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"Whenever I do a play there are Star Wars fans at the stage door and they're always lovely – so excited and so effusive about the storylines and the characters."
―Genevieve O'Reilly[1]

Genevieve O'Reilly (born January 6, 1977) is an Irish actress who portrayed Mon Mothma in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, and returned to the role for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, for five episodes of Star Wars Rebels, and for two Disney+ television series, Andor and Ahsoka.

Biography[]

Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith[]

On June 19, 2003, StarWars.com announced that O'Reilly was cast into the role of Mon Mothma in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, a character previously portrayed by Caroline Blakiston in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.[2] During the original casting process, she was given a scene to audition with, and she tried to not overthink doing a nod to Blakiston.[3] Cast for her strong resemblance to Blakiston, she carefully studied the British actress' performance in order to capture the character's voice and mannerisms.[4] O'Reilly filmed a few scenes that were meant to set up the formation of the Rebel Alliance.[5] She enjoyed filming those scenes, and saw the costumes as extraordinary. Before the film's release,[6] director[7] George Lucas and producer Rick McCallum wrote to O'Reilly informing her that the scenes of her speaking were cut. The actress respected their decision and reasoned that the film needed to focus on Darth Vader's origin. When O'Reilly watched the film, the scenes' exclusion made total sense to her.[6]

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story[]

"Rogue One was a really exciting piece to be a part of. It felt like a genuinely creative project. My memories of it were that it was shot almost like an indie film at times. It was very exciting, and it felt like a hotbed of creativity."
―Genevieve O'Reilly[8]

On April 7, 2016, it was revealed that O'Reilly would return as Mothma in the Anthology film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.[9] She found the film to be a very exciting and creative project.[8] She also voiced her character for several episodes of the TV series Star Wars Rebels, which aired on March 4, 2017.[10]

Andor television series[]

"This is such a gift of a role. It has been a genuine privilege to step into the shoes that Caroline Blakiston originated with George Lucas back in the '80s, as well as revisiting [Mon Mothma] at different times in my life. So to have the opportunity to explore her and delve into her — not just as a Rebel leader, but also as a woman — has been something that I didn't expect and something that I'm thrilled to be a part of."
―Genevieve O'Reilly on playing Mon Mothma in Andor[3]

On April 24, 2020, StarWars.com announced that O'Reilly would reprise her role as Mothma in the upcoming Disney+ show Andor.[11] The actress was delighted to have the opportunity to better understand her character.[8] She was also excited to explore Mothma as a Rebel leader and as a woman,[3] which included showing the private face of someone who navigates a system of oppression.[12] O'Reilly wanted to understand the pain and personal cost felt by Caroline Blakiston in Return of the Jedi, and she enjoyed learning more about Mothma's life.[3] She was excited for the audience to see Mothma's journey of becoming the Rebel leader seen in Rogue One.[12] O'Reilly liked Tony Gilroy's writing because it had several worlds and felt universal as well as personal.[8] The actress wanted Mothma's new look in the show to reflect her new stage as a member of high society.[6]

O'Reilly felt that the scene with Mothma and Luthen Rael in the latter's gallery set up what the crew were trying to do with the character, which was to show her public face and the private woman within it. The set's public space and private interplay behind the corner allowed for creativity between O'Reilly and Stellan Skarsgård, the actor who played Rael. O'Reilly liked working with Skarsgård and thought that he is a brilliant actor.[3] Scenes in the Chandrilan Embassy were filmed in a practically built set that had a wraparound LED screen that used StageCraft technology.[13] In September, 2022, O'Reilly attended the Andor launch event in Hollywood, California.[14]

Works[]

Filmography[]

Year Title Series Contribution(s)
2005 Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith Mon Mothma
2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Mon Mothma
2017 "Secret Cargo" Star Wars Rebels Voiced Mon Mothma
2017 "Zero Hour" Star Wars Rebels Voiced Mon Mothma
2017 "In the Name of the Rebellion" Star Wars Rebels Voiced Mon Mothma
2017 "The Occupation" Star Wars Rebels Voiced Mon Mothma
2017 "Crawler Commandeers" Star Wars Rebels Voiced Mon Mothma
2022[15] "Aldhani" Andor Mon Mothma[11]
2022 "The Axe Forgets" Andor Mon Mothma[16]
2022 "The Eye" Andor Mon Mothma[17]
2022 "Announcement" Andor Mon Mothma[18]
2022 "Narkina 5" Andor Mon Mothma[19]
2022 "Nobody's Listening!" Andor Mon Mothma[20]
2022 "One Way Out" Andor Mon Mothma[21]
2022 "Daughter of Ferrix" Andor Mon Mothma[22]
2022 "Rix Road" Andor Mon Mothma[23]
2023 "Part Three: Time to Fly" Ahsoka Mon Mothma[24]
2023 "Part Five: Shadow Warrior" Ahsoka Mon Mothma[25]
2023 "Part Seven: Dreams and Madness" Ahsoka Mon Mothma[26]

Sources[]

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Notes and references[]

  1. The Secret's Genevieve O'Reilly: My family always comes first by Button, Simon on Daily Express (May 22, 2016) (archived from the original on July 10, 2016)
  2. StarWars Ep III Cast: The O'Reilly Factor on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 ‘Andor' Star Genevieve O'Reilly Never Thought She'd Get the Chance to Flesh Out Mon Mothma by Davids, Brian on The Hollywood Reporter (September 15, 2022) (archived from the original on September 15, 2022)
  4. Databank title Mothma, Mon in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
  5. Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith DVD
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Genevieve O'Reilly reacts to Mon Mothma's crappy marriage on Andor by Ross, Dalton on Entertainment Weekly (September 29, 2022) (archived from the original on September 29, 2022)
  7. Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 ANDOR Production Brief V3 FINAL 8-04-22 by McIntyre, Gina on Getty Images (August 4, 2022) (archived from the original)
  9. 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story': 20 Clues and Revelations by Breznican, Anthony on Entertainment Weekly (April 7, 2016) (archived from the original on December 24, 2017)
  10. Mon Mothma Seeks Help In New Star Wars Rebels Clip by MacNabb, Matthew on Comic Book Resources (March 1, 2017) (archived from the original on May 21, 2017)
  11. 11.0 11.1 StarWars New Casting Announced for Cassian Andor Series on StarWars.com (backup link)
  12. 12.0 12.1 StarWars "A Potent Moment in History": Insights from Tony Gilroy and the Andor Cast on StarWars.com (backup link)
  13. Here's Where Andor Actually Used Lucasfilm's StageCraft Technology [Exclusive] by Meyer, Joshua on /Film (November 9, 2022) (archived from the original on November 9, 2022)
  14. SWYTlogo Diego Luna and the Cast and Crew of Andor on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
  15. StarWars Future Lucasfilm Projects Revealed on StarWars.com (backup link)
  16. Andor logo new Andor — "The Axe Forgets"
  17. Andor logo new Andor — "The Eye"
  18. Andor logo new Andor — "Announcement"
  19. Andor logo new Andor — "Narkina 5"
  20. Andor logo new Andor — "Nobody's Listening!"
  21. Andor logo new Andor — "One Way Out"
  22. Andor logo new Andor — "Daughter of Ferrix"
  23. Andor logo new Andor — "Rix Road"
  24. AhsokaS1 Logo Ahsoka — "Part Three: Time to Fly"
  25. AhsokaS1 Logo Ahsoka — "Part Five: Shadow Warrior"
  26. AhsokaS1 Logo Ahsoka — "Part Seven: Dreams and Madness"

External links[]

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