The Star Wars Prequels: Exploring The Tragic Love Story Of Anakin Skywalker And Padmé Amidala

The Star Wars prequels reveal the origins of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, introducing Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala's tragic love story.

Published on Jul 13, 2024  |  12:09 PM IST |  124.5K
Youtube/Star Wars)
Anakin Skywalker And Padmé Amidala (Youtube/Star Wars)

The Star Wars prequels had to explain who Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia's parents were. In the original trilogy, viewers discovered that Darth Vader was Luke’s father, and later, Leia was Luke’s twin sister.

However, the mother of the twins was never mentioned. The prequels went back in time to show how Anakin Skywalker (who became Darth Vader) became a father and introduced Padmé Amidala as their mother.

How old were Anakin and Padmé when they first met?

 


Fans had many questions about the origins of Luke and Leia's parents, which began to be answered with the release of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in 1999.

The movie showed Anakin's story starting when he was a child, which surprised many. Also, the age difference between Anakin and Padmé raised questions. Padmé was 14 when she met 9-year-old Anakin, who was a slave on Tatooine.

Anakin and Padmé's story is one of the most tragic love stories in Star Wars. They first met as children, then reunited and fell in love in Episode II – Attack of the Clones, when Anakin was 19 and Padmé was 24.

They married in secret and faced many challenges together. By Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Padmé was pregnant, but she and Anakin were still young—27 and 22, respectively. Tragically, Padmé died in childbirth, and Anakin became Darth Vader.

Advertisement


There was some confusion about their ages due to the actors playing them. Natalie Portman, who played Padmé, was almost 19 during the filming of The Phantom Menace, while Jake Lloyd, who played young Anakin, was 10.

Hayden Christensen, who played older Anakin, was 21 when he filmed Attack of the Clones. Despite the casting challenges, the actors managed to portray their characters convincingly.

How did Anakin Skywalker transform into Darth Vader

Both Anakin and Padmé had to grow up quickly. Padmé was a queen at 14, while Anakin became a Jedi and later a soldier in the Clone Wars. Their responsibilities left little room for a normal childhood.

Their shared experiences brought them together, but Anakin’s fear of losing Padmé ultimately led him to the dark side, resulting in her death and his transformation into Darth Vader. Anakin and Padmé had only a few years together, and Anakin's attempt to save her led to her death. Anakin, as Darth Vader, lived on until he was redeemed and died at 45.

Advertisement

Their story remains one of the most heartbreaking in Star Wars, highlighting the consequences of forbidden love. The entire Star Wars saga is available on Disney+.

ALSO READ: Deadpool & Wolverine: Fans Thrilled By First 35 Minutes; Say 'In Disbelief'

Pinkvilla Pulse
Subscribe to our newsletter for entertainment exclusives, star interviews, and the latest lifestyle trends. Look No Further!
Subscribe
About The Author

Meet Nidhi, the Content Writer. She's loves weaving her word magic on everything that's trending in

...

Advertisement

Latest Articles