Padmé Amidala

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Padmé Amidala
Star Wars character
Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala [a]
First appearanceThe Phantom Menace
Created byGeorge Lucas
Portrayed byNatalie Portman
Voiced by
In-universe information
Full namePadmé Naberrie
SpeciesHuman
GenderFemale
Occupation
  • Queen of Naboo
  • Senator of Naboo
Affiliation
SpouseAnakin Skywalker
Children
RelativesBen Solo (grandson)
Others in Legends [b]
HomeworldNaboo

Padmé Amidala (née Naberrie) is a character in the Star Wars franchise. She first appears in The Phantom Menace (1999) as the teenage queen of the fictional planet Naboo. After her reign, she becomes a member of the Galactic Senate. She secretly marries Anakin Skywalker, a Jedi Knight, and later dies while giving birth to the twins Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa. Anakin's fear of losing Padmé drives him toward the dark side of the Force, which eventually results in his transformation into Darth Vader. Natalie Portman portrays Padmé in all three films of the prequel trilogy. Catherine Taber, Grey DeLisle and Montana Norberg provide the character's voice in animated productions and video games.

Prequel trilogy[edit]

Concept and casting[edit]

Padmé was introduced in The Phantom Menace, the first film of the prequel trilogy. During the film's development, concept artists were given character outlines by Lucasfilm. The fourteen-year-old Padmé was described as similar to Princess Ozma from the Land of Oz series of novels.[1][2] George Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars franchise and the director of The Phantom Menace, wanted to cast a performer who displayed strength comparable to that of Princess Leia, a central character in the original trilogy and the daughter of Padmé.[3][4][5] The filmmakers auditioned over two hundred actresses for the role before selecting Natalie Portman, who was sixteen at the time.[6][7] One of the concept artists, Iain McCaig, said Portman exhibited vulnerability and strength akin to Ozma.[2]

Portman was enthusiastic about the role, and thought it would be empowering for young female viewers to witness the intelligence and leadership abilities of the teenage monarch.[8] She worked closely with Lucas on her character's accent and mannerisms, and watched the films of Lauren Bacall, Audrey Hepburn, and Katharine Hepburn to draw inspiration from their voice and stature.[9] She was relatively unfamiliar with the Star Wars franchise when she was cast, and watched the original trilogy before filming began.[10]

Costumes[edit]

Lucas has explained that galactic society in the prequel trilogy is more sophisticated than in the original trilogy. To illustrate this difference, the costumes in the prequels are more elaborate than those in the earlier films. Trisha Biggar, the costume designer for the prequel films, said there were only three costumes initially planned for Padmé. However, Lucas felt that a noble of her stature would be constantly changing her wardrobe depending on the occasion. He decided that every time the queen appeared in The Phantom Menace, she would be wearing a different costume. The resulting wardrobe was influenced by fashions from Japan, Mongolia, Tibet and other countries.[11][12] For Attack of the Clones, Lucas wanted Padmé's garb to reflect the romantic storyline. He requested that her costumes be "skimpy" and "sultry".[13][14] Padmé's garments were displayed at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles in 2005, and at the Detroit Institute of Arts in 2018.[15][11]

Reception[edit]

Portman's performance was criticized in a number of reviews. James Berardinelli called her acting in The Phantom Menace "lackluster,"[16] while Annlee Ellingson of Box Office Magazine said her delivery was "stiff and flat, perhaps hindered by the gorgeous but cumbersome costumes."[17] In his review of Attack of the Clones, Mike Clark of USA Today complained about the performances of both Portman and Hayden Christensen, who portrays Anakin Skywalker. He wrote, "Both speak in monotone for doubly deadly effect, though when not burdened by his co-star, Christensen often finds the emotion in his limited intonations."[18] Reviewing Revenge of the Sith, Ed Halter of The Village Voice said that "computer-generated characters like wheezing cyborg baddie General Grievous and blippeting fireplug R2-D2 ... emot[ed] more convincingly" than either Portman or Christensen.[19] Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle offered a slightly less critical appraisal, describing Portman's performance in Revenge of the Sith as "decorative and sympathetic".[20]

Other portrayals[edit]

