#i123

Star Wars Insider: You’ve got a new costume and a new look on the show. As a successful clothes designer yourself, did you have any input in the designs?

Ashley Eckstein: I didn’t have any input, but I thought they did a fantastic job. I’m in love with her new outfit and I hope to be able to sell pieces based on it because it looks fantastic. What girl would not want Ahsoka’s new tights?

So could we see something like that in the Her Universe line at some point?

Who knows? It’s not even in planning stages, but it’s on a wish list of things I’d like to do. I joke with Dave [Filoni, supervising director of Star Wars: The Clone Wars] that he actually is quite the fashion designer. Not only did he knock it out the park with his Plo Koon and Ahsoka T-shirt for Her Universe, now he has designed Ahsoka’s new look.

And she has two lightsabers.

Two lightsabers are always better than one! I thought that was awesome that she got a second lightsaber. One of them is shorter, almost like a lightsaber dagger, which I thought was really cool.

Do you think that’s a sign of her toughening up?

She’s definitely toughening up. She’s spent so much time with Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Plo Koon that she’s taking on their fighting skills, especially Anakin’s. Ahsoka has no fear, no fear at all. She just goes right at it. Sometimes Anakin is so spontaneous that he doesn’t think about the Jedi way of doing things. Obi-Wan is more by the book. Ahsoka is definitely a combination of them both.

Is Anakin a bad influence?

I wouldn’t say Anakin is a bad influence, but he’s not necessarily the best influence for promoting the Jedi way. Anakin does things his own way, so Ahsoka has definitely become more like Anakin. At times she acts in ways that would be against what they would teach at the Jedi Temple. But thinking outside the box like Anakin and Ahsoka do is sometimes the best way to accomplish what you want. You have to take the good with the bad.

The upcoming Mortis episodes are very different from what we have seen to date. What was your reaction when you first read those scripts?

The scripts of the three Mortis episodes really blew my mind. I couldn’t believe that they were allowing us to tackle that storyline. There are some heavy questions about Anakin and who he is. It really affects the movies and ties them into our series. I think that’s what so nice about our show—as we go along, we help explain things that happen in the movies and answer people’s questions about why things are the way they are.

When we first started, some fans complained because our show would be part of Star Wars canon, but now I think they welcome the fact that they’re getting some answers they always wanted.

How did you approach these episodes as an actress?

I had to approach them differently because Ahsoka goes through many personality transformations during this story. She grows up, and she goes through some extremely tough times. Just having to explore those different personalities, but still keeping them true to Ahsoka, was quite difficult for me.

There was one scene I wasn’t quite hitting on the first try. Usually when we record an episode we only do three takes of every line, and then we move on. It’s rare to do more than three takes of something, but this one particular scene we were doing over and over again. I was getting really frustrated that I couldn’t nail it. I was so blessed to have James Arnold Taylor [Obi-Wan] in the studio with me. He came over and said, “Okay Ashley, calm down, you can do this. Try it this way,” which was completely different than how I was doing it. It worked and that’s the take they ended up using. It’s like going to school every time you go into a recording session. I’m constantly learning from the cast.

The animation in that particular scene just blew my mind. The animators continue to raise the bar, but they really went to town for the Mortis episodes. There’s some stunning shots that we truly haven’t seen before.

Would you like to explore other aspects of Ahsoka in the future?

As an actress you always look for challenging opportunities and roles. Now that the cast have all become so familiar with our characters, it can become routine because playing your character becomes second nature. We’ve been working on the show for five years, so you automatically know how your character would say certain lines. To have opportunities that are challenging and [that] give you the chance to stretch your talents is definitely something that I look forward to. Putting Ahsoka into different situations, whether she seems evil, or whether she grows up, or whatever might happen to her in the future, is something that can be very rewarding to perform.

Does it really seem like five years since you started working on the show or has it gone really quickly?

It has gone by very quickly. Where we [the cast] really notice it is in our friendships. We’ve gotten to know each other really well, and we’re like a family. It’s surpassed just a professional relationship where you arrive, shake hands, and say, “Hi, good to see you again,” to where you walk in and give that person a hug and say, “How’s it going? How’re your wife and your children?” That’s where I realize we’re creating a family here similar to our characters and how close our characters are. The Jedi might not like attachments, but we’ve definitely become attached to each other.

What sort of direction did Dave Filoni give for these episodes?

