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'''Padmé Naberrie''' (46 - ]), also known as Queen and then finally, Senator Padmé Amidala of the planet ], is a pivotal character in the fictional ] universe; she is the wife of ] and the mother of ] and ]. She is portrayed by ] in the ''Star Wars'' prequel movies '']'', '']'', and '']''. '''Padmé Naberrie''' (46 - ]), also known as Queen and then finally, Senator Padmé Amidala, was a prominent citizen of the planet ] in the fictional ] universe.


The ''Star Wars Visual Dictionaries'' describe Padmé as raised by "humble" parents in a small mountain village of Naboo, although in the films, Padmé's parents are depicted as ]s. Perhaps this is funded by Padmé's later social success. In the Star Wars films, the young ] is portrayed by actress ]. The ''Star Wars Visual Dictionaries'' describe the character Padmé as raised by "humble" parents in a small mountain village of Naboo, although in the films, Padmé's parents are depicted as living a fairly aristocratic lifestyle. Perhaps this is funded by Padmé's later social success.


{{spoiler}} {{spoiler}}

==Appearances==


===Early life=== ===Early life===


Apparently very seriously trained in ] as a child, Padmé is named ] of ], Naboo's capital city, when barely a teenager, and is elected ] of the entire planet at age fourteen. As queen, Padmé takes the ] of '''Amidala'''. Just as "Padmé" is ] for ] flower, "Amidala" is the spiritual manifestation of a lotus flower. As queen, Amidala takes five ] as her ]s and companions. These five and others will provide her with her most loyal and true relationships throughout the films. Apparently very seriously trained as a child, Padmé is named ] of ], Naboo's capital city, when barely an adult, and is elected ] of the entire planet at age fourteen. As queen, Padmé takes the ] of '''Amidala'''. Just as "Padmé" is ] for ] flower, "Amidala" is the spiritual manifestation of a lotus flower. As queen, Amidala takes five ] as her ]s and companions. These five and others will provide her with her most loyal and true relationships throughout the films.


===Handmaidens=== ===Handmaidens===


The handmaidens of Queen (and later Senator) Amidala are: The handmaidens of Queen (and later Senator) Amidala are:
* ] - her ] during dangerous situations * ] - Amidala's ] during dangerous situations
* ] - who serves as her decoy when she is a Senator * ] - who serves as decoy for Amidala when she is a Senator
* ] - who serves as hairdresser to the queen * ] - who serves as hairdresser to the queen
* ] - royal protocol expert * ] - royal protocol expert
Line 44: Line 46:


] Palace.]] ] Palace.]]
In '']'', Amidala fights hard through political and physical means to rid her planet from the blockade of the ]. In '']'', Amidala fights hard through political and physical means to rid her planet from the blockade of the ]. Around fourteen years of age in this film, she forms a close friendship with the then nine-year-old Anakin Skywalker.


Padmé refuses to fight the Federation out of fear of bringing harm to her people. Instead, she tries to appeal to the ] at the advice of Naboo's senator, ], and she persuades the Senate to cast a ] against Chancellor ], who is swiftly removed from office. Palpatine is elected in his place. Padmé refused to fight the Federation out of fear of bringing harm to her people. Instead, she tries to appeal to the Galactic Senate at the advice of Naboo's senator, ], and she persuades the Senate to cast a vote of no confidence against Chancellor ], who is swiftly removed from office. Palpatine is elected in his place.


Unbeknownst to Padmé, however, Palpatine is in fact the main instigator of the conflict; secretly the ] ], he is providing the Trade Federation with monetary and political support in order to create the crisis necessary to elevate himself to a more powerful post. Unbeknownst to Padmé, however, Palpatine is in fact the main instigator of the conflict; secretly the ] Lord ] Sidious, he is providing the Trade Federation with monetary and political support in order to create the crisis necessary to elevate himself to a more powerful post.


