Padmé Amidala
Padmé Amidala | |
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Star Wars character | |
First appearance | The Phantom Menace (1999) |
Created by | George Lucas |
Portrayed by | Natalie Portman |
Voiced by |
Other:
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In-universe information | |
Full name | Padmé Naberrie |
Species | Human |
Gender | Female |
Occupation |
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Affiliation |
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Family |
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Spouse | Anakin Skywalker |
Significant others |
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Children |
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Relatives | Canon:
Legends:
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Homeworld | Naboo |
Padmé Amidala (née Naberrie) is a fictional character in the
Critical reception to Padmé was mixed; some praised the personal and political motives of the character, while others criticized the regression to a plot device for Anakin's fall to the dark side. Portman's performance received mixed reviews as well, though some have blamed the performance on Lucas' direction and script. Despite the mixed reaction to the character's portrayal, the role helped Portman gain international recognition. In addition to being one of three primary characters in the prequel trilogy, Padmé has also appeared in other Star Wars media such as The Clone Wars.
Concept and creation
In initial drafts of the Star Wars story, "Leia is the daughter of
The first [version] talked about a princess and an old general. The second version involved a father, his son, and his daughter; the daughter was the heroine of the film. Now the daughter has become Luke, Mark Hamill's character.[3]
Film historian Laurent Bouzereau reports that the second draft of the screenplay for Return of the Jedi contained dialogue in which Obi-Wan explains to Luke that he has a twin sister. She and their mother were "sent to the protection of friends in a distant system. The mother died shortly thereafter, and Luke's sister was adopted by Ben's friends, the governor of Alderaan and his wife."[4] Lucas is quoted as saying:
The part that I never really developed is the death of Luke and Leia's mother. I had a backstory for her in earlier drafts, but it basically didn't survive. When I got to Jedi, I wanted one of the kids to have some kind of memory of her because she will be a key figure in the new episodes I'm writing. But I really debated whether or not Leia should remember her.[5]
When Lucas drafted the script for The Phantom Menace, he envisioned a "link between Padmé and Princess Leia, the daughter who follows so closely in her footsteps."
Design and casting
According to concept artist Iain McCaig, the earliest reference to Portman came about through his designs for the character. In a 2022 interview with
Portman was unfamiliar with Star Wars at the time of her casting. She said, "My cousins had always been obsessed with the films, yet I hadn't even seen them before I got the part. When it all happened for me, my cousins were exclaiming, 'Oh, my God, you're in Star Wars!'"[10] She told a CNN interviewer, "I really wasn't aware of how big a deal Star Wars was ... and when I saw the films, I really liked them, but I still didn't really understand how many ... were passionate fans of this film."[11] Portman was, however, enthusiastic over being cast as the queen of Naboo, a character she expected to become a role model: "It was wonderful playing a young queen with so much power. I think it will be good for young women to see a strong woman of action who is also smart and a leader."[10]
In The Phantom Menace, Portman had to portray a character younger than herself. In Attack of the Clones, however, her character had aged 10 years. Portman had aged only three years between the two films. She remarks, "[Lucas] wants to make sure I seem older than Anakin in
Costumes
An extensive wardrobe was designed for Padmé Amidala by
The costumes of the prequel trilogy are purposely more elaborate than those of the original trilogy. Lucas asserts that galactic society in the prequels is much more sophisticated.[19] Commenting on the disparities between the two trilogies, Carrie Fisher mused, "Harrison Ford wears the same outfit for three flicks, and I was complaining that I wear, like, six outfits. And my mother – Natalie Portman – she wears three million. She walks through a doorway and there's another outfit. It's like the Liberace of sci-fi changing of clothes."[20] Biggar reveals that originally there were only three costumes planned for Amidala in The Phantom Menace, but "[Lucas] decided that every time we saw [her] she was going to have a different costume."[21] Lucas explains, "Someone of that stature would automatically be changing their costumes to fit the occasion."[19]
Aesthetics aside, the wardrobe was designed to reflect key plot developments. In Attack of the Clones, Lucas wanted Padmé's wardrobe to mirror the romantic elements of the film. He suggested that her costumes be more "sultry in nature."