Dave’s direction was imperative for these episodes. It always is, but [especially for] these in particular because they were such a stretch for our characters. We were coming out of our element and we had to give more dramatic performances, so we had to rely on Dave to paint that picture for us. We also went to a new location that we’d never been to before, so it really was uncharted territory! There was certainly a dramatic, intense feeling inside the studio for this story arc! Everybody was very serious, and we were all very into our characters. Matt Lanter, who is such a fantastic actor, takes his character acting very seriously. I like to watch him before he starts recording getting into character; that’s really cool. These are huge episodes for Anakin; he’s the centerpiece of these episodes. Matt has the weight of the story on his shoulders, so to see him get into character and go to that place was amazing to watch.

Did you expect the show to be so challenging on a dramatic level?

I certainly didn’t expect this level of drama. We knew that we were going to be tackling storylines that were set during the Clone Wars, but I don’t think I ever imagined that we would play such an integral part in the overall story of Star Wars.

You have said that Dave is your master and you’re his Padawan. What’s the best advice he’s given you?

To trust my instincts. That was one thing he wanted from the very beginning. He wanted me to bring a lot of myself to Ahsoka, and he still encourages that. The fact that he trusted me to help him create this new character for Star Wars is something I feel honored about. That Dave and George would be open to listening to my opinion is great. They let me bring a lot of suggestions and my own personality to the characterization of Ahsoka.

Dave leads by example. To see how far he’s come professionally over the course of these five years has been incredible. I think he’s just tapping into his talents—he is such a talented man and to watch him, he won’t take no for an answer. If George Lucas says, “Dave you need to go create this,” even if it seems against all odds and has never been done on television before, Dave will find a way to do it, and he’ll do it the best he possibly can. He encourages me to do just that. He’s really a fantastic Jedi Master for me to follow—I’ve learned a lot from him.

Nika Futterman said that she’d like to see Asajj Ventress in a rematch with Ahsoka. Why do you think Ahsoka would win?

Well, Ventress is pretty tough, but Ahsoka’s come a long way since they first fought. I think that it would be a tough battle, but Ahsoka’s got two lightsabers now so it’s definitely more of an even match. I can imagine my tears if Ahsoka lost, because I’ve become so emotionally invested in her that the thought of her not being around is very sad. But what’s the exact quote? “Always in motion is the future?” Who knows what will happen?

Ahsoka’s come a very long way since the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie. Where would you like to see her go next?

Star Wars Insider: Can you recall your reaction when you first read the scripts for the Mortis episodes?

Matt Lanter: I was actually shocked when I first read the episodes. There are some revelations that we learn about the Force and the balance of the Force. I think it’s going to blow audiences away. How does Anakin play into that? Getting [the scripts] for those three episodes was a really cool experience for me as a Star Wars fan.

Playing Anakin, I get to take him on this emotional journey. There’s a lot for him to do, because there’s an emotional rollercoaster that he goes on. This has probably been the most challenging arc as a voice actor yet in The Clone Wars for me. I hear they came out great, and its going to be a game changer for fans when they see them. It’s a totally new reveal.

Anything that ties The Clone Wars into the movies is always going to be cool.

Yes. They do a great job tying it in with the characters and the stories. When you see film characters come in, it really solidifies that it is an extension of the films: it’s not something different, it’s an extension of the saga that we know and love.

It’s really unlike anything that the show or even Star Wars in general has attempted so far. Did you approach these scripts in a different way?

The cool thing about The Clone Wars is we’re able to have different tones to individual shows. Sometimes we’ve got a very light and fun tone, like some of the shows about Artoo. There was one about Artoo and Threepio finding fruit to go on a cake! They’re entertaining, but we also have episodes and arcs that are very dark, that give a lot of Star Wars secrets away. This is definitely one of those arcs, very dark and very intense. One of the fun things about The Clone Wars is that we get to explore all these emotions, and as long as they’re Star Wars, it works. As a fan, this has got to be one of my favorite arcs.

These are the biggest episodes yet for Anakin—what kind of direction did supervising director Dave Filoni offer?

Dave is always extremely helpful and integral in making these episodes. In dealing with the Force and higher powers, Dave was right there directing Sam Witwer [the Son] and me into the right emotional tone. He’s excellent at that. He knows exactly where it needs to be and he knows what its going to look like and the impact it’s going to have on the fans. Without his direction, it wouldn’t be nearly what it is.

These are particularly dark episodes—how far down the dark path do you think Anakin can go on the show? Does he have to remain a hero?

