Padmé Amidala/Legends

"She was... very beautiful. Kind, but...sad."

- Leia Organa

Padmé Amidala of Naboo (born Padmé Naberrie, known as Her Royal Highness, Queen Amidala of Naboo from 32 BBY to 24 BBY, and as Her Excellency, Senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo from 24 BBY until death) was the secret wife of Anakin Skywalker and the mother of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa Solo. She was the democratically-elected Queen of Naboo before representing Chommell Sector as a Senator in the Galactic Senate. Throughout her relatively short life, she played a vital role in the politics and events surrounding the waning years of the Old Republic.

Early life (46 BBY–32 BBY)
"My life is dedicated to the people of Naboo. It is the least I owe them."

- Padmé Naberrie to her former love, Ian Lago, shortly before her election as Queen

Padmé was the youngest daughter of Ruwee and Jobal Naberrie and born in an isolated mountain village where her parents instilled in their children high virtues like self-sacrifice and care for the socially weak. In her youth she volunteered for the Refugee Relief Movement, like her father had before her. Following this, she entered the Legislative Youth Program, where she met a young man named Palo. A brief, innocent relationship followed, but the pair parted ways when Palo became an artist, and Padmé continued in politics. She never did forget her past or her heritage, however; even after she reached the top, Amidala still maintained her village's tradition of painting her fingernails stark white, a small but notable sign of her dedication to her family.

Her rise was meteoric &mdash; she had joined the Apprentice Legislature at age eight and became a full Apprentice Legislator by age eleven. During this time, she first met Silya Shessaun, her workshop mentor. The two would meet again as senators, and share a close bond. By 33 BBY, at the age of thirteen, Padmé Naberrie had become Princess of Theed, where she was a magnet for personalities opposed to the rule of King Veruna. She became involved in a relationship with Ian Lago, the young son of Veruna's chief counsellor. Both families were opposed to the match, but it ended of its own accord when Veruna abdicated and Amidala was persuaded to enter the race to succeed the King. Her personal popularity and opposition to Veruna's policies ensured her victory and she never saw Ian again.

Although prodigiously talented, Padmé was still not the youngest Queen of Naboo to ever be elected. Her birth name was Padmé Naberrie; Amidala was actually a regnal name. In her guise as Queen Amidala, she appeared regal and austere but as Padmé, she was headstrong and compassionate.

During her tenures as Queen and later as a Senator, Amidala cultivated a coterie of handmaidens, young women of a similar age and with a striking similarity to her. These handmaidens acted as bodyguards, decoys and confidantes to their mistress, roles devised by Amidala's head of security, Captain Panaka.

As Queen, these handmaidens included Sabé, Eirtaé, Rabé, Yané and Saché. During her term as Senator, Amidala's handmaidens included Dormé, Cordé, Versé, and later Moteé and Ellé.

Queen (32 BBY–24 BBY)
"I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die while you discuss this invasion in a committee!"

- Queen Amidala to the Galactic Senate



Once elected Queen, Padmé took the name Amidala, and amended the constitution to limit the rule of elected monarchs to two terms, in light of Veruna's tyrannical rule.

Shortly after her election in 32 BBY, Queen Amidala was faced with what would become one of the most significant problems in Naboo history. In protest of the Galactic Senate's decision to tax users of the galaxy's trade routes, Viceroy Nute Gunray of the Trade Federation enforced a blockade on Amidala's homeworld. Naboo, with little resources of its own, relied on imports, and the blockade served as the perfect example of the Republic's reliance on trade. Amidala tried to use diplomatic and political means to rid her planet of the Trade Federation, yet it was all in vain. The Viceroy - secretly following the orders of Darth Sidious - avoided direct diplomacy efforts, going so far as to order his troops to assassinate the Republic ambassadors that Supreme Chancellor Valorum had secretely dispatched. Unfortunately for him, these ambassadors were Jedi, and shortly after their escape Gunray was ordered to both sabotage all of Naboo's communications systems and deploy his troops for invasion. Amidala was hereafter captured at the Palace in Theed, but in the guise of a handmaiden; her double, Sabé, assumed the guise of the Queen during this time. On their way to detention facilities, the retinue - consisting of the false Amidala, her handmaidens, Governor Sio Bibble and Captain Panaka - was soon freed by the Jedi ambassadors Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi, as well as a Gungan named Jar Jar Binks. Though reluctant to leave her people, Amidala (via Sabé) accepted the Jedi's offer to escort her to Coruscant, leaving Bibble and two handmaidens behind.

