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| PADMÉ AMIDALA (PADMÉ NABERRIE) |
| Character - Royal House of Naboo |
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| "I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war" - Queen Amidala |
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| 13 BE |
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Padmé had always been a strong, determined woman. From the Queen of Naboo to her planet's representative in the Senate, she had overcome all the challenges she had been faced with. Yet not even she could halt the tide of change sweeping through the Republic...nor the torrent flowing through her husband....
Padmé Amidala was born Padmé Naberrie, to Jobal and Ruwee on Naboo. She never dreamed of politics as a girl, but her life seemed somehow destined for that calling. At the age of seven, she joined the Refugee Relief Movement, and partook in mandatory community service at twelve. Padmé later became an Apprentice Legislator, and while her boyfriend Palo became an artist, Padmé's work led to much higher stations, from a Senatorial Adviser to the ceremonial Princess of Theed. Finally, she was elected as the successor to King Veruna, taking on the surname Amidala as a name of state. However, Queen Amidala's new status was not as idyllic as she may have believed. A mere five months after her election, Queen Amidala's planet was blockaded by the Trade Federation, protesting over a new law passed in the Senate. Amidala tried to negotiate, but the Federation ignored her and launched an invasion force. They quickly took the peaceful city of Theed, and Amidala was captured. Luckily, two Jedi ambassadors had arrived on planet, and freed the Queen and her entourage. They persuaded her to plead her case to the Senate on Coruscant, but the Royal Starship was damaged as it attempted to run the blockade in orbit. The occupants were forced to land on Tatooine to repair the hyperdrive needed to reach the Galactic Core. Before the Federation attacked, Amidala had been given a group of handmaidens, who also acted as her bodyguards and decoys in desperate measures. Sabé acted as the Queen on Tatooine, while Amidala became the handmaiden, Padmé. She traveled into the spaceport city of Mos Espa with one of the Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn. While there, Padmé met a young boy in a junk shop. Named Anakin, the boy told her he was a slave and a pilot. He also stated that he would one day marry Padmé, though to the Queen of Naboo, this seemed preposterous. Still, she saw Anakin as a funny little boy, and sheltered in his hovel with the Jedi when a sandstorm hit. There, Qui-Gon made a deal to gain a hyperdrive from Watto, Anakin's master. The deal involved Anakin racing in the Boonta Eve podrace, though Padmé had her doubts about the boy's ability. Qui-Gon trusted him, and was proved right when Anakin won the race, the hyperdrive and his freedom from Watto. Back onboard the ship, Padmé again became the Queen, and headed for Coruscant. She pleaded her case to the Senate, and though she managed to oust the inept Chancellor Valorum from office, her journey accomplished little. The Senate was too slow to act, so Amidala concocted a plan of her own. Upon learning that the Gungans had a standing army, Amidala returned to Naboo. While the Gungans distracted the Federation army, Amidala, her security officers, the Jedi and even Anakin entered Theed in an attempt to take back the palace. Although the Jedi were held up by a mysterious adversary, and Anakin was accidentally launched into the battle above the planet, Amidala was able to enter the palace. Her squad was captured, and taken to the throne room - Amidala's very target. Before the Trade Viceroy could force her to sign a treaty, Sabé appeared, dressed as the Queen, and distracted Amidala's guards. She was able to overpower the droids, and force the Viceroy to discuss a new treaty. Her actions had saved her planet, and Amidala became a hero on Naboo. However, when her two terms as Queen ended, Amidala had to step down despite her popularity. Her successor asked Padmé to become Naboo's Senator in the Republic, and Padmé agreed, wanting to continue to serve her people. She worked tirelessly, and gained much support for her impassioned speeches in the Senate. However, she had also gained enemies, including Viceroy Gunray, whom she had embarrassed during the blockade crisis. Ten years on, and Padmé found herself as a target for assassination. She was assigned two Jedi bodyguards, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, whom she had not seen since the Battle of Naboo. The Jedi