Whether it's Star Wars or any other project, it's not uncommon for an actor or actress to take inspiration from a real person when crafting their interpretation of a character. In fact, it's probably more standard than simply creating something out of nothing or basing a performance on another actor's style.
So it should come as little surprise that Genevieve O'Reilly pulled off the same maneuver when getting into character as Senator Mon Mothma for Star Wars: Andor. Courtesy of USA Today, O'Reilly detailed some of the inspirational figures she looked to when bringing her own vision for the long-time Star Wars character to the table. This includes women in politics like German Chancellor Angela Merkel, New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Adern, and US congresswoman and Animal Crossing fan Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
O'Reilly said she sees these women as "voices against the status quo, women who are willing to risk their voice in popular culture to stand up for what they believe in. And I think we see Mon do that in Andor." This seems to go well in line with the supposed radicalized rebel focus of the series, which some involved with the show have said will reflect real-world reactions to people like Donald Trump and his more fanatical followers. Andor is already poised to possibly challenge fans' understanding of Star Wars canon, and that will, in all likelihood, include a political angle.
O'Reilly is also excited to explore new dimensions of Mon Mothma's character, which haven't really been seen much since her first appearance in Return of the Jedi (played by Caroline Blakiston). "Previously, when we've seen her she pops up and she's a bit of a pillar or a statue. She's quite noble within the Alliance," O'Reilly said. "I love that they have given time to flesh her out a bit, to meet the woman behind the cloak, if you will, to see what she has to wrestle with, what she has to reach for, what she has to risk, what her private life might be. That's something we've never seen before."
As burnt out as some people might be with so many Star Wars projects floating around these days, it's difficult to deny that the ubiquity of the franchise has offered plenty of chances to really dive into elements that have scarcely been touched before. For instance, it's been heavily suggested that Diego Luna's lead character Cassian Andor and his family were Separatists during the Clone Wars, opposing the Galactic Republic. If that's the case, it will be very interesting to see how such a group dealt with the transition from the Republic to the oppressive Galactic Empire.
There will surely be plenty of other fascinating story and character tidbits that surface during Andor's 2-season run, not to mention plenty of creative new music different from classic Star Wars fare. Here's hoping it turns out to be something that fans will truly treasure for years to come.
Star Wars: Andor will premiere its first 3 episodes on September 21st on Disney Plus.
Source: USA Today