Forget Padmé: Why Natalie Portman Should Return to Star Wars as Sabé, Her Secret Double

Natalie Portman played Senator and former Queen Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel films, and she has publicly said she would be open to returning to the franchise. At the same time, another character connected to Padmé — her handmaiden Sabé — appears across films, novels and comics, and was portrayed on-screen by Keira Knightley in 1999’s Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

- Portman played Padmé Amidala in the prequel trilogy.

Fans have discussed possible returns to the franchise; some online discussions appear on Reddit and YouTube sources.
Sabé is Padmé’s handmaiden and decoy, portrayed by Keira Knightley in Phantom Menace and featured in novels and Marvel comics.
Portman has said she would be “more than happy” to return to Star Wars.

Fans, interviews and online discussion

Fans have debated Padmé’s return on social platforms and forums. For example, a Reddit thread collects fan questions and comments about Padmé’s possible return; additionally, discussions and fan videos have appeared on YouTube.

Separately, Natalie Portman appeared in interviews where she said she would be open to returning to Star Wars, and one of those interviews is available on YouTube.

Who is Sabé?

Sabé is a named handmaiden of Padmé Amidala. In canonical on-screen material, Keira Knightley played a handmaiden who served as a decoy for Padmé in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999).

Handmaidens in Padmé’s service were trained to act as body doubles and to learn political and social duties. Sabé is portrayed in extended media as Padmé’s closest confidante among those handmaidens.

Where Sabé appears in Star Wars media

Sabé appears in multiple forms of Star Wars storytelling beyond the films. For instance, the novel Queen’s Peril by E.K. Johnston includes Sabé and explores Padmé’s early political life. In that novel, Sabé expresses strong devotion to Padmé, saying she would rather be second to Padmé than first to anyone else.

Additionally, Marvel’s Darth Vader (2020) comics include Sabé in a post-prequel storyline. In those comics she pursues leads related to Padmé’s death, helps assemble a group called the Amidalans, and eventually discovers Darth Vader’s true identity as Anakin Skywalker. Those plot points appear in the published Marvel comic issues from 2020 onwards.

Natalie Portman and on-screen returns

Natalie Portman is credited as Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy: The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002), and Revenge of the Sith (2005). She has also acted in films such as Black Swan (2010) and the Thor films, which are factual parts of her filmography.

Portman has publicly said she would be open to returning to Star Wars, as shown in interviews and public statements. Meanwhile, other actors and characters connected to Padmé, including Keira Knightley’s on-screen decoy role, continue to appear in official novels and comics.

Industry reporting and broader context

Industry outlets have reported shifts in Lucasfilm and Disney strategy and audience targeting. For example, Variety published reporting on company direction and efforts to reach different audience segments, and PCGamesN discussed audience and gender representation conversations in Star Wars projects.

Those reports represent industry coverage and commentary; they document media and corporate reporting rather than creative decisions for specific characters.