Page 39 - Star Wars Insider #182

FORCES OF DESTINY

“I was a huge science-
04
fiction and Star Wars
fan, and I always
attribute that to why I
got the role. Because
when you’re working
in sci-fi and fantasy,
you can’t condescend
to the material.”

Someone recommended me to an
agent and then my second audition
was for a video game called Star
Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.
and understood Padmé. Dave 04 Padmé and has always made an effort towards So that started my Star Wars career!
Filoni [supervising director Anakin have that, and it continues to be that way.
“Unexpected
on The Clone Wars] was great Company” in Forces of Destiny highlighting Wasn’t Mission Vao in Knights
about saying: “This is your the form of the female characters specifi cally of the Old Republic your fi rst
Ahsoka Tano
Padmé; you’re playing the role is really, really cool, but those voice-over job?
(Ashley
now.” So, I really felt like I got Eckstein.) characters did already exist in It was! I remember going in for
to make it my own. the Star Wars universe. Star Wars the audition and not realizing that
05 Catherine

Taber again is filled with amazing, strong it was actually a rather large role.
With its strong female-focus, voices Padmé female characters, and always has My agent at the time said, “Maybe
Forces of Destiny feels like it Amidala in been. And that’s another one of don’t tell them that it’s your
Forces of
could’ve existed 20 years ago. Destiny. my favorite things about it. I’ve first job!” The audition was with

The idea that girls can play been really happy, too, that guys Darragh O’Farrell (senior manager
with Star Wars toys too isn’t have enjoyed Forces of Destiny as of audio at LucasArts), who was
anything new… well. Then how could they not, with the company for a very long
True, but I feel like Star Wars has with something like the episode time, and whom a lot of people
always been ahead of the curve “Unexpected Company,” [Season know and adore. But I had no idea
when it comes to that. Princess Leia 2, Episode 2—see sidebar] that has what I was getting into.
was always in there with the boys, Anakin, Padmé, and Ahsoka in it?
and there wasn’t this gender power I was just blown away by that. I So very much a baptism of fi re…?
struggle that you see in so many couldn’t believe how emotional Yes! But I was a huge science-fi ction
other franchises. She was able to be I was after two minutes and 32 and Star Wars fan, and I always
a princess, but also be a formidable seconds! That’s testament to some attribute that to why I got the role.
fighting character. I loved that from good storytelling. It’s interesting Because when you’re working in sci-

the beginning. I feel that Star Wars how the writers, the animators, and fi and fantasy, you can’t condescend

the creators have managed to take to the material. And if you love that
these very small snippets of life and stuff, it’s really easy not to do that,
make them so impactful. That’s and to understand what the worlds
most impressive! are like. I felt like I knew that galaxy
far, far away pretty well.
How did you get into acting?

I always wanted to be an actress, so Do you find it tough having to
I moved from Georgia—the state, learn alien phrases and references?
not the country—to Los Angeles. No, I love it. When we were doing
I did the proverbial “drive across Knights of the Old Republic, we
the country” thing, where I knew invented things as we were going
nothing and no one. I just came along. At one point, the script had
here like a bunch of other dreamers a reference to pretzels, and we said:
and started working a bunch of “You can’t say pretzels. There are no
crazy jobs. Then, one day, I fell pretzels in Star Wars!” So, we had
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into some voice-over opportunities. this unique opportunity to make

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