Andor star reveals how the new series will "develop" her character from the original Star Wars movies

Andor actress Genevieve O'Reilly says the new Rogue One prequel series develops her character Mon Mothma.

The senatorial role itself was originally filled by Caroline Blakiston during Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, before O'Reilly (Jamie Lapidus in Episodes) took on the mantle in Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Rogue One and Star Wars Rebels.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, she recently explained how the latest galaxy far, far away adventure allows Mothma to shine a bit brighter.

Related: Andor ditches Star Wars trick used by other shows like Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Mandalorian

"We really get to develop her as a character, and we get to learn about her not just as a senator, but as a woman," teased the star.

"[We learn] what her life is like, what she has to wrestle with, what are the dangers to her life, what it costs to be her. Tony [Gilroy's] writing is so intricate and so taut. It lives in this world of the spy genre, of a sociopolitical drama, and yet it's set within a Star Wars world. So it feels universal and intimate all at once."

Addressing Blakiston's portrayal, O'Reilly admitted that she still revisits her memorable Return of the Jedi scene, particularly that "Many Bothans died to bring us this information..." line.

"You can see when Caroline does that in that scene, for me, there was always a pain at the heart of it.

Related: Star Wars' Andor boss teases "huge scope" of new prequel series

"You could see that she was carrying a pain, and I was really curious about what that was. What has happened in this woman's life? What has it cost to be her? What are the sacrifices that she has had to make along the way to be that leader of a rebellion?" she explained.

We'll find out sooner or later.

Andor premieres with three episodes on September 21, streaming on Disney+. New episodes will then follow weekly.

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Dan Seddon

Reporter, Digital Spy 

Dan is a freelance entertainment journalist. Beginning his writing career in 2014, Dan's work first graced the pages of cult publications Starburst magazine and Little White Lies before moving onto Total Film, Digital Spy, NME and Yahoo Entertainment. 

In the film and TV universe, he kneels at the altar of Jim Carrey, Daniel Plainview, Mike Ehrmantraut and Paulie Walnuts.