"Star Trek Beyond" may be filled with fantastical sci-fi alien races and worlds, but according to the film's co-writer and actor Simon Pegg, one new character is based on a famous real world figure.

In a recent press conference, Pegg explained that Jaylah, the alien warrior played by Sofia Boutella ("Kingsman: The Secret Service"), got her name from acclaimed actress, Jennifer Lawrence ("X-Men: Apocalypse").

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Pegg recounted that he and co-writer Doug Jung began referring to the alien ally of Captain Kirk and crew as "J.Law," because of her resemblance to Lawrence's Oscar-nominated performance in 2010's "Winter's Bone," in which she plays a self-reliant young woman navigating a dangerous criminal underworld in rural Appalachia.

In a recent featurette on the character, actress Boutella described Jaylah as "extremely strong...She's quite defensive. Very much on her own."

"Star Trek Beyond," directed by Justin Lin ("Fast & Furious 6") hits theaters on July 22, and also stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Idris Elba, and Karl Urban.