Mon Mothma Explained: All Star Wars Movies, Shows & Rebel Origin (2024)

Genevieve O’Reilly has become well known for playing the party of Mon Mothma in Star Wars, a character of phenomenal importance to both the Rebel Alliance and the New Republic. The British actress Caroline Blakiston played the character of Mon Mothma, a key rebel leader, in Return of the Jedi. Genevieve O’Reilly was cast for the role in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, with George Lucas interested in giving Mothma's backstory as a senator. Unfortunately, O'Reilly's role was cut from the movie.

In an amusing twist of fate, though, O'Reilly has found herself returning to the role in the Disney era. She's already played the part of Mon Mothma in Andor and Ahsoka, and all signs are she'll be a returning actor throughout the Mandalorian Era. But who is Mon Mothma? Here's all you need to know about the Rebel Alliance's legendary founder.

Mon Mothma's Backstory Explained

Mon Mothma hails from the Core World planet of Chandrila, a founding member of the Old Republic. Born in 46BBY, Mon Mothma became one of the youngest senators to date when she joined the Galactic Senate in 32BBY, representing her homeworld. A close friend of Padmé Amidala and Bail Organa, she was a crucial member of the Loyalist Committee, a group who sought to use diplomacy to prevent - and later end - the Clone Wars. She coordinated a massive petition toward the end of the Clone Wars, calling for Palpatine to surrender his emergency powers.

The Loyalists swiftly realized Palpatine had no intention of doing so, and Padmé persuaded both Mon Mothma and Bail Organa to keep their heads down so they could provide true opposition. This was the beginning of the Rebel Alliance, with Mon Mothma working alongside other politicians to covertly provide political resistance to Palpatine. She became especially close to Bail Organa, later acting as a teacher to his adoptive daughter Leia who went on to play a pivotal role in the downfall of the Empire and her birth father Darth Vader.

How Mon Mothma Founded The Rebel Alliance

Mon Mothma initially believed in the importance of political opposition to the Empire, and was reluctant to wage open war. It was only after an atrocity involving the Ghorman - likely to be shown in Andor season 2 - that she went public with her opposition to the Empire. Mon Mothma issued a speech denouncing the Emperor from the Rebel ship the Ghost. She asked all rebel cells to unite to bring down the Empire, effectively birthing the Rebel Alliance.

The Galactic Civil War began at the Battle of Yavin, and Mon Mothma served as the undisputed leader of the Rebel Alliance, although she was careful to cede military decisions to her generals. Mon Mothma had never wanted to go to war; rather, she felt her hand had been forced, through the creation of the Death Star and the abolition of the Senate. The latter meant there were no longer political avenues that could be used to undermine the Empire, and war was the only option.

What Happened To Mon Mothma After Return Of The Jedi

The war with the Empire did not end at the Battle of Endor. Although Mon Mothma wasted little time in establishing the New Republic, her government was initially caught in an escalating war with the Empire, whose leaders committed countless genocidal acts as part of Operation Cinder. One terrorist attack on Chandrila itself prevented peace talks, and it wasn't until after the Battle of Jakku that the shattered remnants of the Empire surrendered. Mon Mothma wasted no time in calling elections, and was chosen as the New Republic's first chancellor.

Mon Mothma was a skilled politician, and the New Republic flourished under her guidance. She was not, however, infallible; she failed to recognize the signs of Imperial resurgence, meaning she opposed remilitarization strategies that would have protected the galaxy from the First Order. Mon Mothma retired due to ill health, although she remained in contact with Leia Organa, offering support when Leia's true identity as Darth Vader's daughter was revealed to the galaxy.

Every Star Wars Movie & TV Show Mon Mothma Appears In

Mon Mothma appeared as the Rebel Alliance's leader in Return of the Jedi, and her story continued as a major character in the old Star Wars Expanded Universe (those stories are now considered non-canon). Over 20 years later, the role was taken over by Irish-Australian actor Genevieve O’Reilly, who played a younger version of Mothma in Revenge of the Sith. Though her dialogue was cut from its theatrical release, Mothma did appear in the film’s deleted scenes. A decade later, O’Reilly then reprized the character for a more prominent role in Rogue One and, more recently, Andor and Ahsoka.

Mothma appeared as a recurring character Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels. Mothma’s work in the Senate was depicted in detail in the 15 Clone Wars episodes she appeared in, voiced by Kath Soucie. O’Reilly then voiced the character in Rebels, notably in the season 3 episode “Secret Cargo” where Mothma spoke out against the Galactic Emperor Palpatine before promptly exiting the Senate and Empire. She's confirmed to be a major part of Andor season 2, meaning O'Reilly's Star Wars story is far from over.