Engaging the blockade as the Naboo Royal Starship escaped, total destruction was avoided thanks to the droid R2-D2, whom Amidala commended. Significant damage was inflicted in the escape, however, and the Amidala's ship was forced to land on the remote planet Tatooine. Disguised as the Handmaiden Padmé, Amidala accompanied Jinn, Binks, and R2-D2 into the small town of Mos Espa. It was there that she met a nine-year-old slave, Anakin Skywalker, and formed a close bond with him that would last her entire life. Anakin offered to take part in the Boonta Eve Classic, a podrace, to win the group enough money to acquire new parts and leave for Coruscant. Though she liked Anakin, Padmé doubted Jinn's wisdom in placing her planet's fate in a little boy's hands. She reconsidered, however, when Anakin won.



Arriving on Coruscant, Amidala once again resumed her role as Queen. In preparation for her appearance in the Senate, Senator Palpatine, her planet's representative, warned her of the Senate's corrupt nature, and was proved right when Amidala was unable to acquire immediate help for her people. Following Palpatine's advice, Amidala called for a Vote of No Confidence in the Senate's leader, Finis Valorum. Soon after, Palpatine himself was nominated to succeed Valorum, and eventually won.



Amidala, however, decided to ignore his pleas for her to remain on Coruscant until that time, choosing to return to Naboo. En route, Amidala revealed to a concerned Qui-Gon Jinn that she planned to unite with the native Gungans, with whom the Naboo had had somewhat bad relations in the past. Appearing before the Gungan leader Boss Nass, Amidala (actually Sabé) attempted to convince the Gungans to unify in a bid to oust the Trade Federation. Seeing that this attempt was going nowhere, Padmé decided to reveal her secret identity as a signification of trust. Nass agreed, and the two warring cultures hastily put an end to their dispute to concentrate on a more pressing issue: the occupation of Naboo. Padmé presented her formulated plan to the group, which would consist of her leading a strike team into the Royal Palace and capture the Viceroy as the Gungan Grand Army led a ground assault to distract the droid armies. Though the plan eventually worked - thanks mostly to Anakin's effort in destroying the Droid Control Ship and Sabé's distraction - it did not come without loss, with Qui-Gon Jinn being killed by Darth Maul, who had been sent to help the Neimoidians on Naboo.

Her actions throughout the crisis earned her immense popularity with the people, and the Naboo and Gungans became officially unified during a celebration in Theed, attended by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and the Jedi Council.

In 24 BBY, Amidala ended her second term as Queen. Though some on Naboo suggested amending the constitution to allow her to serve a third term, she stayed true to her belief that "popular rule is not democracy". Hereafter, Amidala gave up the throne to her elected successor, Queen Jamillia.

Senator (24 BBY–19 BBY)
"Wake up, Senators... you must wake up! If we offer the Separatists violence, they can only show us violence in return! Many will lose their lives. All will lose their freedom."

- Amidala before the Galactic Senate

Though Amidala had planned to retire into a family life, as had her sister Sola, at Queen Jamillia's urging she was appointed Naboo's representative in the Galactic Senate, becoming the Galactic Senator from the 36th regional state space system. Surprisingly, given her career change, she retained an elaborate fashion sense and a constantly-changing wardrobe. Indeed, due to her enormous support on Naboo, Amidala continued to be granted all the formalities usually restricted to the elected monarch, including distinctive chrome-plating on all of her starships.

