50 Roles for 50 Actors: Dream casting the Star Wars saga

Dream casting the Star Wars saga: Jennifer Lawrence as Padmé Amidala

Any remake of the prequel trilogy will need someone like Lawrence in the role of Padmé Amidala for one reason: presence. Natalie Portman’s turn as the Queen of Naboo was…okay…in parts…but it lacked conviction. Portman stumbled through a lot of the dialogue (to be fair, any actress was bound to have trouble with lines like “Hold me like you did by the lake on Naboo,” but that’s a topic for another time), and the character came off as bland. Portman is a fine actress (watch V for Vendetta or Black Swan to see her in her element), but she didn’t have the presence to elevate this character.

Jennifer Lawrence won’t be able to change the fact that Padmé isn’t a very interestingly written character, but she might be able to use her charisma to distract from it. Whether starring in independent darlings like Winter’s Bone, dramas like Silver Linings Playbook, or mega-franchises like The Hunger Games, charisma is something that Lawrence always brings to the table. Padmé could definitely use a bit of it.

In fact, with her reputation for playing feisty heroines, Lawrence wouldn’t be a bad choice for Leia, either, but Padmé needs the help more.

Next: The fake Queen of Naboo