While returning to ], Padmé is guarded by Jedi Master ] and his ], ]. Their ship is attacked by a Federation flagship, and they are forced to land on ], the nearest non-Federation planet. There, they encounter a nine-year-old ], Anakin Skywalker, whom Qui-Gon is convinced is the ], foretold of in Jedi ], ] to bring balance to ] by destroying the Sith. Qui-Gon wins Anakin's freedom, and takes him to the ] on Coruscant to be trained as a Jedi. Padmé and Anakin form a strong bond during the trip. While returning to ], Padmé is guarded by Jedi Master ] and his padawan, ]. Their ship is attacked by a Federation flagship, and they are forced to land on ], the nearest non-Federation planet. There, they encounter a nine-year-old slave, Anakin Skywalker, whom Qui-Gon is convinced is the Chosen One foretold of in Jedi prophecy. It is said that the Chosen One is destined to bring balance to the Force by destroying the Sith. Qui-Gon wins Anakin's freedom, and takes him to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant to be trained as a Jedi. Padmé and Anakin form a strong bond during the trip.


Padmé, with help from a ] army, the two Jedi, and Anakin, defends her homeworld against invasion from the Federation army in what would become known as the ]. Padmé, with help from a Gungan army, the two Jedi, and Anakin, defends her homeworld against invasion from the Federation army in what would become known as the ].


==='''Attack of the Clones'''=== ==='''Attack of the Clones'''===


] ]
In '']'', set ten years later, she has become a Senator after her two terms as Queen expired. She is leading a faction opposed to the establishment of an army to quell the ] and their army of ]s. Padmé is the target of a failed ] attempt on her life, which is later revealed to have been organized by her old enemy ], the former ] of the Trade Federation. Anakin, who is now Obi-Wan's apprentice, is assigned to protect her. Palpatine sends Padmé to vacation on Naboo, seemingly out of harm's way, but later plans to have her ]ed. In '']'', set ten years later, she has become a Senator in the Galactic Republic's Senate after her two terms as Queen expired. She is leading a faction opposed to the establishment of an army to quell a separatist movement. Padmé was a target for ] because of her diplomatic tendencies to resolve resolutions in the Senate. After a failed ] attempt on her life which is later revealed to have been organized by her old enemy ]. Anakin, who is now an apprentice ] under ], is assigned to protect her. Palpatine (also Darth Sidious) sends Padmé to vacation far from harms way of the planned war but later the Separatists elaborate on her planned death in a Roman ] style execution. He expresses his love for her which he has harbored for the last ten years, and although she at first resists, Padmé soon reciprocates his feelings, though both are duty-bound to deny it. Just before rescuing ], she admits her love for Anakin, and the couple becomes directly involved in the first massed ] of the ], where Padmé again shows herself to be rather more handy in combat than might be expected of a politician. The movie ends with Anakin (with a robot arm to replace the one he lost in the battle with ]) and Padmé being wed in a secret ceremony attended only by ] and ].

It is on Naboo that Anakin, who has developed a strong infatuation with Padmé, expresses his love for her. She initially resists, but eventually finds, much to her own surprise, that she returns his feelings. She fights her attraction to him as hard as she can, however.

When Obi-Wan is ]ped on ] by Seperatist leader (and fallen Jedi) ], Anakin and Padmé rush to his aid, only to be captured themselves and condemned to death in a ]ial arena. Moments away from ], they profess their undying love for each other. Just in the nick of time, however, they are saved by Jedi Master ] and a cadre of Jedi, who burst into the arena to fight Dooku's army in the ], the opening overture of the ]. Anakin battles Dooku, but is quickly defeated, losing an arm to the rogue Jedi's ]. Uopn returning to Coruscant, Anakin and Padmé are wed in a secret ceremony attended only by ] and ].


In some of the deleted scenes of ''],'' Padmé's family is also introduced. She has her parents, ] and ], her sister ], and Sola's two daughters, ] and ]. On an interesting note, Pooja later follows in her aunt's footsteps to become ] of ] during the years of the ]. In some of the deleted scenes of ''],'' Padmé's family is also introduced. She has her parents, ] and ], her sister ], and Sola's two daughters, ] and ]. On an interesting note, Pooja later follows in her aunt's footsteps to become ] of ] during the years of the ].

Padmé becomes ] during one of Anakin's rare nights with her during the Clone Wars. When he returns, she tells him the news, which ignites in him an implacable fear that she will die in childbirth.