I think to a certain extent he has to remain a hero. We know how he appears at the beginning of Revenge of the Sith, so obviously he can’t go past that. I feel like in Revenge of the Sith he’s got these thoughts circulating in his head already. He’s already thinking about how Obi-Wan’s holding him back, but for the most part he’s still trying to be a good Jedi. There’s a stage we can’t really go past. It’s fun for me, as an actor, to see these dark flashes in Anakin. It’s a nice foreshadowing tool we can use. Anakin certainly does have these tendencies, and you can see why he goes to the extreme place he does in Revenge of the Sith. I think it makes the story much more tragic when we’ve got a character who is a hero, a likeable, loveable hero. Of course, he has these flaws. We see them come out every now and then. By the end of it these flaws take him over. It’s intense.

What appeals to you most about the character?

Anakin is probably one of the most complex characters in science fiction history. Right now he’s the fun-loving charming hero that every boy looks up to. It’s a lot of fun to play those dark moments, because that makes the character very human. To play both aspects is a dream job—being part of Star Wars and voicing Anakin. The saga is all about Anakin and Darth Vader!

Do you think these episodes are as dark as the show can get?

It was pretty dark in the script, but I don’t know how it came out, how it looks. Revenge of the Sith is very, very dark. I don’t think there’s any reason why we can’t do the same, why we can’t go there. There’s endless potential.

When you signed up did you have any idea you’d be doing these kind of episodes? Did you expect anything like the Mortis episodes?

I had no idea the show was going to be this huge, worldwide. When I auditioned, we didn’t know anything. It was very secretive. I didn’t even know exactly what I was reading for!

We’ve got such a talented writing team and animation team, and George obviously tells some fantastic stories, so nothing surprises me. Something as big as this reveal, though, did shock me when I read the script. It really changes your perception of something as big as the Force, how you see it through all six films. That’s when I think The Clone Wars is at its best, when it reveals something, or changes something, or really adds to how we see the films. That’s when we know we’re doing a good job, when we fit right in and we’re changing the way things are thought about. That’s what the prequels did for the original trilogy—they changed the way we saw things in the original trilogy completely. That’s what The Clone Wars is doing. It’s pretty incredible.

Do you agree with the decisions Anakin makes?

I’m very close to the character. Up until the end, when his emotions get the best of him, Anakin thinks he’s on the right path. He thinks the Senate has been corrupted. He thinks the Jedi are corrupt. He believes he’s doing the right thing. Even at that point he believes that. At this point, he is brash and he does go after the enemy rather than take care of the wounded. I can empathise with Anakin, yes. He makes some brash decisions, but you can’t always go by the book. Sometimes you’ve just got to get it done.

You were at Celebration V last year. Was that your first big convention?

Yes, my first big convention. I did Star Wars Fan Days in Plano, Texas and I have done San Diego Comic-Con, but that was a couple of years back. We were not on the air then. The Clone Wars didn’t have as huge a presence at that Comic-Con as it probably would now. So Celebration was definitely the biggest.

What did you make of it?

I loved it. I’m a fan of the saga, just like everyone else. Everyone asked me about being a Star Wars geek and I’m proud of it, because it’s so much fun. Going to a convention like that—where there’s 30,000 people and everyone’s just there to have a good time—that’s what everyone enjoys. Everyone’s in a great mood, celebrating Star Wars. I think it’s a blast. Of course, I get the rare opportunity of being on the other side. I get to make Star Wars and then have that fan reaction and feedback. Everyone is really appreciative that you’re making Star Wars. It’s a great feeling.

Would you say that’s the coolest thing about being in Star Wars?

Definitely. The universe and the characters that George invents are awesome. They’re fun to be a part of and fun to play, but what really makes Star Wars is the fan base and the fan community. When we were down at Celebration, it felt like a huge family. Everyone was laughing and having a good time, seeing people they haven’t seen in a year or two. It’s a really cool way of connecting us to this worldwide Star Wars community that is so passionate.

People sometimes make fun of Star Wars fans as being so crazy-passionate and complaining about the stories, but that’s one of the fun parts. It’s a challenge to make Star Wars and to make it a live up to the films. It’s great when people love it and it’s Star Wars history.

Star Wars now spans multiple generations, with The Clone Wars bringing families together. I get fan mail talking about fathers watching The Clone Wars with their sons. It’s a special time for their family. It’s just a great thing to be a part of.

What do you think of Anakin’s new look on the show?

