Keira Knightley’s Sabé in Star Wars goes way beyond her brief appearance in “The Phantom Menace.”
As Padmé Amidala’s handmaid, she plays a crucial role beyond being a body double for the Queen of Naboo. Sabé’s saga extends across various eras within the Star Wars lore and is a different story in itself.
Knightley portrayed Sabé in 1999’s “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace,” which marked her only appearance in the films.
However, the character has continued her advent by playing crucial roles in various novels and comics in the Star Wars canon timeline. Let’s explore the significant chapters of Sabé’s journey in the expansive Star Wars narrative.
1. Sabé Was Padme’s Main Decoy
Chosen for her striking resemblance to Naboo’s new queen, Sabé takes on the role of the Queen’s Shadow. She becomes one of the most crucial members of an elite group of handmaidens chosen for their loyalty and dedication to Queen Padmé Amidala.
With time, the bond between the queen and her decoy strengthens, with Sabé ready to give her life for her queen’s safety.
Her duties include impersonating Queen Amidala during the Trade Federation’s siege, a deception she maintains until Padmé iconic reveal during the Battle of Naboo.
Sabé remains loyal to Padme and continues to serve her even after she gives up her throne.
2. Sabé Attempts to Free Anakin’s Mother hmi
Sabé’s role expands from being just a decoy when Padme becomes the senator of Naboo. Having witnessed the heart wrenching slave trade in Tattooine during ‘The Phantom Menace,’ the senator orders her decoy to relocate several slaves and give them their due freedom.
In her quest, Sabé wants to find Anakin Skywalker’s mother, Shmi but fails because she has already shifted from Mos Espa and has become a part of the Lars family near Mos Eisley.
3. Sabé is Aware of Padme and Anakin
In the Clone Wars, Sabé agrees to serve as Padme’s body double according to E.K. Johnston’s novel, Queen’s Hope.
Blasphemy happens when Sabé secretly finds out that Anakin is having an affair with Padme when he attempts to sneak into Padme’s apartment on Coruscant, only to find Sabé there.
However, Sabé keeps their hidden marriage a secret.
4. Sabé Creates the Amidalans Post Padme’s Death
Devastated by Padmé’s demise, Sabé and the handmaids form the Amidalans to honor her legacy. They are also joined by Captain Typho and Ric Olié, who were close confidants of Padme.
The Amidalans suspect Darth Vader is behind the deaths of Padmé and Anakin since Vader’s fortress is on Mustafar, i.e., Padme’s last known location before her demise.
In the Darth Vader comics by Greg Pak and Raffaele Ienco, we see Vader on Naboo probing into his past and Luke’s origins after “The Empire Strikes Back.” While many Amidalans perished confronting Vader, some survived to tell the story.
5. Sabé Confronts Darth Vader After Empire Strikes Back
Sabé sets up an elaborate trap for Darth Vader after ‘The Empire Strikes Back,’ and Vader’s confrontation with the Amidalans is an intricate part of it.
Sabé feigns interest in luring Darth Vader into Naboo and hopes to kill him with the help of her fellow Amidalans and handmaids.
However, things go downhill immediately as the Dark Lord turns out to be too powerful, and Sabé and only a few Amidalans are left to tell the tale after the fiasco.
6. Sabé Joins Crimson Dawn
In her quest to defeat the Darth Vader, Sabé joins Crimson Dawn for a brief period. Crimson Dawn is a major crime syndicate founded by Darth Maul and taken over by Lady Qi’ra.
However, Sabé’s loyalty to the unit is non-existent, as she uses the organization to plot the destruction of the Dark Lord of the Sith.
With its help, Sabé eventually discovers the medical facility on Polis Massa where Padme gave birth and later died.
7. Sabé Learns about Darth Vader’s True Identity
Stumbling upon the same incomplete and damaged recording Vader finds in Pak and Ienco’s Darth Vader series, Sabé realizes that Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker.
This startling discovery propels Sabé to seek out the Sith Lord but with a changed purpose inspired by Padmé’s last words. Convinced by Padmé’s belief that Anakin still has goodness within him, Sabé dedicates herself to validating the late Queen of Naboo’s judgment.
8. Sabé Tries to Redeem Anakin Before Return of the Jedi
After finding Vader, Sabé tries her best to bring him back to the light before ‘Return of the Jedi.’
Sabé challenges Darth Vader as no one else can even dream of doing. She openly calls him Anakin and convinces him to help her free the Tattooine slaves whom the Crimson Dawn leaders are oppressing.
9. Sabé Becomes Vader’s Shadow
Sabé’s words really shake up Vader, and that might have even helped Luke bring him back to the light side in ‘Return of the Jedi.’
However, things go horribly wrong as Vader pulls her to the dark side, and she starts working for him.
Even Emperor Palpatine gives her the go-ahead to be Vader’s right-hand person, Vader’s Shadow.
Both Vader and Sabé want the galaxy to be orderly, but Sabé starts bending her own rules to stay close to Vader.
10. Sabé Chooses Vader Over Her Fellow Handmaids
Sabé’s handmaids try to save her from the clutches of Darth Vader, refusing to believe that she would ever willingly serve him.
However, Sabé finally chooses to stay with Vader even after being saved by her handmaids, choosing to remain in the dark so that her sisters can live free from darkness.
11. In the End, Sabé Refuses to Hate Like Darth Vader
Sabé faces a pivotal moment when the Force is disrupted, compelling her to choose her path.
Moreover, the Hidden Empire fiasco elevates Darth Vader’s power and anger exponentially, endangering Sabé unless she embraces the same hatred.
However, she chooses not to succumb to this hatred and facilitates Vader’s extremely imperialistic goals.
This choice becomes her nemesis as Vader chucks her into the sea, drunk in power. Her fate remains uncertain within the Star Wars narrative as Vader departs the planet to master his abilities, possibly believing Sabé perished due to her defiance.
12. About Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the 1977 film Star Wars: A New Hope and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon.
It has three trilogies at its core – Original, Prequel, and Sequel, spread across five decades and interspersed with at least a dozen spin-off series and films.
Created by George Lucas and his Lucasfilm, the franchise is currently under the Disney umbrella. All the Star Wars films and shows are now available to binge on Disney+ streaming service.
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