==='''Revenge of the Sith'''=== ==='''Revenge of the Sith'''===


], and despite her condition, travels to ] to see Anakin.]] ], and despite her condition, travels to ] to see Anakin.]]
In '']'', she becomes alarmed by Palpatine's rise to power as he amasses unprecedented ], becoming a virtual ]. She is also troubled by changes in Anakin, who is falling under Palpatine's spell after the Chancellor appoints him his representative on the Jedi Council. In '']'', she becomes alarmed by the changes in Anakin's character as he is seduced by the ]. At the same time, she becomes involved in a plot to form a possible rebellion, should Palpatine achieve ultimate control of the Republic. Her involvement foreshadows the upcoming events. Following the declaration of the ] and the ] led by Anakin, Padmé joins with Senators ] and ] to declare the founding of a Resistance Movement that will become the ].


Travelling to the planet Mustafar (with Obi-Wan stowed away on board unbeknownst to her), she confronts Anakin in an attempt to turn him back to "the Light." Unfortunately, Obi-Wan's presence destroys the plan, as Anakin believes that Padmé had abandoned him for his old master. This results in Padmé being force choked (a fatal blow as it turns out) and thrown to the ground. At ] doctors try to save Padmé's life, but after the birth of the twins, whom she names ] and ], she dies of a complete loss of the will to live and a broken heart while being comforted by Obi-Wan.
While consulting with Anakin, Palpatine senses his fear for his wife, and tells him that the ] has the power to prevent death. He then reveals himself to Anakin as a Sith Lord. While Anakin flees in revulsion to alert Windu, Palpatine's manipulation has had such an effect on him that he returns to defend the Chancellor. He arrives to find Windu about to execute Palpatine, who has been horribly scarred by his own ], reflected off of Windu's lightsaber. As Windu is about to strike, Anakin intervenes and cuts off his lightsaber-wielding arm, giving Palpatine the chance to blast him out of a high-rise window to his death. Palpatine then repeats his promise to save Padmé, and makes Anakin his new apprentice, ].


⚫ Her body is returned to Naboo and given an elaborate funeral ceremony but the suggestion is given that she died pregnant, to hide the birth of her children by making the people of Naboo believe her unborn child dies with her (before the actual birth, she believes she is carrying only one child). The official explanation of Padmé's death is that she was killed by a Jedi during the alleged Jedi uprising.
Padmé, meanwhile, stands by helpless in the Senate as Palpatine claims that the Jedi are planning a ], declares ], and turns the Republic into the ], with himself as Emperor. She briefly consorts wih ] to form a resistance movement (that will eventually become the ]), and plans to escape Palpatine's clutches with her husband.


] was brought to ] by ] while ] was adopted by ] and raised as a Princess of ].
Her plans are dashed, however, when she learns that Anakin has become a Sith Lord and has murdered scores of Jedi, including children, at Palpatine's order. She travels to the ] planet ] (with Obi-Wan stowed away on board, unbeknownst to her), and confronts Anakin in an attempt to pull him back from the brink. It is no use, however, as Anakin has gone mad with power, justifying the atrocities he has committed by promising that they can make the Empire "whatever we want it to be." Heartbroken and horrified, Padmé recoils from him — just as Obi-Wan emerges from the ship. Believing that Padmé has abandoned him for his former mentor, Anakin flies into a blind rage and uses the dark side to choke her into unconciousness. She goes into labor, and is rushed to ] to give birth. There, doctors try to save Padmé's life, but she dies anyway after the birth of the twins, whom she names ] and ]; while in perfect physical health, she has lost the ] to live.


==The issue in ''Return of the Jedi''==
Anakin, meanwhile, suffers grave injuries during a duel with Obi-Wan, losing an arm and both legs, and nearly burning to death in a ] flow. Palpatine finds him and revives him with extensive ] enhancements, turning him into a fearsome ]. When Anakin regains consciousness, Palpatine tells him that the Force-choke killed his wife and unborn child, a lie that breaks what remains of his spirit and transforms him into the cruel, brutal ] that would plague ] for decades to come.


In '']'', Leia tells Luke that she remembers her mother dying when they were young, and described her as very kind, beautiful, and sad. It is possible that the mother that Leia remembers is the adoptive mother that she grew up with on ], rather than her birth mother. However, since Luke asks her, "Do you remember your ''real'' mother?" it is assumed that Leia did, in fact, know she was adopted by the Organas.
⚫ Padmé's body is returned to Naboo and given an elaborate funeral ceremony. The public is told that she died pregnant, to hide her children from the Sith. The official explanation of Padmé's death is that she was killed by a Jedi during the alleged Jedi uprising.