Some of the costumes created by Biggar's staff did not appear in the final version of the films. In Revenge of the Sith, for example, a multi-colored "Peacock Gown" and a "Green Cut Velvet Robe" worn by Padmé in scenes featuring the Delegation of 2000 were deleted during post-production. Biggar remarks that the Peacock Gown had been one of her favorite designs and that much time and money had been invested in these particular costumes.[26] Ultimately, the Peacock Gown would be used only for the film's theatrical poster. The velvet robe was ultimately re-used for a short scene filmed during pick-up photography, thus appearing in the film, and features on the DVD cover art.
Many of Padmé's costumes in The Phantom Menace were featured in the Japanese magazine High Fashion in 1999 and the Attack of the Clones costumes were in
Character overview
Padmé Amidala is depicted in Star Wars fiction as beautiful and graceful. In Cloak of Deception, she is described as having "a slight figure and a lovely, feminine face. She was remarkably solemn for one so young. It was clear that she took her responsibilities with the utmost seriousness."
The Star Wars Databank describes her as "one of Naboo's best and brightest"[31] and "interested in public service".[32] She demonstrates a devotion to the disadvantaged and deprived beings of the galaxy. Her childhood and adolescence is sacrificed to public service. In the Attack of the Clones novelization, Padmé's sister Sola Naberrie tells her, "You're so tied up in your responsibilities that you don't give any weight to your desires."[33]
Padmé relies on diplomacy to resolve disputes, often appearing as a pacifist. She is not, however, an advocate of appeasement, as she is willing to use "aggressive negotiations" to preserve democracy.[34] The Star Wars Databank notes, "Despite her initial objections to a Republic army, Padmé nonetheless fought alongside the newly created clone troopers against the Separatist droid forces."[32] Film critics Dominique Mainon and James Ursini classify her as a "modern Amazon," a reference to the warrior women of ancient Greek mythology.[35]
Her combat skills are explored further through the Star Wars
As a ruler and politician, Padmé is distrustful of bureaucracy, opposed to corruption, and a firm believer in democracy and the rule of law. She tells Anakin, "Popular rule is not democracy .... It gives the people what they want, not what they need."
Padmé is sometimes mysterious and deceptive. She is described in Brooks' The Phantom Menace novelization as a "chameleon of sorts, masking herself to the world at large and finding companionship almost exclusively with a cadre of handmaidens who were always with her."[38] Her decision to quietly marry Anakin and secret discussions with other senators about Palpatine add to the character's duplicity.[32] Paul F. McDonald of Space.com observes, "Amidala ... embod[ies] many of the dualities that inform Episode I—war and peace, queen and commoner, form and substance. Unlike other characters, whose personalities are divided and usually warring against one another, her dual nature works to her advantage." He explains, "Amidala can be cold and commanding when she needs to be, or warm and loving as Padmé."[7]
Appearances
Original trilogy
Return of the Jedi
Prequel trilogy
The Phantom Menace
Padmé Amidala makes her first film appearance in
Arriving on
Attack of the Clones
Padmé Amidala makes her second film appearance in
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
Revenge of the Sith
Padmé Amidala makes her third film appearance in ).
As Palpatine declares
Unable to believe this, Padmé travels to the volcanic planet
After Obi-Wan defeats Vader in a lightsaber duel, he brings Padmé to the secret asteroid base
Animated series
The Clone Wars
Padmé Amidala (voiced by Catherine Taber) makes her fourth film appearance in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. While Anakin (voiced by Matt Lanter) and his Padawan Ahsoka Tano (voiced by Ashley Eckstein) search for Jabba the Hutt's son Rotta, Padmé meets Jabba's uncle Ziro the Hutt (voiced by Corey Burton) at his palace on Coruscant 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 Hutts' ruler. After being discovered, Dooku suggests Ziro collect the bounty placed on her head. When battle droids confiscate Padmé's comlink and blaster, she outwits and tricks one into activating her comlink as C-3PO is attempting to contact her before a droid smashes the device. 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 to Jabba. Padmé proceeds to negotiate an alliance between the Republic and the Hutts which would allow Republic warships to use unknown Hutt hyperspace lanes.
In the
Spaceballs
Padmé is parodied in Spaceballs: The Animated Series as Princess Harley Van Patten (voiced by Julianne Grossman), whom Pannakin Crybaby joins the Dark Side of the Schwartz as Dark Helmet in order to marry in "Revenge of the Sithee".
