Andor is planned to launch on September 21, 2022, reintroducing the legendary role of Rebel commander Mon Mothma as well as Genevieve O’Reilly, the actress who played the character on and off for almost 20 years. In 2003, O’Reilly debuted in the character in a deleted scene from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. She has spent most of her time in Star Wars Rebels providing voice dubs for the character. The actress felt that she got the first true opportunity to explore the character in depth with Andor.
She stated:
“To be able to investigate and dive into her — not only as a Rebel commander but also as a woman — has been something I didn’t anticipate and something I’m glad to be a part of.”
She went on:
“Caroline [Blakiston’s Mon Mothma] held visible anguish in the heart and core of that moment, I always thought. So I’ve always been fascinated about what that suffering was,…and having the chance to find out would hopefully inform and enhance the work that currently exists.”
Who exactly is Genevieve O’Reilly?
Genevieve O’Reilly was born on January 6, 1977, in Dublin, Ireland. She is the oldest of four siblings and was reared in Adelaide, Australia. The actress relocated to Sydney when she was 20 years old. She graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 2000. Genevieve O’Reilly made her television debut in 2001 with the Canadian series BeastMaster. She then made a cameo in Asylum Seekers. She came to notoriety as Leanne Curtis in All Saints. The program ran from 2002 through 2005.
She has appeared on The State Within, The Time of Your Life, Diana: Last Days of a Princess, Second Chance, Life, Spooks, Waking the Dead, The Day of the Triffids, Law & Order: UK, and Midsomer Murders, among other shows. Genevieve O’Reilly earned a name for herself as Frances Pirsig in the miniseries The Honourable Woman. She also appeared in the BBC TV series Banished.
She also appeared in a number of films during this time period, including The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Avatar, Right Here Right Now, The Young Victoria, Forget Me Not, Survivor, The Legend of Tarzan, and The Snowman. In 2017, she also portrayed Moira in Overwatch.
She is well known for her portrayal of Mon Mothma, a character she played for a long period. She stated about her part in Andor and the chance to delve into the character:
“This is such a wonderful part. It has been an honor to step into the shoes that Caroline Blakiston created with George Lucas in the 1980s, as well as to revisit her at various points in my life. So having the opportunity to explore and delve into her — not just as a Rebel leader, but also as a woman — has been unexpected and something I’m excited to be a part of.”