No explanation in the film is given for how Leia could have remembered her mother if she died in childbirth, but many have speculated that Leia was able to feel her mother's presence through ]-sensitivity. After all, Leia always "felt" that Luke was her brother, yet he did not suspect that she was his sister. It should also be noted that some people in the real world claim to have memories of their own births, which may also mean that some have memories of their first few minutes after their births. ]s' birth in ] was originally written to have her make brief eye contact with her mother, but this was edited out. One could argue that it accounts for her memory in ].
Luke was brought to ] by Obi-Wan, while Leia was ]ed by ] and raised as a Princess of ]. They are both instrumental in the destruction of the Empire, as wel as the ] of Anakin Skywalker, 23 years later.


==Origins==
==Possible influences==


It has been suggested that Queen Amidala's story may have been partly inspired by the overthrow of Queen ] of ]. Like Liliuokalani, she refused to fight out of fear of bringing harm to her people. The overthrowers in both cases were leaders of commercial interests. Liliuokalani also went before the ] to plead her case, just as Padmé tried to appeal to the Galactic Senate. It has been suggested that Queen Amidala's story may have been partly inspired by the overthrow of Queen ] of ]. Like Liliuokalani, she refused to fight out of fear of bringing harm to her people. The overthrowers in both cases were leaders of commercial interests. Liliuokalani also went before the U.S. Congress to plead her case, just as Amidala tried to appeal to the Galactic Senate.


==Costumes== ==Costumes==


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


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


*Throne Room Gown- The most reproduced images of Padmé (see above) are probably ones showing this domestic ]. Her hair is dressed over a padded form and her face is encircled by gold "faceframes" dangling a ] of Zenda. The wide-shouldered gown is embroidered in gold and lined in potolli fur. Large illuminated sein jewels decorate the skirt. The handmaidens wear coordinating golden robes inspired by ]. *Throne Room Gown- The most reproduced images of Amidala (see above) are probably ones showing this domestic ]. Her hair is dressed over a padded form and her face is encircled by gold "faceframes" dangling a ] of Zenda. The wide-shouldered gown is embroidered in gold and lined in potolli fur. Large illuminated sein jewels decorate the skirt. The handmaidens wear coordinating golden robes inspired by ].
*Traveling Gown- A dark purple gown with cerlin sleeves, drapa bindings, and a chersilk hair net. *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 ], 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 ] colored robes reminiscent of ] monks. *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 ], which is decorated with filigree ear coverings and a headdress of black feathers. It portrays to ] and Senator ] the majesty and seriousness of her mission upon arrival at the capital world of ]. The handmaidens wear ] colored robes reminiscent of ] monks.
*Foreign Residence Gown- A black gown, reminiscent of ] ''mourning dress'', expresses Amidala'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. *Foreign Residence Gown- A black gown, reminiscent of ] ''mourning dress'', expresses Amidala'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 '']'' and '']'' magazines. *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 ]. To help make her more visible in the vast chamber, Amidala'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. Natalie Portman was photographed in this costume for ''Vanity Fair'' and ''Premiere'' magazines.
*Palpatine Gown- When meeting with Naboo's senator, Padmé wears a ] robe highly reminiscent of a Japanese ], with several layers and a wide ]. A Shiraya fan headdress is hung with Veda pearl beading and glass filaments. (The actual costume headdress was cut from a ] dress.) The handmaidens wear burgundy purple robes embellished with ]. *Palpatine Gown- When meeting with Naboo's senator, Amidala wears a ] robe highly reminiscent of a Japanese ], with several layers and a wide ]. A Shiraya fan headdress is hung with Veda pearl beading and glass filaments. (The actual costume headdress was cut from a ] dress.) The handmaidens wear burgundy purple robes embellished with ].
*Parade Gown- A brilliant white gown worn at the end of the film symbolizes Amidala'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 ]. Padmé's costume is embellished by a 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 ]'s ] as well as the framing fans worn by characters on the '']'' miniseries. *Parade Gown- A brilliant white gown worn at the end of the film symbolizes Amidala'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 ]es of battle with an honor at the end of a long avenue of people amidst magnificent ]. Amidala's costume is embellished by a 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 ] as well as the framing fans worn by characters on the ] miniseries.