Though she preferred to remain on Naboo, when on the capital Padmé lived in a small penthouse apartment in the Senate Apartment Complex. Though the interior was modest in size and decor compared to other Senatorial residences, the apartment's large veranda boasted a private landing platform as well as a number of luxurious Naboo artifacts.

Soon, she was one of the leaders of a faction opposed to the establishment of an army to quell the growing Separatist movement. She believed that signalling violence only invited violence in return. Padmé Amidala was also appointed by the Supreme Chancellor to the Loyalist Committee, an exclusive group of Senators who would act as advisors to the Chancellor during the Separatist Crisis.



"She's not one to follow orders."

- Captain Typho to Obi Wan Kenobi

In 22 BBY, Amidala was targeted for assassination by an unknown enemy, which she firmly believed to be the former Jedi and Separatist leader Count Dooku. An attempt on her life was made by the clawdite bounty hunter Zam Wessel, resulting in the deaths of Amidala's decoy Cordé, handmaiden Versé and numerous other security guards on a Coruscant landing platform. Hours later, Amidala appeared in the Senate both to thwart reports of her death and openly criticize her enemies as well as supporters of the Military Creation Act. After a brief conference with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, members of the Loyalist Committee and numerous members of the Jedi Council (including Yoda and Mace Windu), it was decided that Amidala be placed under protection of the Jedi while the matter was being investigated. Padmé held firm her belief that Dooku was behind the attack, but the Jedi - believing a former Jedi to be incapable of murder - remained against that claim.

Later that day, Amidala was reunited with Anakin Skywalker, now a Padawan to Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, who had been assigned to protect her. After a second assassination attempt by Zam Wesell - who had, under the orders of Jango Fett, placed poisonous kouhuns in her bedroom - which Skywalker and Kenobi were able to prevent, the Jedi Council determined that Skywalker would escort Amidala to her homeworld of Naboo for protection while Obi-Wan continued the investigation. As the vote on the Military Creation Act was fast approaching, an annoyed Amidala had to be commissioned an executive order by Chancellor Palpatine to return to Naboo. Disguised as a refugee couple from the Thousand Moons system, Amidala and Skywalker traveled discreetly on a freighter ship to Naboo. During the trip they disccussed the sacrifice that Anakin's mother made by letting him go to train with the Jedi, in hope to make him feel better and without knowing she will make the same thing for her children, Padmé said:

"That's what a parent needs for her child, to know that he had been given a ''chance of a better life"

To maintain the illusion that the Senator was still on the capital, Captain Typho and handmaiden Dormé stayed behind, with the latter acting as Amidala's decoy. After a meeting with Queen Jamillia, as well as a meal with Padmé's family, she and Anakin took refuge at Varykino, Amidala's family lake retreat, where the two began to fall in love. It was a forbidden romance, a love that could not be denied. Padmé attempted to dismiss the notion, fearing the repercussions on both her and Anakin's careers. It was against the Jedi Code, and Amidala was not willing to take that risk.

After Skywalker had a dream of his mother dying, one similar to that witnessed by Padmé on the refugee freighter, Padmé accompanied him to Tatooine, to help find and rescue her. While on Tatooine, both learned that Shmi Skywalker had married a moisture farmer named Cliegg Lars during Anakin's ten-year absence. Lars sadly informed Anakin that his wife had been kidnapped by Tusken Raiders, and that after a disastrous search party, all hope for her was now lost. Upset and unwilling to give up, Skywalker went out to rescue her, leaving Padmé in the care of the Lars family. While there, she got to know Anakin's step-brother Owen Lars and his girlfriend, Beru, the couple that would eventually become foster parents to her son, Luke Skywalker. Anakin returned the next morning, carrying the lifeless body of his mother. Skywalker deeply grieved for the death of her, and confessed to Padmé his massacre of the Tusken Raider village in which she was being held captive. Though shocked, Padmé understood his grief and his guilt, attempting to comfort him with the notion that he, like anyone, was only human. During Shmi's funeral, Artoo informed Padmé of a message received by Obi-Wan Kenobi.