foiled a second assassination attempt, which led to the Jedi Council deciding Padmé was no longer safe on Coruscant. They arranged for Anakin to escort Padmé back to Naboo, flying incognito in a refugee freighter. On the journey, Padmé realised how strongly Anakin felt about her, and after an argument over her safety upon their arrival on Naboo, their relationship grew. Anakin escorted Padmé to the Lake Country, where the two stayed in the beautiful Naberrie villa. There, they shared a kiss, which Padmé was quick to break. As she told Anakin later, falling in love would end their careers and destroy their lives...regardless of how they felt towards one another. Such talk was forgotten when Anakin insisted he had to rescue his mother on Tatooine. He thought she was in pain - and Padmé found he was right, when he brought his mother's body back to the homestead where the Lars family lived. Padmé consoled Anakin over his loss, but had little time to get to know Anakin's step-family, as R2-D2 relayed a distress call from Obi-Wan. Though Kenobi had likely been taken prisoner, or worse, Anakin refused to go after him, perhaps because of his failiure to protect his mother. Taking the lead, Padmé reminded Anakin he needed to watch over her where ever she went - even if it was to Geonosis, to rescue Obi-Wan. After a short trip through space, Anakin and Padmé arrived on Geonosis, where they found themselves in a dangerous droid factory. Padmé was separated from her bodyguard, and was forced to negotiate the machinery that was seemingly trying its best to destroy her. In the end, even a timely rescue by R2-D2 couldn't save Padmé, and she was captured by Geonosians. She was taken before Count Dooku, leader of the Seperatists, and condemned to execution along with Obi-Wan and Anakin. She had learned that it was Nute Gunray who had ordered the assassination attempts on her life - not that it mattered when she was faced with a deadly nexu in the Geonosian arena. Her skill and agility allowed Padmé to escape almost unscathed, but matters soon got out of hand. A Jedi rescue force arrived, and was eventually beaten by the droids Dooku unleashed. Then the Republic Army, which Padmé had worked so hard to combat in the Senate, saved her and her friends. The Clone Wars began on Geonosis, and though both Anakin and Padmé were injured in the battle, they came through the hellish conflict stronger than ever. Padmé no longer cared how her love for Anakin would affect their lives, and married him in a secret ceremony on Naboo. The happy occasion couldn't last for long, and soon Padmé was waving her husband goodbye as he left to fight in the Clone Wars. Padmé largely stayed out of the terrible conflicts, remaining on Coruscant to continue to serve in the Senate. Around three years after the Battle of Geonosis, Padmé made a startling discovery: she was pregnant...with twins. She told Anakin that he would soon become a father, but not that he would father two children. Her decision proved to be justified when Anakin took a dark turn. After a vicious battle with Obi-Wan, Anakin was badly wounded. He returned as Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, intent on hunting down the last of the Jedi. Padmé knew her children would not be safe, and agreed for them to be separated. Obi-Wan took her son, Luke, to Tatooine, while Padmé and her daughter, Leia, retreated to Alderaan. However, the shocking events that had transpired took their toll on Padmé. Her heart had been broken by Anakin's turn, and the darkness that engulfed the galaxy was too much to bear. Padmé died while Leia was only a baby, though her legacy lived on through the woman who became Senator and Princess Leia Organa. |
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| Behind the Scenes The character of Padmé was partly based on her daughter, Princess Leia. In early drafts of Episode IV, Leia was aged 14; the same as her mother in Episode I. The two share similar career changes, from royalty to a place in the Senate to freedom fighter. |
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| Multimedia Images Padmé on Coruscant Padmé on Naboo Padmé in battle gear Padmé concept art Sounds "Not condone a course of action..." (62kb) "I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo" (151kb) "I truly, deeply, love you..." (307kb) |
| Species human Born 27 BE Homeworld Naboo Affiliation Royal House of Naboo; Galactic Republic Weapon ELG3a royal blaster pistol Vehicle Naboo Starship; yacht |
| Behind the Scenes Played by Natalie Portman (I, II, III) Voiced by Grey De Lisle (CW) Pronounced pad-may ami-da-la Links The Next Amidala |
| Queen of Naboo |