Summary
Star Warshas included some incredible actors over its long history, and all six I’ve met so far have been exactly who they seem to be.Star Warsmovies and TV showsare well-known for a number of things, but the franchise’s beloved cast and characters are certainly high on the list. Indeed,Star Warsis a franchise built upon nostalgia, and many of the actors, especially fromStar Wars’best movies, are treasured amongStar Warsaudiences and have been for decades.
Along with that notoriety comes perceptions of who those actors are outside their roles and opinions on how suitable they are for the characters they play. Thrillingly, many actors attend events like Fan Expos and Comic-Cons, which makes it possible to get a better sense of that in person. Of the actors I’ve met at such events so far,I’ve been shocked that all six perfectly fitStar Warsaudiences' expectations of their personalities and their similarities to their characters.
10 Star Wars Actors Who’d Be Perfectly Recast In Other Iconic Roles
Although Star Wars characters are often perfectly cast, 10 actor swaps show just how well some characters could have been played by someone else.
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
While Hayden Christensen may play one ofStar Wars’most powerful Sith, he couldn’t be less like Darth Vader in real life. In fact,Christensen is well-known in the franchise for being an incredibly kind and even soft-spoken personwho really takes his time with fans and wants everyone to feel included. He’s also seen as a true lover ofStar Wars, and both things rang true when I met him.
This is especially wonderful to see because Christensen didn’t have the easiest entry intoStar Wars. Although the prequel trilogy has become very beloved over time, at first, it received significant backlash, and, unfortunately, much of that was unfairly targeted at Christensen. However, over time, Christensen has started to get the love he always deserved. Christensen has certainly reciprocated in equal measure, reprising his role as Anakin Skywalker multiple times now and always making time for fans. In fact, Christensen frequently attends conventions and offers photo ops, autographs, and panels at most of them.
Christensen has started to get the love he always deserved.
Christensen truly proved how kind he is and how much love he has forStar Warsfans during FAN EXPO Philadelphia this year when a person in the audience had a medical emergency. Without hesitation, Christensen (with Rosario Dawson close behind) hopped off the stage and got down on the floor with the person, waiting with her until the situation had been resolved. This is just one example of many of how much compassion and care Christensen exhibits, not only forStar Warsaudiences but also for people in general.
5Rosario Dawson Has Ahsoka’s Humor And Spunk
First Appeared In: The Mandalorian
Rosario Dawson might have been an Ahsoka Tano newcomer inThe Mandalorian, but she has picked up the role beautifully and fully embodies the character. In fact, while Ahsley Eckstein is the perfect match for young Ahsoka Tano, it’s clear why Dawson was made for the older Ahsoka role. Dawson is funny, witty, and exudes a confidence that is incredibly befitting of Ahsoka inThe Mandalorian,The Book of Boba Fett, andAhsoka.
In fact,especially now that Ahsoka is a full-fledged Jedi, coined ‘Ahsoka the White,’ following her time in the World Between Worlds, Dawson is an even better fit. Essentially, Dawson brings a naturally cool air to the character and, really, to any room she’s in. This was on full display when she gave her panel at FAN EXPO Philadelphia, where she had audiences enthralled with her humor and charm.
Moreover, like Christensen, Dawson knowsStar Warsand her character inside and out. Dawson even answered questions about Ahsoka by saying “I” and referred to Christensen’s Anakin in the same way. It’s clear that Dawson has completely embraced her role as the character, which is a beautiful thing to see.
Dawson knowsStar Warsand her character inside and out.
Meeting her face-to-face was obviously intimidating because she is such a star (and plays one of the most beloved characters inStar Wars), but she couldn’t have been more down-to-earth and relaxed. In fact, for everyone who came into the room, Dawson acted like they were acquaintances taking a photo together. There was nothing distant or superior in her interaction with fans; she really couldn’t have been more genuine.
Ezra Bridger
It is astounding how much Eman Esfandi truly is the real-life Ezra Bridger. Although he may have adopted the live-action role following the animated performance by Taylor Gray inStar Wars Rebels, which is the case for manyAhsokaactors, he somehow perfectly replicated Ezra’s sense of humor, playfulness, and at times even goofy personality. Interestingly, this doesn’t seem to be a performance; rather, Esfandi very naturally matches who Ezra Bridger is.
