Padmé Amidala is most recognised as the biological mother of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa and as the wife of Anakin Skywalker. She was also the Queen of Naboo during her teenage years before becoming Senator. Though, who played her? In the Star Wars prequel films, Padmé is played by Natalie Portman. In The Clone Wars animated series, the character is voiced by Catherine Taber.
Both actresses embody the character while sharing a common goal; bringing the mother of the galaxy’s greatest hopes to life. Just a small note here. The actresses in this post are for the canon version of the character, not the legends one.
Natalie Portman originated the role of Padmé Amidala in The Phantom Menace when she was 16. The character, at the time of her introduction, was 14.
Catherine Taber took on the role for The Clone Wars film and series while voicing several other characters as a voice actor. She also provided the voice for Padmé for other Clone Wars media. In addition, Taber also voiced Amidala’s daughter, Princess Leia, in The Force Unleashed videogame. Cat would also voice Padmé as both Queen of Naboo and Senator in the short series Forces of Destiny.
After her tenure in Star Wars, Portman would win an academy award for her role in the 2010 film Black Swan. After that, she was nominated again but did not win for her role as Jackie Kennedy in Jackie. Natalie has also taken on another famous franchise, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where she played Doctor Jane Foster, the love interest of Chris Hemsworth’s Thor.