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 ] on each cheekbone. Throughout ''The Phantom Menace'', Amidala 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 ] on each cheekbone.


==See also== ==See also==

Revision as of 22:57, 17 October 2005

Template:SW Character

Padmé Naberrie (46 - 19 BBY), also known as Queen and then finally, Senator Padmé Amidala, was a prominent citizen of the planet Naboo in the fictional Star Wars universe.

In the Star Wars films, the young heroine is portrayed by actress Natalie Portman. The Star Wars Visual Dictionaries describe the character Padmé as raised by "humble" parents in a small mountain village of Naboo, although in the films, Padmé's parents are depicted as living a fairly aristocratic lifestyle. Perhaps this is funded by Padmé's later social success.

Template:Spoiler

Appearances

Early life

Apparently very seriously trained as a child, Padmé is named Princess of Theed, Naboo's capital city, when barely an adult, and is elected Queen of the entire planet at age fourteen. As queen, Padmé takes the reign name of Amidala. Just as "Padmé" is Sanskrit for lotus flower, "Amidala" is the spiritual manifestation of a lotus flower. As queen, Amidala takes five handmaidens as her bodyguards and companions. These five and others will provide her with her most loyal and true relationships throughout the films.

Handmaidens

The handmaidens of Queen (and later Senator) Amidala are:

The Phantom Menace

File:Padme ep1.jpg
Young Queen Padmé Amidala sits on her throne in Theed Palace.

In Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Amidala fights hard through political and physical means to rid her planet from the blockade of the Trade Federation. Around fourteen years of age in this film, she forms a close friendship with the then nine-year-old Anakin Skywalker.

Padmé refused to fight the Federation out of fear of bringing harm to her people. Instead, she tries to appeal to the Galactic Senate at the advice of Naboo's senator, Palpatine, and she persuades the Senate to cast a vote of no confidence against Chancellor Finis Valorum, who is swiftly removed from office. Palpatine is elected in his place.

Unbeknownst to Padmé, however, Palpatine is in fact the main instigator of the conflict; secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, he is providing the Trade Federation with monetary and political support in order to create the crisis necessary to elevate himself to a more powerful post.

While returning to Coruscant, Padmé is guarded by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Their ship is attacked by a Federation flagship, and they are forced to land on Tatooine, the nearest non-Federation planet. There, they encounter a nine-year-old slave, Anakin Skywalker, whom Qui-Gon is convinced is the Chosen One foretold of in Jedi prophecy. It is said that the Chosen One is destined to bring balance to the Force by destroying the Sith. Qui-Gon wins Anakin's freedom, and takes him to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant to be trained as a Jedi. Padmé and Anakin form a strong bond during the trip.

Padmé, with help from a Gungan army, the two Jedi, and Anakin, defends her homeworld against invasion from the Federation army in what would become known as the Battle of Naboo.

Attack of the Clones

File:Padme04 800.jpg
Padmé Amidala as the Senator of Naboo

In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, set ten years later, she has become a Senator in the Galactic Republic's Senate after her two terms as Queen expired. She is leading a faction opposed to the establishment of an army to quell a separatist movement. Padmé was a target for assassination because of her diplomatic tendencies to resolve resolutions in the Senate. After a failed assassination attempt on her life which is later revealed to have been organized by her old enemy Nute Gunray. Anakin, who is now an apprentice Jedi under Obi-Wan Kenobi, is assigned to protect her. Palpatine (also Darth Sidious) sends Padmé to vacation far from harms way of the planned war but later the Separatists elaborate on her planned death in a Roman Colosseum style execution. He expresses his love for her which he has harbored for the last ten years, and although she at first resists, Padmé soon reciprocates his feelings, though both are duty-bound to deny it. Just before rescuing Obi-Wan Kenobi, she admits her love for Anakin, and the couple becomes directly involved in the first massed battle of the Clone Wars, where Padmé again shows herself to be rather more handy in combat than might be expected of a politician. The movie ends with Anakin (with a robot arm to replace the one he lost in the battle with Count Dooku) and Padmé being wed in a secret ceremony attended only by R2-D2 and C-3PO.