After saying goodbye to the Lars family, the pair viewed the message only to discover that Obi-Wan had been captured by droidekas on the planet of Geonosis. The message also revealed Count Dooku's involvement in the assassination attempts made on Amidala; the Count was apparently trying to fulfill a deal that would see Padmé's former enemy, Nute Gunray of the Trade Federation, officially join the Separatist movement. Twisting Mace Windu's orders for Anakin to remain with the Senator, Padmé resolved that if Anakin was to protect her, he would have to follow her to Geonosis in her attempt to rescue Anakin's Master.

Arriving on Geonosis, Skywalker and Amidala were chased through a droid factory, where Padmé would have no doubt been killed if R2-D2 had not intervened. Captured by battle droids, the pair were however sentenced to execution. As they were brought into the Geonosian execution arena, Padmé finally admitted her love for Anakin, resolving that they were about to be killed, and the pair shared an intimate kiss. After escaping the wrath of a nexu, the execution was put on hold as Mace Windu and a Jedi strike team aided their rescue. With Obi-Wan, the three together fought in the Battle of Geonosis, where Amidala proved more handy in combat than most would expect of a politician.

"I've been dying a little bit each day since you came back into my life. I truly, deeply, love you."

- Padmé to Anakin Skywalker, 22 BBY



After being separated from the two Jedi, Padmé managed to catch up with a squad of clone troopers, only to find Anakin's forearm severed by Count Dooku, who had escaped. The battle, however, was won. But win or not, the battle was the start of the great Clone Wars.

Soon afterwards, Skywalker and Amidala were married at Varykino on Naboo, in a secret ceremony performed by a Naboo holyman, witnessed only by the two droids R2-D2 and C-3PO.

Clone Wars
"What if the democracy we thought we were serving no longer exists, and the Republic has become the very evil we have been fighting to destroy?"

- Padmé Amidala to her husband



With the beginning of hostilities, her message of diplomacy and restraint began to be drowned out by the guns of war. She found herself the target of assassins (due to Nute Gunray's personal grudge against her) over and over again, forcing her to remain in the capital world. She rarely saw her secret husband, Anakin Skywalker, who was constantly at the front line, leading clonetroopers with Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Amidala maintained a secret correspondence with her husband, and, though she thrilled to his exploits, she also feared for his safety.

Four months into the war, Amidala was traveling with Jedi Master Yoda aboard her Naboo yacht when the ancient Jedi sensed a disturbance in the Force, coming from the planet Ilum. Despite Captain Typho's protests, she accompanied Yoda to the world and assisted in the rescue of the Jedi Luminara Unduli and her Padawan Barriss Offee, after battling against 3 chameleon droids, with some help of R2 and C-3PO.

Throughout the Clone Wars, Senator Amidala was a source of diplomacy in a decaying Republic. One such example was during the Outer Rim Sieges in which she and Captain Typho traveled to the planet of Bri'ahl in order to persuade the natives to join the Republic. Coincidentally, Amidala's diplomatic solution would have failed miserably had C-3PO, in his clumsiness, not accidentally literally crushed a resistance and a contingent of fake clone troopers attempting to murder both the Senator and the planet's President, Vuul, so Bri'ahl would not be carried into the Clone Wars.

In 20 BBY, Amidala went with Skywalker, Obi-Wan, and another Jedi Siri Tachi to the planet Genian where the Separatist were after an important codebreaking mechanism invented by Talesan Fry, whom Siri and Obi-Wan had met decades earlier. Talesan was now the founder of a very wealthy business on Genian, a world that remained neutral during the war. After convincing Talesan to give the device to the Republic, they were attacked by the Bounty Hunter Magus.

Talesan accompanied the Jedi and Amidala to Azure, where the Republic was fighting off more Separatists. Siri and Amidala took a starfighter to go after Magus while Obi-Wan, Skywalker, and Talesan fought off the attack led by Magus (who was working for the Corporate Alliance). Upon reaching Magus, Amidala was left to fly the ship herself when Siri made a desperate leap and landed on Magus’ starfighter. In the end, Padmé and the Jedi were successful, but Siri Tachi was fatally injured, and died.