Catherine Taber provides Padmé's voice in the animated film The Clone Wars and the animated television series of the same name. Taber also voices her in the web series Forces of Destiny and in various video games.[21][22] Grey DeLisle voices Padmé in video games and in the micro-series Clone Wars, while Montana Norberg provides her voice in the miniseries Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales.[23][24]

Appearances in the official Star Wars story canon[edit]

Prequel trilogy[edit]

Main article: Star Wars prequel trilogy

The Phantom Menace[edit]

Padmé makes her first appearance in The Phantom Menace (1999) as the recently elected fourteen-year-old queen of Naboo. She is dedicated to ending her planet's occupation by the Trade Federation. She negotiates with Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray, who attempts to force her to sign a treaty which would legitimize the Federation's occupation. Padmé escapes from Naboo with the help of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi. On the way to Coruscant, they are forced to land on Tatooine to repair their ship. Disguised as a handmaiden, Padmé meets the nine-year-old slave boy Anakin Skywalker. She witnesses him win a podrace that both aids her mission to Coruscant and secures his freedom. She and Anakin bond during their journey from Tatooine to Coruscant.

Padmé consults with Senator Palpatine, who encourages her to appeal to the Senate to resolve Naboo's conflict with the Federation. Palpatine, who is secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, persuades her to make a motion to have Supreme Chancellor Valorum removed from office, which enables Palpatine to be elected in his place. Padmé returns to Naboo to fight for her planet's freedom, enlisting the aid of Jar Jar Binks and his Gungan tribe. The Gungans create a diversion to lure the Federation's droid armies away from the palace, which has been seized by Gunray. A small force led by Padmé enters the palace and captures Gunray, which ends the occupation of Naboo.

Attack of the Clones[edit]

Padmé returns in Attack of the Clones (2002), which is set ten years after The Phantom Menace. She now represents Naboo in the Galactic Senate and leads a faction opposed to the Military Creation Act that would create an army of clones for the Republic, which has been threatened by a growing Separatist movement. As she arrives on Coruscant to cast her vote, assassins hired by the Separatists attempt to kill her. Obi-Wan and his apprentice Anakin are assigned to protect Padmé. Palpatine sends Padmé into hiding on Naboo, where she and Anakin struggle to maintain a platonic relationship despite their obvious mutual attraction.

When Anakin has a vision of his mother in danger, Padmé accompanies him to Tatooine in a failed attempt to rescue Shmi from a band of Tusken Raiders. Anakin returns to Padmé with his mother's body and confesses that he slaughtered the entire Tusken tribe. Padmé is troubled by what Anakin has done, but nevertheless comforts him. After they receive a message from Obi-Wan, Padmé and Anakin to Geonosis to aid him, only to be captured and condemned to death by the Separatist leader and Sith Lord Count Dooku. Facing execution, Padmé and Anakin profess their love for each other. They are saved from death by an army of Jedi and clone troopers, led by Jedi Masters Mace Windu and Yoda. The ensuing battle marks the beginning of the Clone Wars. Afterwards, Padmé and Anakin are married in a secret ceremony on Naboo.

Revenge of the Sith[edit]

Padmé makes her third film appearance in Revenge of the Sith (2005), which takes place three years after the previous film. As the Clone Wars continue, Padmé informs Anakin that she is pregnant. She detects changes in him after he begins having visions of her dying in childbirth. Palpatine plays on Anakin's fears by saying that the dark side of the Force holds the power to save Padmé, which ultimately leads Anakin to become Palpatine's Sith apprentice, Darth Vader. Meanwhile, Padmé watches with increasing suspicion as Palpatine uses the Clone Wars as an excuse to take near-total control of the Senate. As Palpatine transforms the Republic into the Galactic Empire and declares himself Emperor, Padmé remarks: "So this is how liberty dies—with thunderous applause." Obi-Wan informs Padmé that Anakin has been seduced to the dark side by Palpatine—who is actually the mastermind of the war—and has killed everyone in the Jedi Temple, including children.