Forces of Destiny (2017)
Padmé appears in the micro-series
Tales of the Jedi
Padmé's funeral is recreated in
Literature
The
Queen's Shadow, a novel by
Padmé also appears in flashbacks in the novel Thrawn: Alliances.[46] In the limited Marvel comic series Princess Leia, Leia briefly sees a vision of Queen Amidala while visiting Naboo.
Video games
Padmé also appears in
Legends
In April 2014, most of the licensed Star Wars novels and comics produced since the originating 1977 film
Clone Wars (2003)
Padmé Amidala appears in eight chapters of the
Novels and comics
Padmé's background prior to her appearance in the prequel films is revealed in Star Wars novels and comics. In
In the novel, Cloak of Deception (2001) by James Luceno, King Veruna is forced to abdicate the throne following accusations of corruption. Padmé is elected Queen of Naboo 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. She admits to him, "Naboo can scarcely afford to become embroiled in a dispute that pits the Republic against the Trade Federation."[52]
Star Wars literature focuses on Padmé's career as ruling monarch of Naboo. The
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."[56]
Padmé appears in novels and comics set after the events of the
Reception
Reactions by critics to Portman's performances were mixed. James Berardinelli called her acting in The Phantom Menace "lackluster,"[60] while Annlee Ellingson of Box Office Magazine said "Portman's delivery is stiff and flat, perhaps hindered by the gorgeous but cumbersome costumes."[61] In his review of Attack of the Clones, Mike Clark of USA Today complained about Portman and Hayden Christensen, who portrayed Anakin; 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."[62] Ed Halter of The Village Voice, reviewing Revenge of the Sith, said that "computer-generated characters like wheezing cyborg baddie General Grievous and blippeting fireplug R2-D2" "emot[ed] more convincingly than either Natalie Portman or Hayden Christensen."[63] Nonetheless, Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle described Portman's performance in Revenge of the Sith as "decorative and sympathetic".[64]
Critics have blamed Portman's performance on Lucas' direction and script. Roger Ebert, for example, charged that in Attack of the Clones "too much of ... the film is given over to a romance between Padmé and Anakin in which they're incapable of uttering anything other than the most basic and weary romantic clichés, while regarding each other as if love was something to be endured rather than cherished."[65] He offered a similar critique for Revenge of the Sith: "To say that George Lucas cannot write a love scene is an understatement; greeting cards have expressed more passion."[66] Todd McCarthy of Variety likewise lamented that "Lucas's shortcomings as a writer and director of intimate, one-on-one scenes" hampered Portman's performance.[67]
In 2017, Rolling Stone magazine placed Padmé Amidala at the number 45 spot on their 50 Best Star Wars Characters of All Time list.[68] Pop culture website IGN named her the 25th greatest Star Wars character in their Top 100 countdown.[69] In 2019, Esquire magazine ranked her 28th on their 40 Greatest Star Wars Characters list.[70]
Despite the mixed reception among critics, Portman was nominated for three
Family tree
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Notes:
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See also
References
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- ISBN 0-306-80904-4.
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- ISBN 0-345-40981-7.
- ^ a b c "Natalie Portman: Forbidden Love: Wise Beyond Her Years". StarWars.com. Archived from the original on June 30, 2005. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
- ^ a b McDonald, Paul F. (June 12, 2000). "Amidala: The Goddess With Two Faces". Space.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2007. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
- ^ Wainerdi, Brandon (May 2022). "The Soul Sketchbook of Iain McCaig". Star Wars Insider. No. 210. p. 25.
- ISBN 0-595-34732-0.
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- ^ Ian McCaig Biography, at Star Wars.com Archived August 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine; last accessed August 5, 2006.
- ^ Dermot Power Biography, at Star Wars.com Archived September 10, 2006, at the Wayback Machine; last accessed August 5, 2006.
- ^ Trisha Biggar Biography, at Star Wars.com Archived August 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine; last accessed August 5, 2006.
- ^ Juszczyk, Georgie (February 13, 2020). "The Secret History of Star Wars". MongolInk. ANU Mongolia Institute. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ Hinrichs, Allison (2020). "How Queen Genepil Of Mongolia Became An Inspiration For Queen Amidala In Star Wars". Jet Set Times. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ "Queen Genepil was the last queen of Mongolia". 9gag. January 1, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ L. Mangue, ed., "Reverse References", at Nerf-Herders Anonymous; last accessed August 5, 2006.