Several months later on Coruscant, Padmé enjoyed a brief reunion with her husband in the depths of Coruscant, before Anakin was called away by Obi-Wan Kenobi It was that night that Anakin was finally granted the rank of Jedi Knight by the Jedi High Council. Soon after, Padmé received his severed Padawan braid, placing it in a box next to a necklace Anakin had made for her when he was younger.



Later on in the war, during Anakin's brief break from the war (granted by the Jedi Council due to his and Obi-Wan's extended service in the Outer Rim), Padmé was reunited with her husband on Naboo. This was not to last for long, as the couple were shortly interrupted by a suspicious Obi-Wan Kenobi, who wanted his former Padawan to help him hunt down Asajj Ventress, one of Count Dooku's dark disciples. Anakin, believing himself to have killed the Dark Jedi, was offended, but convinced by Padmé to accompany his master. This would be the last time Padmé would see her husband until the war came to the capital.

In 19 BBY, Padmé was present on Coruscant when General Grievous and the Separatist army made an attack on the capital, kidnapping Chancellor Palpatine in the process. Though now pregnant with Anakin's child, the Senator still proved able in combat, helping to lead the evacuation of the Senate Apartment Complex. Later, assisted by Jedi Council members Shaak Ti and Stass Allie, Padmé and Senators Bail Organa and Mon Mothma were able to acquire a small transport to take them to one of the Senate Complex's bomb shelters. En route, the trio of Senators were forced to engage in combat with droid starfighters, with Padmé again proving extremely efficient with a blaster. Once Palpatine had been rescued and Grievous's capital ship crash-landed on Coruscant by Anakin, Obi-Wan Kenobi and R2-D2, Padmé was reunited with her husband in the shadows of the Republic Executive Office building. It was at this time that an anxious Padmé informed him of her pregnancy.

Democracy's end
"So this is how liberty dies... with thunderous applause."

- Padmé Amidala to Bail Organa following the Declaration of the New Order



By the end of the war in 19 BBY, the now pregnant Amidala became increasingly alarmed by the changes in her husband's character as he was seduced to the dark side. Furthermore, she became disturbed by his visions of her dying in childbirth, especially when considering whether her child also died in these visions. On Coruscant, she pleaded with Skywalker to tell Palpatine to end the war and give up all the emergency powers the Senate had awarded him, but he would do nothing. After a number of meetings with various worried Senators such as Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, Giddean Danu and Fang Zar, Amidala agreed to lead the Delegation of 2000, a group of Senators opposed to the dictatorship that Chancellor Palpatine's rule was becoming. Though the spokesperson for the committee, her efforts to involve and cooperate with the Jedi (presumably Obi-Wan Kenobi or Anakin Skywalker) were futile, with her peers feeling that it was at that point too dangerous. While the petition presented by Padmé to the Chancellor would later pave the way for a resistance movement, the Rebel Alliance, it's immediate effects were the reverse of what was hoped, with Palpatine ignoring it all together before using it to round up what he coined "traitors to the Senate" during and after his ascension to absolute power.



Padmé Amidala was, with her retinue, present in the Senate chamber during a special session in which Chancellor Palpatine presented "proof" of a Jedi Rebellion against the Senate, which in actuality was an attempt to arrest Palpatine for his allegiance with the Sith. Painting himself as a heroic survivor of such an attack, Palpatine managed to convince the Senate of the Republic's reliance on the protection he could afford it. With little to no resistance in the Senate - for indeed many of Padmé's fellow Delegation members began to be rounded up as the speech took place - Palpatine declared himself Emperor, much to the dismay of Padmé and Bail Organa, who was with her. Though the latter attempted to vocally oppose the declaration, Padmé assured Bail that this was not the time. Indeed, she was correct, as the future generation would testify. Padmé, having been warned by her husband to distance herself from her "friends in the Senate", well understood the need for her to no longer be a vocal supporter of the Resistance movement, and thus asked Organa to continue his movement without her knowledge. Being watched by both Anakin and Imperial spies, Padmé knew that any involvement on her part would jeopardize Organa's efforts, and his life. Knowing this she said to Organa:

"Vote for Palpatine. Vote for the Empire. Make Mon Mothma vote for him too. Be good little Senators. Mind your manners and keep your heads down. And keep doing… all those things we can't talk about. All those things I can't know. Promise me, Bail."