Unable to believe this, Padmé travels to the volcanic planet Mustafar, where Vader has gone to assassinate the Separatist leaders, unaware that Obi-Wan has stowed away on her ship. Padmé begs Vader to escape Palpatine's grasp, but he insists that together they can overthrow Palpatine and rule the galaxy. Padmé recoils in horror, and tries to persuade him to abandon the dark side. When Obi-Wan emerges from her ship, Vader accuses Padmé of betrayal and uses the Force to strangle her into unconsciousness. After Obi-Wan defeats Vader in a lightsaber duel, he brings Padmé to the secret asteroid base Polis Massa. She dies soon after giving birth to twins, Luke and Leia. Just prior to her death, Padmé insists to Obi-Wan that there is still "good" in Vader. After Padmé is given an elaborate funeral on Naboo, her twins are separated and hidden from the Empire. Leia is adopted by Senator Bail Organa and his wife on Alderaan, while Obi-Wan brings Luke to Tatooine, where he will be raised by Vader's stepbrother Owen Lars and his wife Beru.

The Clone Wars (film)[edit]

Padmé makes her fourth film appearance in The Clone Wars (2008). While Anakin and his apprentice Ahsoka Tano search for Jabba the Hutt's son Rotta, Padmé meets Ziro the Hutt to convince him to side with the Jedi. After Ziro forcibly removes Padmé, she escapes and eavesdrops on his communication with Count Dooku and the Separatists about an elaborate scheme to kill Rotta, frame the Jedi for his murder and force Jabba to attempt revenge, leaving Ziro as the ruler of the Hutts. After Padmé is discovered, Dooku suggests that Ziro collect the bounty placed on her head. The droid C-3PO leads a squad of Coruscant Guard troopers to rescue her. Padmé then contacts Jabba just as the Hutt is about to execute Anakin and Ahsoka, and forces Ziro to confess his betrayal. Padmé negotiates an alliance between the Republic and the Hutts which would allow Republic warships to use Hutt hyperspace lanes.

The Clone Wars (series)[edit]

In The Clone Wars television series, Padmé is mostly working in the Senate towards a peaceful resolution to the Clone Wars, although a few episodes show her fighting the Separatists alongside Anakin, Ahsoka and Jar Jar Binks. She is the main protagonist in three consecutive episodes in which she meets with her old colleague Rush Clovis, which causes Anakin to become jealous.

Novels[edit]

Padmé is the protagonist of three novels by E. K. Johnston, collectively referred to as the "Queen's Series."[25] The first novel to be released, Queen's Shadow (2018), is set four years after the events of The Phantom Menace. As Padmé ends her reign as queen and becomes a senator, she helps liberate a number of slaves on Tatooine, but is unable to free Anakin's mother, Shmi Skywalker.[26] The novel also explores relationships Padmé has with Rush Clovis, Captain Typho, Captain Panaka, Bail Organa and Sheev Palpatine. A prequel to Queen's Shadow, titled Queen's Peril (2020) takes place before and during The Phantom Menace.[27][28] Queen's Hope (2022) chronicles events after Padmé's secret marriage to Anakin. Padmé also appears in flashbacks in the novel Thrawn: Alliances.[29]

Appearances in Star Wars Legends[edit]

See also: Star Wars in other media

In 2014, most of the licensed Star Wars novels and comics produced since 1977 were rebranded by Lucasfilm as Star Wars Legends and declared non-canon to the franchise. The Legends works comprise a separate narrative universe.[30][31][32][33]

The Legends novels featuring her include Star Wars Episode I Journal: Amidala (1999), The Queen's Amulet (1999), Cloak of Deception (2001), and Labyrinth of Evil (2005).[34][35] She appears in the Legends comic "A Summer's Dream" printed in Star Wars Tales 5 (2000).

Novels and comics[edit]

Padmé's background prior to her appearance in the prequel films is revealed in Star Wars novels and comics. In the 2000 comic "A Summer's Dream" from Star Wars Tales 5, Padmé is the Princess of Theed, Naboo's capital city. A young man named Ian Lago falls in love with her, but she places her civic duty over her personal happiness and rejects him.[36] In the novel Cloak of Deception (2001), Naboo's King Veruna is forced to abdicate the throne following accusations of corruption. Padmé is elected queen, and contacts Palpatine to inform him that Veruna has been mysteriously killed. She and Palpatine discuss the events that lead to the Trade Federation blockade of Naboo.[37]

