Summary
- Natalie Portman ultimately won the role of Padmé Amidala, but only one other actress is known to have been in consideration for the role.
- Vinette Robinson, known for Sherlock, also auditioned for Padmé, though all the other potential actresses have yet to be revealed after 25 years.
- While Robinson would have been great in the role, there’s no doubt Portman was the perfect choice for Padmé.
Padmé Amidala is one of the most iconic characters of the entire Star Wars franchise, but 25 years after her debut in Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace, it’s still unclear who else was up for the role. Natalie Portman brought the character to life, being just 16 years old during the filming of The Phantom Menace. Portman was able to bring a balance to Padmé’s fierceness and elegance, a truly impressive feat for a teenager. The only other actress to play Padmé thus far is Catherine Taber, as a part of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars cast.
Star Wars is known for bringing relatively unknown actors into the limelight, and Natalie Portman is no exception. However, it also poses the question of who else auditioned for the role of Padmé that George Lucas passed over. Lucas had revealed he had auditioned over 200 actors for the role of the queen-turned-senator from Naboo, so it’s likely some now familiar names were in the mix. Despite that large number, after 25 years, viewers only know of one other person who auditioned for the role of Padmé Amidala.
Related Star Wars Prequel Trilogy Cast & Character Guide The cast of the Star Wars prequel trilogy features great actors like Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and Samuel L. Jackson playing iconic characters.
Vinette Robinson Is The Only Known Actress To Audition For Padme
Besides Natalie Portman, the only other actress known to have auditioned for the role of Padmé Amidala is Vinette Robinson. Robinson revealed that her audition for Star Wars was her first-ever audition. Though she ultimately didn’t get the role of Anakin Skywalker’s future wife, she did book her first acting job at the age of 17 in the television series The Cops. Robinson has gone on to be quite successful and may be best known for portraying Sergeant Sally Donovan in the BBC hit show Sherlock. Robinson was also featured in an episode of Netflix’s Black Mirror season 3.
Portman, and by extension, Padmé, notably had an American accent, though Robinson is British. It’s unclear whether George Lucas considered having Padmé have a British accent, or if Robinson would’ve adopted an American accent if she had gotten the role. Padmé’s accent that she uses while in the role of queen on Naboo is notably different from her own, as also used by Keira Knightley’s Sabé, and perhaps it would have been closer to a British accent if someone like Robinson played her.
Natalie Portman is one of the few main cast members from the
Star Wars
prequel trilogy who has not returned to the franchise.
Why So Little Is Known About Padme’s Casting Call
It’s hard to imagine anyone else bringing Padmé Amidala to life in live-action, but George Lucas and his team did audition many actors for the Star Wars prequels, and it’s odd that even 25 years later, viewers don’t know who else was up for the role. This is likely because Lucas and his team were auditioning minors and releasing the names of children who didn’t end up getting a role wasn’t seen as best practice. Additionally, it’s entirely possible that these actors never really made it big in Hollywood, or just haven’t mentioned it.
While there’s no telling what other actresses were on the list of possible Padmés, it would be fun to picture what the prequel series could’ve looked like with someone else in the role of Padmé Amidala. Despite the desire to speculate, there is no doubt that George Lucas and his team got it right when casting Natalie Portman as the queen-turned-senator of Naboo. Padmé Amidala was a vital piece in the Star Wars prequels, so casting someone who embodied her strengths was vital.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is available to stream on Disney+
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Release Date May 19, 1999 Distributor(s) 20th Century Cast Ewan McGregor , Liam Neeson , Natalie Portman , Jake Lloyd , Ahmed Best , Ian McDiarmid , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Pernilla August , Frank Oz , Ray Park , Samuel L. Jackson