Last days


"Obi-Wan... There is good in him... I know. I know there is... still."

- Padmé Amidala's last words

It was not long after the Emperor's Declaration that Padmé was visited by Obi-Wan Kenobi, her friend and Anakin's former master. He told her of hologram evidence he had seen of Anakin's raid on the Jedi Temple and his allegiance with the Sith. Padmé refused to believe such claims, at least outwardly, and did not tell Kenobi where Anakin was to ensure her husband's safety. It was during these moments that Kenobi discovered her involvement with Anakin, and understanding her reservations, left. Upon this revelation of her husband's dark deeds, Amidala traveled to the planet Mustafar to intercept Anakin and discover the truth, although inwardly Padmé likely understood not only the truthfulness of Kenobi's claims, but its later effects on her marriage. She did not realize that before the journey, Obi-Wan Kenobi had managed to stow away onboard her Naboo Skiff.

When Padmé met with Anakin, she tearfully told Anakin that he was breaking her heart, and tried to convince him to turn back to the Light Side of the Force. When he revealed his plans to kill Palpatine and become emperor with her at his side, Amidala told Anakin that he had changed and that she could not follow him down his chosen path because of what he had done and what he planned to do. It is then that Obi-Wan revealed himself on Amidala's ship. Not even allowing Padmé the right to explain herself, Skywalker succumbed to his anger and used a Force grip against her, believing that she had brought Obi-Wan to kill him. Intercepting Skywalker, Kenobi managed to distract him so that he released his force grip, preserving Padmé's life. C-3PO and R2-D2 then moved their fallen mistress into her ship.



After Obi-Wan defeated Skywalker in a lightsaber duel, the Jedi Master took Amidala to a medical facility on the asteroid Polis Massa, where Yoda and Bail Organa were waiting. There, a medical team tried to save Padmé; sadly, they discovered that she was dying, having apparently "lost the will to live". Before her death, however, Padmé Amidala managed to give birth to twins, Luke Skywalker and Leia Amidala Skywalker.

In her final breaths, she told Obi-Wan she knew there was still good in Skywalker. At the age of twenty-seven, Padmé Amidala left behind Luke and Leia, her legacy and hope for the future.

Post mortem
"Where is Padmé? Is she safe? Is she all right?"

- Darth Vader to Emperor Palpatine



Padmé Amidala, former Queen and Senator of Naboo, was laid to rest in Theed. Amidala's casket, drawn through the streets of Theed, led an enormous procession of mourners that included her family, Queen Apailana, the Royal Advisory Council, Boss Nass, Representative Jar Jar Binks and her former handmaidens, who acted as pallbearers. Thousands of Naboo lined up the streets to pay their respects to a remarkable woman who had freed their planet of occupation, united its peoples, and spoke for democracy. Ironically, one of the first resolutions passed by Palpatine after the formation of the Empire was a national day of mourning for the "murdered" Amidala. Her old friend Senator Silya Shessaun tried to open an investigation into Amidala's death, but the effort was quickly thwarted by Palpatine due to, what he called, "security concerns".

Shortly after her funeral, Luke Skywalker was given to the care of Anakin's step-brother Owen Lars, and his wife Beru, on their moisture farm on Tatooine. Leia, meanwhile, became formally adopted by Bail Organa and his wife, Breha, becoming the heir apparent to Alderaan as Princess Leia Organa. Her life would mirror her mothers's, with Leia also serving the Senate as well as championing similar causes. However her son, Luke, would follow in his father's footsteps, becoming a powerful Jedi.