Star Wars literature also focuses on Padmé's career as the monarch of Naboo. The young-adult novel Star Wars Episode I Journal: Amidala (1999) depicts Padmé narrowly escaping the Trade Federation.[38] The Queen's Amulet (1999) by Julianne Balmain narrates the close friendship between Padmé and her handmaiden Sabé immediately before the events of The Phantom Menace.[39] Erik Tiemens's short comic "The Artist of Naboo" follows a young, unnamed artist on Naboo who becomes captivated by Padmé's beauty, features her in a series of paintings and later risks his life to save her.[40]

Padmé's role in the Delegation of 2000—the senatorial resistance movement to Palpatine's growing absolutism—is discussed in James Luceno's Labyrinth of Evil (2005). The Delegation of 2000 is primarily concerned with Palpatine's calls for public surveillance and restrictions on freedom of movement and action. Still, Padmé is confident Palpatine will relinquish his power when the crisis is over: "He's not stubborn," she tells Bail Organa. "You just don't know him as I do. He'll take our concerns to heart."[41]

Padmé appears in novels and comics set after the events of the original trilogy as holograms and flashbacks. In Troy Denning's The Joiner King (2005), the first book in the Dark Nest trilogy, set 35 years after the events of A New Hope, Luke Skywalker discovers a hologram recorded by R2-D2 of Anakin Skywalker informing Padmé of his vision of her death in childbirth. This is the first time Luke sees his mother.[42] Another hologram discovered in R2-D2 chronicles a conversation between Padmé and Obi-Wan. In this hologram, Luke and Leia hear their mother's name for the first time.[43] In the final novel of the trilogy, The Swarm War, Luke and Leia see their mother's death and their own births.[44]

Clone Wars (2003)[edit]

In addition to novels and comics, the Clone Wars micro-series is part of Star Wars Legends. Padmé appears in eight chapters of the series, which aired on Cartoon Network from 2003 to 2005. She is secluded on Coruscant and maintains a correspondence with Anakin while he is fighting in the Clone Wars. In one chapter, Padmé is traveling with Yoda when he senses a disturbance in the Force coming from the planet Ilum. Despite Captain Typho's protest, she helps Yoda rescue Jedi Master Luminara Unduli and the Padawan Barriss Offee. In another chapter, she is thrilled by Anakin's graduation to Jedi Knight, and stores his Padawan braid with the necklace he gave her when they first met.[45]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  2. ^ Padmé's family members in the Star Wars Legends narrative universe include her daughter-in-law Mara Jade, her granddaughter Jaina Solo, and her grandsons Ben Skywalker, Anakin Solo and Jacen Solo.