In some of the deleted scenes of Attack of the Clones, Padmé's family is also introduced. She has her parents, Jobal and Ruwee Naberrie, her sister Sola Naberrie, and Sola's two daughters, Ryoo and Pooja Naberrie. On an interesting note, Pooja later follows in her aunt's footsteps to become Senator of Naboo during the years of the Galactic Civil War.

Revenge of the Sith

Padmé becomes pregnant, and despite her condition, travels to Mustafar to see Anakin.

In Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, she becomes alarmed by the changes in Anakin's character as he is seduced by the Dark Side. At the same time, she becomes involved in a plot to form a possible rebellion, should Palpatine achieve ultimate control of the Republic. Her involvement foreshadows the upcoming events. Following the declaration of the Galactic Empire and the Great Jedi Purge led by Anakin, Padmé joins with Senators Bail Organa and Mon Mothma to declare the founding of a Resistance Movement that will become the Rebel Alliance.

Travelling to the planet Mustafar (with Obi-Wan stowed away on board unbeknownst to her), she confronts Anakin in an attempt to turn him back to "the Light." Unfortunately, Obi-Wan's presence destroys the plan, as Anakin believes that Padmé had abandoned him for his old master. This results in Padmé being force choked (a fatal blow as it turns out) and thrown to the ground. At Polis Massa doctors try to save Padmé's life, but after the birth of the twins, whom she names Luke and Leia, she dies of a complete loss of the will to live and a broken heart while being comforted by Obi-Wan.

Her body is returned to Naboo and given an elaborate funeral ceremony but the suggestion is given that she died pregnant, to hide the birth of her children by making the people of Naboo believe her unborn child dies with her (before the actual birth, she believes she is carrying only one child). The official explanation of Padmé's death is that she was killed by a Jedi during the alleged Jedi uprising.

Luke was brought to Tatooine by Obi-Wan Kenobi while Leia was adopted by Bail Organa and raised as a Princess of Alderaan.

The issue in Return of the Jedi

In Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Leia tells Luke that she remembers her mother dying when they were young, and described her as very kind, beautiful, and sad. It is possible that the mother that Leia remembers is the adoptive mother that she grew up with on Alderaan, rather than her birth mother. However, since Luke asks her, "Do you remember your real mother?" it is assumed that Leia did, in fact, know she was adopted by the Organas.

No explanation in the film is given for how Leia could have remembered her mother if she died in childbirth, but many have speculated that Leia was able to feel her mother's presence through Force-sensitivity. After all, Leia always "felt" that Luke was her brother, yet he did not suspect that she was his sister. It should also be noted that some people in the real world claim to have memories of their own births, which may also mean that some have memories of their first few minutes after their births. Leias' birth in Revenge of the Sith was originally written to have her make brief eye contact with her mother, but this was edited out. One could argue that it accounts for her memory in Return of the Jedi.

Origins

It has been suggested that Queen Amidala's story may have been partly inspired by the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii. Like Liliuokalani, she refused to fight out of fear of bringing harm to her people. The overthrowers in both cases were leaders of commercial interests. Liliuokalani also went before the U.S. Congress to plead her case, just as Amidala tried to appeal to the Galactic Senate.

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, Amidala's costumes were the most memorable part of the film. They also serve an important plot function as they allow Amidala'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:

  • Throne Room Gown- The most reproduced images of Amidala (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. The wide-shouldered gown is embroidered in gold and lined in potolli fur. Large illuminated sein jewels decorate the skirt. The handmaidens wear coordinating golden 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 Amidala'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, Amidala'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. Natalie Portman was photographed in this costume for Vanity Fair and Premiere magazines.
  • Palpatine Gown- When meeting with Naboo's senator, Amidala 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 Amidala'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. Amidala's costume is embellished by a 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 on the Dune miniseries.

Throughout The Phantom Menace, Amidala 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.

See also

External links

Preceded byKing Veruna of Naboo Queen of Naboo
32–24 BBY 		Succeeded byQueen Jamilla of Naboo
Preceded byUnknown (eventually Senator Palpatine) Senator of Naboo
22–19 BBY 		Succeeded byUnknown (eventually Pooja Naberrie)
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