<P> BB - 8 is a spherical robot with a free - moving domed head . It is white, with orange and silver accents and a black optical lens on its headpiece . BB - 8 also possesses multiple panels containing various tools or ports . Scanlan said of the robot's personality, "We always imagined BB - 8 as being quite manipulative . I think he knows he's cute . He knows that he can win people over . And he uses that, like children do, to get his own way . In this film, he has a very important mission that he has to accomplish and so he uses his personality, his coyness, and all of those things ." Of BB - 8's gender he said, "I'm still not sure, dare I say, whether BB - 8 is male or female...BB - 8 was female in our eyes . And then he or she became male . And that's all part of the evolution, not only visually, but in the way they move, how they hold themselves ." </P> <P> Calling the robot a "Swiss Army Knife that shouldn't be trusted", he noted that while each of the BB - 8's panels has a specific purpose, like a port or tool, not all of them have been absolutely defined to leave options for future films . </P> <P> The voice of BB - 8 was supplied by comedians Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz, both credited as "BB - 8 vocal consultants" in the film . The voice was created by Abrams manipulating their voices through a talkbox attached to an iPad running a sound effects app . </P> <P> BB - 8 was first seen in the 88 - second The Force Awakens teaser trailer released by Lucasfilm on November 28, 2014 . Its name was revealed by Entertainment Weekly in a Lucasfilm - designed Topps - style trading card mockup in December 2014 . </P>

Who played bb 8 in the force awakens