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ "Natalie Portman: Forbidden Love: Wise Beyond Her Years". StarWars.com. Archived from the original on June 30, 2005. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
  2. ^ a b Wainerdi, Brandon (May 2022). "The Soul Sketchbook of Iain McCaig". Star Wars Insider. No. 210. p. 25.
  3. ^ "Return of the galaxy's new beauty: New look, love interest for Portman's role in 'Star Wars'". CNN. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  4. ^ Breznican, Anthony (April 13, 2017). "'Star Wars' Highlights Female Heroes with New 'Forces of Destiny' Stories — First Look". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  5. ^ Coggan, Devan (May 27, 2022). "The 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' premiere reintroduces some huge familiar faces". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  6. ^ Bowen, Jonathan L. (2005). Anticipation: The Real Life Story of Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace. Lincoln, Nebraska: iUniverse. p. 3. ISBN 0-595-34732-0.
  7. ^ Bouzereau & Duncan 1999, p. 46.
  8. ^ "Star Wars Episode I Production Notes: The Actors and Characters – Part I". StarWars.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2004. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
  9. ^ Culpepper, Andy (May 18, 1999). "Natalie Portman: 'Star Wars' queen". CNN. Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  10. ^ "Natalie Portman Profile". CNN. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  11. ^ a b Hall, Corey (May 18, 2018). "A first look at the DIA's 'Star Wars and the Power of Costume'". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  12. ^ Costume Featurette (1999). Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Special Features DVD. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.
  13. ^ George Lucas (2002). Love Featurette, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Special Features (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  14. ^ Trisha Biggar (2002). Love Featurette, Attack of the Clones (DVD). Los Angeles, California: 20th Century Fox.
  15. ^ "Star Wars: Dressing a Galaxy Opens Monday". StarWars.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
  16. ^ Berardinelli, James (September 15, 2015). "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace". Reel Views. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  17. ^ Ellingson, Annlee. "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace". Box Office Magazine. Archived from the original on June 13, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
  18. ^ Clark, Mike (May 15, 2002). "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
  19. ^ Halter, Ed (May 11, 2005). "May the Force Be Over; The end of the beginning: Lucas's adolescent space opera concludes in a CGI Sith Storm". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on June 28, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
  20. ^ LaSalle, Mick (May 18, 2005). "'Revenge of the Sith' review: Does Lucas know how good a movie he almost made?". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  21. ^ Breznican, Anthony (April 13, 2017). "Star Wars highlights female heroes in Forces of Destiny — first look". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  22. ^ "Catherine Taber (visual voices guide)". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  23. ^ "Grey DeLisle (visual voices guide)". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  24. ^ "Montana Norberg (visual voices guide)". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  25. ^ "Star Wars: Queen's Series: Padmé Paperback Box set". Disney Books | Disney Publishing Worldwide. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  26. ^ Liptak, Andrew (July 20, 2018). "The next Star Wars novels will flesh out the prequel era". The Verge. New York City: Vox Media. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  27. ^ Brooks, Dan (November 27, 2019). "Padmé Strikes Back in E.K. Johnston's Queen's Peril – Exclusive". StarWars.com. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  28. ^ "Teen Padmé transforms into the Monarch of Naboo in E.K. Johnston's new Star Wars novel, Queen's Peril". May 28, 2020.
  29. ^ Tuttle, Brittani (July 12, 2018). "Padmé is on a mission to Batuu in upcoming Star Wars book, 'Thrawn: Alliances'". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  30. ^ McMilian, Graeme (April 25, 2014). "Lucasfilm Unveils New Plans for Star Wars Expanded Universe". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 29, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  31. ^ "The Legendary Star Wars Expanded Universe Turns a New Page". StarWars.com. April 25, 2014. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  32. ^ "Disney and Random House announce relaunch of Star Wars Adult Fiction line". StarWars.com. April 25, 2014. Archived from the original on May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  33. ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (May 4, 2023). "The Star Wars Canon: The Definitive Guide". IGN. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  34. ^ Balmain, Julianne (1999). The Queen's Amulet. New York: Chronicle Books. ISBN 0-8118-2462-4.
  35. ^ Luceno, James (2005). Labyrinth of Evil. New York: Del Rey Books. ISBN 0-345-47573-9.
  36. ^ Terry Moore (w). "A Summer's Dream" Star Wars Tales, no. 5 (September 2000). Milwaukie, Oregon: Dark Horse Comics. ISBN 1-59307-286-4.
  37. ^ Luceno, James (2001). Cloak of Deception. Century. ISBN 9780712679572.
  38. ^ Watson, Jude (1999). Star Wars Episode I Journal: Amidala. New York: Scholastic Books. ISBN 0-590-52101-2.
  39. ^ Balmain, Julianne (1999). The Queen's Amulet. New York City: Chronicle Books. ISBN 0-8118-2462-4.
  40. ^ Erik Tiemens (w). "The Artist of Naboo" Star Wars: Visionaries (March 2005). Milwaukie, Oregon: Dark Horse Comics.. ISBN 1-59307-311-9
  41. ^ Luceno, James (2005). Labyrinth of Evil. New York City: Del Rey Books. p. 57. ISBN 0-345-47573-9.
  42. ^ Denning, Troy (2005). The Joiner King. New York City: Del Rey Books. pp. 210–11. ISBN 0-345-46304-8.
  43. ^ Denning, page 345
  44. ^ Amazon.com: The Swarm War (Star Wars: Dark Nest, Book 3): Troy Denning: Books
  45. ^ Tartakovsky, Genndy et al. (2005). Star Wars: Clone Wars – Volume Two (DVD audio commentary). 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Event occurs at 15:00.

Works cited[edit]

  • Bouzereau, Laurent; Duncan, Jody (1999). Star Wars: The Making of Episode I—The Phantom Menace. New York: Del Rey. ISBN 0345431111.
  • Hidalgo, Pablo; Sansweet, Stephen (2008). The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia. Vol. I (First ed.). New York: Del Rey. ISBN 9780345477637.

Further reading[edit]

  • Biggar, Trisha. Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2005. ISBN 0-8109-6567-4.
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