50 most shocking moments in Star Wars history

33. Holdo sacrificing herself (Star Wars: The Last Jedi)

Amilyn Holdo hasn’t been present in too many Star Wars properties, but she plays a crucial role in The Last Jedi at just the right moment. Part of being on the side of the Resistance means knowing when to act and when to take a step back to formulate a more strategic approach. This is something that Holdo understands more than Poe does when he gets frustrated by what is or isn’t being done.

While Leia and the rest of the crew escape, Holdo stays aboard the Raddus. The First Order ends up detecting the unarmed transport ships and starts firing on them. This leads Holdo to use the ship’s hyperdrive to ram the Supremacy at lightspeed. General Armitage Hux thought she was fleeing and didn’t see it coming.

While Holdo did this to save the rest of the Resistance members on the transport ships, she also happened to save Finn and Rose. They were in a tight spot when Holdo rammed the ship and this gave them enough room to get out alive. Holdo also appears in Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray which gives a good look at her history with Leia. It’s clear they’ve known each other for a while and she’s an admirable woman for the sacrifice she made.