Lynch has been acting for years, but it's her role in Captain Marvel that launched her into the spotlight as part of the world's biggest movie franchise. She plays Maria Rambeau, the fierce fighter pilot and best friend to Brie Larson's Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel. The dynamic between Maria and Carol is the heart of the film, something Lynch told Vanity Fair was unusual for a superhero flick and important.
"The drama and the connection between the two women is just as important as the connection from the universe to the audience."
It seems impossible to imagine anyone other than Lynch playing the role, but she actually was a late-in-the-game replacement. Originally, DeWanda Wise was slated to play Maria, but in March 2018, news broke that Lynch had been brought on board instead. Reportedly, Wise had to drop out because the shooting schedule conflicted with her commitments to the Netflix series She's Gotta Have It.