- ^ a b George Lucas, Costume Featurette, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Special Features, (DVD, 20th Century Fox, 1999), disc 2.
- ^ Carrie Fisher, commentary to Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Special Edition (DVD, 20th Century Fox, 2005).
- ^ Trisha Biggar, Costumes Featurette, The Phantom Menace, DVD.
- 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Trisha Biggar (2002). Love Featurette, Attack of the Clones (DVD). Los Angeles, California: 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Natalie Portman (2002). Love Featurette, Attack of the Clones (DVD). Los Angeles, California: 20th Century Fox.
- ^ "An Introduction to Episode III". StarWars.com. Lucasfilm. May 18, 2005. Archived from the original on December 14, 2005. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
- ^ "Epic Designs for an Expanding Universe", Web Documentary, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Special Features (DVD, 20th Century Fox, 2005), disc 2.
- ^ "Star Wars: Dressing a Galaxy Opens Monday". StarWars.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
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- ^ Brooks, page 83
- ^ Brooks, page 36
- ^ a b Padmé Amidala, Expanded Universe, at the Star Wars Databank; last accessed August 5, 2006.
- ^ a b c d "Padmé Amidala". Star Wars Databank. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
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- ^ Salvatore, Attack of the Clones, p. 319.
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- ^ Salvatore, page 144
- ^ Stover, page 401
- ^ Brooks, pages 28–29
- ^ Breznican, Anthony (April 13, 2017). "Star Wars highlights female heroes in Forces of Destiny — first look". Entertainment Weekly. New York City: Meredith Corporation. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ Brooks, page 28
- ^ Salvatore, page 20
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- ^ 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.
- ^ Brooks, Dan (November 27, 2019). "Padmé Strikes Back in E.K. Johnston's Queen's Peril – Exclusive". StarWars.com. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- ^ "Teen Padmé transforms into the Monarch of Naboo in E.K. Johnston's new Star Wars novel, Queen's Peril". May 28, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Disney and Random House announce relaunch of Star Wars Adult Fiction line". StarWars.com. April 25, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
- ^ McMilian, Graeme (April 25, 2014). "Lucasfilm Unveils New Plans for Star Wars Expanded Universe". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles, California: Eldridge Industries. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
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- ISBN 0-345-47573-9.
- ISBN 0-345-46304-8.
- ^ Denning, page 345
- ^ Amazon.com: The Swarm War (Star Wars: Dark Nest, Book 3): Troy Denning: Books
- ^ Berardinelli, James (September 15, 2015). "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace". www.reelviews.net. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
- ^ Ellingson, Annlee. "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace". Box Office Magazine. Archived from the original on June 13, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
- Gannett Company. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
- ^ 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. New York City: Voice Media. Archived from the original on June 28, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
- Hearst Corporation. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (May 10, 2002). "Review: Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones". Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago, Illinois: Sun-Times Media Group. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (May 19, 2005). "Review: Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith". Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago, Illinois: Sun-Times Media Group. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
- ^ McCarthy, Todd (May 5, 2005). "Review: Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith". Variety. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
- ^ Hoffman, Jordan; Fischer, Russ; Tobias, Scott; Ehrlich, David; Murray, Noel; Grierson, Tim; Collins, Sean T. (May 29, 2018). "50 Best 'Star Wars' Characters of All Time, 25. Qui-Gon Jinn". Rolling Stone. New York City: Wenner Media, LLC. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
- ^ "Padme Amidala - #25 Star Wars Character - IGN". www.ign.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ "The Best Star Wars Characters, Ranked". December 26, 2019.
- ^ "Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)". IMDb. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ "Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)". IMDb. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)". IMDb. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ The Star Wars Book (2020) pg. 200
Further reading
- Biggar, Trisha. Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2005. ISBN 0-8109-6567-4.
- Wallace, Daniel. The New Essential Guide to Characters. New York: Del Rey, 2002. ISBN 0-345-44900-2.
- Wallace, Daniel, and Kevin J. Anderson. The New Essential Chronology. New York: Del Rey, 2005. ISBN 0-345-49053-3.
External links
- Padmé Amidala in the StarWars.com Databank
- Padmé Amidala on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki
- Dressing A Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars, an exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.