Actors You Probably Didn’t Know Were in ‘Star Wars’ Movies and Shows

The Star Wars galaxy is expansive enough to include thousands of alien species and countless human characters across its many planets. Casting directors frequently fill these roles with acclaimed performers who are eager to be part of the legendary franchise. Many of these appearances go unnoticed because the actors are hidden behind heavy prosthetics or stormtrooper helmets. Other famous faces appear in the background of scenes before they achieved their current level of stardom. These are ten talented actors who journeyed to a galaxy far far away without most audiences realizing it.

Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley appeared in ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace’ several years before she achieved international fame. She portrayed Sabé who served as the loyal handmaiden and primary decoy for Queen Amidala. The physical resemblance between Knightley and Natalie Portman was so striking that their mothers reportedly struggled to tell them apart when they were in full makeup. Her character plays a crucial role during the negotiations with the Trade Federation while the real queen operates in disguise as a handmaiden.

Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig suited up as a stormtrooper in ‘Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens’ for a memorable but hidden cameo. He plays the First Order soldier manipulated by Rey when she uses a Jedi mind trick to escape her restraints on Starkiller Base. This specific trooper is listed as FN-1824 in the script but fans often refer to him as JB-007 as a nod to the actor’s James Bond persona. The actor filmed this secret scene at Pinewood Studios while he was simultaneously working on a different movie on a neighboring soundstage.

Rose Byrne

Rose Byrne had a minor role in ‘Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones’ as a dedicated royal servant. She played Dormé who was one of the few handmaidens remaining with Padmé Amidala after the initial assassination attempts on Coruscant. Her character stays behind to maintain the illusion that the Senator is still present while the real Padmé travels to Naboo for her safety. This performance occurred years before her breakout roles in major comedies and television dramas made her a household name.

Sofia Coppola

Sofia Coppola made a brief appearance in ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace’ as a member of the royal entourage. She played Saché who is another one of Queen Amidala’s handmaidens identifiable by her ornate red velvet hooded gown. The acclaimed director took the role at the urging of her father Francis Ford Coppola who was visiting his friend George Lucas during production. Her character remains on Naboo during the Trade Federation occupation to protect the palace while the Queen pleads her case to the Senate.

Bill Hader

Bill Hader contributed his vocal talents to help bring the lovable droid BB-8 to life in the sequel trilogy. The comedian and actor worked alongside Ben Schwartz to create the distinct language of beeps and boops for the spherical astromech. They utilized a synthesizer attached to a microphone to manipulate their human voices into the digital sounds heard in the final cut. His work is officially credited as a vocal consultant for ‘Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens’ rather than a traditional voice acting role.

Simon Pegg

Simon Pegg underwent a significant physical transformation to play the junkboss Unkar Plutt in ‘Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens’. He wore a massive prosthetic suit to portray the grumpy Crolute who exchanges portions of food for scavenged parts on the planet Jakku. The actor is a well-known fan of the franchise and previously voiced the bounty hunter Dengar in the animated series ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’. His face is completely obscured by the practical effects used to create the alien creature that harasses Rey.

Jason Sudeikis

Jason Sudeikis played a Scout Trooper in the dramatic first season finale of ‘The Mandalorian’. He is one of the two troopers who famously captures the child character known as Grogu before engaging in some casual target practice with a speeder bike. This scene gained viral attention because the character punches the beloved infant inside the satchel while waiting for orders from Moff Gideon. The cameo allows the comedic actor to deliver dialogue with his signature timing despite his face being hidden by a helmet the entire time.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Gordon-Levitt voiced the character Slowen Lo in ‘Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi’. This alien resident of Canto Bight complains to the local police about the shuttle illegally parked on the beach by Finn and Rose. The character is a tall Abednedo who speaks with a distinct Texan drawl throughout his brief appearance in the casino city. The name of the alien is actually a reference to the Beastie Boys song Slow and Low.

John Leguizamo

John Leguizamo provided the voice for the gangster Gor Koresh in the second season of ‘The Mandalorian’. This Abyssin cyclops attempts to trick the protagonist into a gambling scheme to steal his valuable beskar armor. The actor delivers a menacing performance during the opening sequence of the episode titled The Marshal. His character meets an unfortunate end after being interrogated by the Mandalorian and left hanging upside down in the dark.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Thomas Brodie-Sangster appeared briefly as a First Order officer in ‘Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens’. He plays Petty Officer Thanisson who announces that there is an unscheduled departure from the hangar bay. The actor is widely recognized for his roles in ‘Love Actually’ and ‘The Maze Runner’ but is easy to miss in this chaotic scene. His character is instrumental in alerting the command bridge about the theft of a TIE fighter by Finn and Poe Dameron.

Tell us which of these secret cameos surprised you the most in the comments.