It has been nearly 20 years since Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith first hit theaters, and Natalie Portman is still debunking fan theories. Portman played Padmé Amidala, who fell in love with Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker. At the end of Revenge of the Sith, Padmé tragically dies after losing her will to live. Portman has gone on to star in numerous movies, including Thor, Jackie, and V for Vendetta.
While Padmé died after the events of Order 66, there have been years of speculation about the potential that she was secretly working with nefarious intentions. When Vanity Fair directly asked about the sinister Padmé fan theory, Portman immediately struck it down. While she believes it would be a “cool” possibility, it was nothing that played a part in her portrayal of Padmé. Check out her quote and the video below:
“No. That’s cool but no. I mean cool, but no.”
Padmé Was Never Secretly Evil
Despite the fan theories, Padmé never had any nefarious intentions when dealing with Anakin or the Jedi. As a Queen of Naboo and a senator, her intentions were always to make the Republic into a better place. Her failure to do so is a tragedy, rather than a sign that she was secretly scheming for power. She never worked alongside Palpatine to create the Empire.
Many elements hint that Padmé could very well be working against Anakin. Her complete dismissal of his dark side, her death being primarily driven by grief, and her willingness to forgive Anakin were all bizarre for a character who was primarily defined by her belief in the sanctity of life. As strange as those elements were, choosing to maintain Padmé’s kindness was the right move for the franchise.
With Palpatine manipulating him, the Jedi Council constantly slighting him, and a childhood fraught with loss and slavery, Anakin’s life was never particularly easy. Anakin’s enduring love for Padmé is a singular mark of positivity in a life filled with tragedy. By dismissing the Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith fan theory, Portman is ensuring that the tragedy endures without becoming too overbearing.