Amidala's family and Queen Apailana were informed by Imperial Intelligence that she was killed along with other Senators by rogue Jedi on Coruscant. An investigation into who had impregnated her would have gone against Naboo tradition, yet many doubted this official statement, with Apailana going on to harbor Jedi who had escaped Order 66. In 18 BBY Amidala's maternal grandmother Ryoo Thule was killed by Inquisitor Malorum who had gone to Naboo to investigate on Amidala's pregnancy when he managed to uncover that her baby had not died. Thanks to a rogue Jedi, this information died with him.



In the years before the Battle of Yavin, Amidala's youngest niece, Pooja Naberrie, served with Amidala's daughter as Senators in the Imperial Senate. Neither woman, however, was informed of their biological relationship.

"I have no memory of my mother. I never knew her."

- Luke Skywalker to Leia Organa on Endor

Shortly before the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, Luke asked Leia if she remembered her mother at all. From very faint recollections, Leia stated "Just images really...feelings." Leia was able to describe her as "very beautiful, kind, but sad." Luke remarked that he had no memory of Amidala whatsoever. Unbeknownst to either of them, a large painting of their mother still hung in the Imperial Palace even up to the Thrawn Crisis, twenty-eight years after her death.

Amidala was briefly seen in a hologram projected by R2-D2 while Luke was fixing him in 35 ABY. R2 showed Anakin telling her about his dream of her dying in childbirth. Until this revelation, Luke and Leia had been unaware of the identity of their mother, though they were aware of a "Senator Amidala" who served in the final days of the Old Republic. However, they had no inkling of their relation to her.

Later during the Swarm War, Luke also saw recordings of his mother's conversations with Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke would finally learn the tragic cause of his mother's death when he, along with his wife, Mara, and nephew, Jacen, viewed Artoo's hologram recording of Anakin Force-choking Padmé Amidala on Mustafar.

In 40 ABY her grandson, Jacen Solo, flow-walked back 59 years to see why Anakin had fallen. Once he realized that Anakin fell in order to save Padmé from dying, Jacen went back to the future and was convinced that his reasons for becoming a Sith were far greater than that of Anakin's.

Behind the scenes

 * The role of Padmé Amidala was played by Natalie Portman in the Prequel Trilogy.
 * In her interview in "Inside the Actor's Studio" series, Portman stated that when her agent first told her about the new Star Wars Trilogy she couldn't tell the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek.
 * Padmé's first actual appearance in the Star Wars universe was in the comic The Last Command 5, which came out around a year before Episode I. At the time the comic was being made, the decision to cast Natalie Portman as the future mother of the twins had just been made, so the authors of the comic decided to place her likeness in the background. Although this clashes to some extent with the eventual revelation that Leia never knew her mother, The Last Command 5 nonetheless was her first appearance in the Star Wars Universe.
 * "Padmé" is Sanskrit for "lotus flower," while "Amidala" is the spiritual manifestation.
 * In Egyptian, the name "Nabirye" means "Mother of twins." Padmé's own surname, Naberrie, appears to be a homonym.
 * In Return of the Jedi, Leia tells Luke she remembered her real mother dying when Leia was very young, and described her as very kind, beautiful and sad. Since Padmé dies in Revenge of the Sith while Leia is a newborn, it is not clear how Leia has these memories (it is speculated that Leia felt her mother's sadness through the Force, however this is not confirmed; Leland Chee admitted that this inconsistency is not yet addressed in the Holocron continuity database). Another speculation is that Padmé herself, was Force-sensitive while pregnant with the twins. In the novelization of Revenge of the Sith, many references are made in regard to this, most notably, when Anakin and Padmé communicate with each other across the city (he from the Jedi Temple, she from her apartment). Many fans explain this away by supposing that Leia was talking about her adoptive mother, Breha Organa -- but Luke clearly asks Leia if she remembers her real mother. It is possible that Leia saw a hologram or picture of sorts as well.
 * In Return of the Jedi (novel), it was said that Obi-Wan took both Leia and her mother (Padmé) to Alderaan after the birth of the twins, while in Revenge of the Sith, Padmé dies shortly after child birth.
 * In the Phantom Menace novelization, Anakin has a vision of Padmé leading an army against a dark man (Vader), foreshadowing his betrayal.