This was best on display during FAN EXPO Philadelphia this year. When Esfandi was explaining his feelings about Ezra’s Jedi Master Kanan Jarrus possibly returning in some form inthe upcomingAhsokaseason 2, he became distracted by a massive Jabba the Hutt across the room, interrupting himself and encouraging everyone in the audience to turn and look at it. This moment of silliness was a perfect representation of who Ezra Bridger is as a character.
It’s truly so funny to see Esfandi embody Ezra so perfectly, especially given he is taking up the mantle from the voice actor. Interestingly, Ezra’s time inAhsokahas been brief, so it remains to be seen how he will develop in season 2. For now, though, Esfandi is a dead ringer for the animated Ezra.
Moreover, it’s very clear Esfandi knows his character inside and out. Although he didn’t watch every singleRebelsepisode—it seems, in fact, Dave Filoni didn’t want him to—he did watch the essential Ezra Bridger episodes that Filoni ‘assigned’ to him. It’s always a joy to learn that aStar Warsactor didn’t simply accept the role and read the lines. Rather, Esfandi, like manyStar Warsactors before him, truly did the work to understand the character and his story, and that work clearly paid off.
3Ashley Eckstein Perfectly Captures Young Ahsoka’s Sweetness
First Appeared In: Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Rosario Dawson has definitely captured the older Ahsoka Tano, butAshley Eckstein is the original Ahsoka, and it’s quite possible no one knows the character the way she does. Eckstein has remained extremely involved in the franchise, participating in events such as the fan-made Ahsoka Tano Day and maintaining a presence on Instagram that is deeply connected to theStar Warsfranchise. Eckstein also attends an astonishing number ofStar Warsmeet-and-greets, from special Disney World and Disneyland days to various conventions.
Eckstein is also an incredible representation of who Ahsoka was during the Clone Wars Era. In addition to being stunned by Eckstein’s voice (because it really made me feel like I was meeting Ahsoka), I was pleasantly surprised by how much her sweet, warm disposition is similar to Ahsoka’s, especially when she was younger. Eckstein took her time with each fan who entered the photo op space, and she made sure everyone felt they had time with her. She also came up with myriad creative poses that embodied Ahsoka, and she hugged everyone as soon as they entered the space.
Truly, Eckstein is exactly how she comes across on social media and during interviews. Her love ofStar Warsand connection to Ahsoka is abundantly clear, and she wants each and every fan to feel as though they’ve had a special experience. It’s also wonderful to see that, even with Ahsoka moving primarily to live-action (with recent exceptions such asStar Wars: Tales of the Jedi), Eckstein is here to stay in theStar Warsfranchise.
Eckstein is exactly how she comes across on social media and during interviews.
Sabine Wren
Like the otherAhsokaactors,Natasha Liu Bordizzo perfectly took her character, Sabine Wren, from animation to live-action. This is particularly impressive, as Sabine went from a young Mandalorian to an older and shockingly somewhat Force-sensitive Jedi Padawan betweenRebelsandAhsoka. However, in yet another perfectStar Warscasting, Bordizzo took on the role and executed it wonderfully, bringing Sabine’s wit and sense of humor to live-action.
Bordizzo is also surprisingly similar to Sabine, although not obstinate or sarcastic in the same way. Rather, Bordizzo brings Sabine’s charm in real life, and her subtle sense of humor in her panel withAhsokaco-stars Eman Esfandi and Diana Lee Inosanto delighted audiences atFAN EXPO Philadelphia, an event our team helped host asScreen Rantwas its media partner. In fact, Esfandi and Bordizzo had a dynamic that was very reminiscent of Sabine and Ezra’s in the show, playfully teasing each other but also sharing in jokes and egging one another on in the best way.
Morgan Elsbeth
Diana Lee Inosanto is the finalStar Warsactor of the six I’ve met, and I was shocked to discover how humble she is. Inosanto truly acted as though she was lucky to be there, despite her significant acting chops. To that point, Inosanto described how she was genuinely surprised thatStar Warswanted her for the role of Morgan Elsbeth, and her joy and appreciation for her inclusion in the franchise was abundantly clear.Inosanto is, in that way, a perfect addition to theStar Warsuniverse.
ManyStar Warsactors have expressed similar incredulity, although they have more than earned their place. However, this response is part of what makes the movies and TV shows so wonderful. That awe for their roles causes manyStar Warsactors to bring their all to their performance, and it makesStar Warsseem like so much more than a job. Indeed, many actors fully embrace theStar Warsfranchise, and it’s perhaps for that reason that so many of them perfectly fit the characters they play and the general perception audiences have of them.
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