Woman Models & Actors of the Expanded Universe

This is a salute to the female models, actors and voice actors that made the Expanded Universe an audio and visual adventure. This is not a complete list, but some of those who had either the most roles in the Expanded Universe or the most influential characters. Everyone probably knows about the movie actors, but did you know about these? Do you know anymore?

Shannon McRandle (Actor)

The real life Mara Jade. Mara Jade was such a popular character that even before she was officially married to Luke Skywalker, a model was chosen to immortalize her in the trading card game. Her likeness has also been used in art and action figures. She also happens to be supportive of the Expanded Universe, even since the reboot. You can check out her Facebook page ShannonMcrandleisMaraJade

.

Siân Phillips and Marianne Horine (Actor)

played the true first female villain onscreen, the dathomire night sister ‘Charal’ in Ewoks the Battle for Endor. Her powers are mentioned in Book of the Sith and Ewoks: Shadows of Endor. Marianne Horine played the younger version. Siân Phillips the darker older version.

Leeanna Walsman (Actor & Voice Actor)

Zam Wessell, who goes on to be a neutral ( sometimes villain, sometimes not) character in the Dark Horse comics. But she IS an assassin and bounty hunter and introduced in Attack of the clones as a villain. The same as in the movie also did her voice work in ’Bounty Hunter’ the video game.

Aubree Miller (Actor)

Cindel Towani of the Caravan of Courage AKA the Ewok Adventure and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor. This child actor had a starring role in both. Her character, Cindel, was later mentioned in the Expanded Universe as growing up to become a journalist.

Catherine “Cat” Taber (Voice Actor)

Most know her as the voice Padme of Filoni’s The Clone Wars in 2008. But EU fans may know her better as the snarky Mission Vao of Knights of the Old Republic who helped Revan save the galaxy. She also stars as the smuggler Vette, companion to the Sith Warrior in SWTOR. She also played Leia Organa in both The Force Unleashed games.

Kari Wahlgren (Voice Actor)

Her character Serra Keto in Revenge of the Sith video game goes on to comic books in the Clone Wars era of the Expanded Universe.
Wehlgren’s voice is yours if you play a female Knight in SWTOR known as The Hero of Tython, a character who dares challenge the Sith Emperor himself.
Other roles include: Aayla & Darth Phobos in The Force Unleashed,  Empire at War: Forces of Corruption as Silri.
She was also in Kinect Star Wars (Video Game):  Gold 4 / Intercom / PC Female Pilot /.

Grey DeLisle AKA Grey Griffin (Voice Actor)

Some voice actor really make quite a dent, crossing from many, many video games and on into the animated Clone Wars Micro Series. Here they are in no particular order.

2002 Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Video Game): Padmé Amidala / Bera Khazan
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Video Game): Sarna / Lena / Cassandra Mateil
Star Wars: Jedi Knight – Jedi Academy (Video Game): Alora / Jedi Female (voice)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords (Video Game): Handmaiden / Brianna (voice)
Star Wars: Clone Wars (TV Series): Padmé Amidala / Asajj Ventress / Shaak-Ti /
TFU (Ventress) – she is listed as a playable character when dueling. SWTOR (female bounty hunter)
TPM video game (Padme/gungan child)
E1 power battles
early learning activity center (game)
Star Wars: Demolition
Star Wars: Force Commander (Video Game): Hover Transport Driver / Leia Organa / Ruulian/ Terrorist (voice)
Star Wars: Starfighter (Video Game): Bravo 8 / Rescue 2 (voice)
Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing (Video Game): Queen Amidala
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds (Video Game): Gungan Villager #2 / Queen Amidala / Rebel Scout Captain /
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II – Rogue Leader (Video Game): Karie Neth (voice)
Star Wars: Obi-Wan (Video Game): Asha and more.
Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter (Video Game)
Loreli Ro / Nym Pilot 2 / Wingmate 2
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter (Video Game): Female Civilian #2 / Montross’ compute

Jennifer Hale (Voice Actor)

Hard to underestimate a role of galactic importance, she plays Bastila Shan in both Knights of the Old Republic games.  Bastila is the love interest of the Expanded Universe canon version of Revan. Hale also plays her descendent  Satele Shan in Star Wars: The Old Republic, Jedi Grand Master as well as mother of Theron Shan. The non canon version of Jaden Korr in Jedi Academy (last of the Dark Forces series) is her voice.  She had minor roles in X-Wing VS Tie Fighter and Star Wars: Force Commander. She also plays various characters in Filoni’s Clone Wars series.

Sara Kestelman (Voice Actor)

Kreia /Darth Traya, Knights of the Old Republic 2. This mysterious character is a thought provoking mentor to the Jedi Exile.

Taborah Johnson (Voice Actor)

She does the voices in the Ewok and Droids cartoons of Latara (the ewok), a main character, and Jessica Meade, a tramp freighter captain.

Cree Summer (Voice Actor)

Princess Kneesa, ewok, one of main character’s of the Ewok cartoon.

Ann Sachs (Voice Actor)

Most people know Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia. But when the popular NPR Radio Adaptations appeared, it was Ann Sachs who took the role of voice acting Leia. The radio drama added scenes not in the movie, including 3 important ones involving Leia.

Nathalie Cox (Model, Actor, Voice Actor)

The star behind Juno Eclipse of The Force Unleashed may have had a supporting role, but it was an important one. Her character stood up to Darth Vader and was more than just the simple love interest of Starkiller, Vader’s Secret Apprentice. She became a Rebel leader in her own right. But perhaps her support of Starkiller is even more important: it was her inspiration that drove him to seek the light.  While some might play a Dark Side ending, according to the Expanded Universe (AKA Legends) canon, he turned to the light, and books and graphic novel tie ins confirm the importance of her role in this.

Angela Harry (Model, Actor, Voice Actor)

Jan Ors may not have been a star or playable character, but Kyle Katarn wouldn’t have survived to get his bad ass reputation without her skill at rescuing him. No matter how often he left her without any idea what he was up to, she still came to his rescue. While the earliest Dark Forces game just gave Jan a drawing and some text of her lines,  Dark Forces 2: Jedi Knight introduced Angela Harry as the true look of Jan Ors. This game featured live action cut scenes with early CGI.  While Angela Harry only voiced and acted Jan Ors for this game, her likeness continued to be used for future CGI modeling, giving the character a distinctly Asian look.

 

HONORABLE MENTION:

Jaci Twiss

Jaci Twiss has not performed in any official Star Wars productions.  The actress has only appeared in the Fan Film: Legacy of the Force, adapted from the part of the novel Invincible by Troy Denning. But her role gave a physical onscreen presence to the popular Jaina Solo that was denied the character by the reboot. Jaci Twiss also encouraged her fans to vote for Jaina Solo in the 2016 Hasbro Fan’s Choice poll for a 6″ action figure.  The figure won the poll.

Sources: IMBD and the Wookieepedia and the respective game, movie, and TV show credits.