Costumes


The costumes designed for this character in The Phantom Menace were widely admired, and were featured in a Vogue magazine spread. Some critics viewed them simply as a marketing ploy to bring more feminine viewers to an action movie, but whether intentional or not, for some viewers, Padmé's costumes were the most memorable part of the film. They also serve an important plot function, as they allow Padmé's handmaidens to impersonate her behind voluminous robes and white makeup.

This listing of the royal gowns of Queen Amidala uses several words created by archaeologist Dr. David Reynolds to imbue the costumes with a sense of imaginative history:

Throughout The Phantom Menace, Padmé wears white thumbnail polish, a tradition from her native village, as well as a red Scar of Remembrance dividing her lower lip, and a red beauty mark on each cheekbone.
 * Throne Room Gown: The most reproduced images of Padmé (see above) are probably ones showing this domestic regalia. Her hair is dressed over a padded form and her face is encircled by gold "faceframes" dangling a Jewel of Zenda. Her face is all-white, save for the "Scar of Remembrance". On her fingers is white nail polish, one of the few traditions she retained from her home village, while the wide-shouldered gown itself is embroidered in gold and lined in potolli fur. Large illuminated sein jewels decorate the skirt. The handmaidens wear coordinated golden trevella cloth robes inspired by Art Nouveau.
 * Traveling Gown: A dark purple gown with cerlin sleeves, drapa bindings, and a chersilk hair net.
 * Arrival Gown: This black, spiderweb lace gown is actually worn by the handmaiden Sabé, but this is not known to other characters in the film nor to first-time viewers. Her face is framed by a black cowl, which is decorated with filigree ear coverings and a headdress of black feathers. It portrays to Chancellor Valorum and Senator Palpatine the majesty and seriousness of her mission upon arrival at the capital world of Coruscant. The handmaidens wear saffron colored robes reminiscent of Buddhist monks.
 * Foreign Residence Gown: A black gown, reminiscent of Victorian mourning dress, expresses Padmé's anguish at being separated from her people. Black Cyrene silk is beaded with 240-year old emblems. Her hair is arranged in a fan shape with a prominent foreknot and small suspensas.
 * Senate Gown: Clearly derived from the Mongolian bride costume, this embossed red gown is braided with gold, and is meant to portray the majesty of Naboo to the jaded Galactic Senate. To help make her more visible in the vast chamber, Padmé's hair is dressed in a wide arc centered by an escoffiate headpiece and the Royal Sovereign of Naboo medal. Gold hairbands hold the arc in shape, and orichalc finework finials dangle from the ends. Portman was photographed in this costume for Vanity Fair and Premiere magazines.
 * Palpatine Gown: When meeting with Naboo's Senator, Padmé wears a mauve robe highly reminiscent of a Japanese kimono, with several layers and a wide obi. A Shiraya fan headdress is hung with Veda pearl beading and glass filaments (the actual costume headdress was cut from a 1910 dress). The handmaidens wear burgundy purple robes embellished with fleurs-de-lys.
 * Parade Gown: A brilliant white gown worn at the end of the film symbolizes Padmé's joy at achieving peace, and echoes the gown worn by her future daughter at the end of the film A New Hope. In both films, the titled leader presents heroes of battle with an honor at the end of a long avenue of people amidst magnificent architecture. Padmé's costume is embellished by a pink petaled cape that evokes huge flowers near her home village. The flowers only bloom once every 88 years, heralding a special celebration. She also wears an aurate fan which resembles the starched collars worn by England's Queen Elizabeth I as well as the framing fans worn by characters in the Dune miniseries. However, it is important to note that the Dune miniseries came out a year after The Phantom Menace.

Padmé's costumes inspired two paper doll books, the Star Wars: Episode I - Queen Amidala Paper Doll Book and the Star Wars: Attack of the Clones - Padmé Amidala Paper Doll Book.