tran said, describing how deeply the hate hurt. She believes it wasn’t just about her character, but about something much bigger. “It’s interesting how it seems to be happening pretty consistently to actors of color who find themselves in these spaces,” she said.

Tran thinks her experience reflects what’s going on in society today. “These occurrences are a microcosm for the social climate that we’re living in.