I’ve seen the pictures and I’ve seen the video on starwars.com, but I haven’t seen the character in action yet. These characters progress and change, and a change of clothing is kind of nice—a breath of fresh air. Of course, it looks a little bit more like Revenge of the Sith, which helps the continuity. As far as Anakin specifically, he’s a little bigger, he’s a little wider. I think his chest is a little bigger, so he’s a bit more intimidating. As he grows up I think his hair gets a little bit longer. It helps solidify that we’re filling in a gap between the two films. The starting point was one film and our ending point is another film. It really makes it feel like you’re watching the Star Wars saga. I’m excited to see it; I hope everyone else is too. And how cool is Ahsoka with her dual weapons?

Maybe next season you’ll get another weapon?

CAT: If you were a Jedi Knight, what color lightsaber would you wield?

JAT: Nobody’s ever asked me that. Everybody always wants to know about Obi-Wan. Blue is pretty good. I like blue; my car is blue, my eyes are blue. I look good in blue. Maybe I would change it just a shade darker. Gunmetal blue.

JAT: If you could be anyone in the Star Wars universe at all, who would you be?

CAT: I’d say Padmé is very much like me in a lot of ways. People think she’s wimpy and a pacifist—no she’s not! She has decorum, but when the time comes for it, she will fight. I played her daughter, Leia [in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed], who would be another great choice. I want to play Jaina Solo as well! Padmé has the greatest clothes, though—let’s just get that out there!

JAT: It’d take the whole day to get that headdress on!

CAT: She’s got them lined up in the closet, ready to go. Or maybe she just has a really good hair and makeup person? I would only like to be her for a day, since I know what ends up happening [in Revenge of the Sith]. I would really like to be Jaina, because she’s also a Jedi! With Padmé I don’t get to wield a lightsaber, unless I steal it from someone else.

CAT: If you had the Force in real life, how would you use it?

JAT: What do you mean, “if?” [In Obi-Wan voice] Well, I’d use it for good and never evil. [JAT voice] On the show, I wonder, Why didn’t they use the Force there, why didn’t they use it there? I think the coolest thing is when Obi-Wan walks into a room and makes the chair spin around, then sits down—that type of stuff is simple. That’s what I’d use it for. Those simple things.

CAT: Would you use the Jedi mind trick?

JAT: Well, see, now that you say that, it does sound tempting. Actually, just to help somebody along? [Obi-Wan voice] You want more Obi-Wan in this episode. [JAT voice] But that won’t work on Dave [Filoni, supervising director of The Clone Wars], he’s completely immune!

JAT: What would Padmé’s ringtone be?

CAT: It would probably be the Naboo National Anthem. She’s definitely proud of her home world.

CAT: If you could visit any Star Wars planet on vacation, which one would it be and why?

JAT: Oh, man. [Obi-Wan voice] Well, I certainly won’t want to go to Mandalore. [JAT voice] Let’s see, that is a great question. There’s no beachfront properties, though. I’m a beach guy.

JAT: What’s the best thing about Star Wars fans?

CAT: Hmmm, their enthusiasm is so great for the whole universe, that it causes them to be just so appreciative. When you meet someone at a convention, they’re so happy to meet you. Talk about having a good day!

CAT: In real life you drive pretty much the coolest car in the world: a custom-made Testa. What mode of transportation would you choose in the Star Wars universe? I actually have four choices for you: a) a luxurious Imperial cruiser; b) a sporty TIE fighter or X-wing; c) the Millennium Falcon; or d) a tauntaun or dewback?

AT: Yeah, I would go for a dewback! No, Obi-Wan is not going to be choosing any space travel. I would go for the greener route: A tauntaun. I know they smell bad.

JAT: OK, here’s a classic question, but given a Star Wars slant. If you could have dinner with anyone in the Star Wars universe—not just characters, but people like George Lucas and Ben Burtt—who would you have dinner with?

CAT: If I could have dinner with a character, it would certainly be Yoda because of the way he teaches. If it was a real person, I think we would all love to have dinner with George—that goes without saying! I would also love to have dinner with John Williams, because the music is such a major part of Star Wars. It would be really interesting to see what his process was like.

JAT: This is a silly one: Han or Anakin?

CAT: You know, that’s funny because that has changed throughout my life. I really liked Luke when I was younger, and then I suddenly one day went, “I like Han.” Now, with Anakin, the way he’s portrayed by Matt [Lanter], he’s so heroic, and he’s cocky. I do like the scoundrel part of Han.

CAT: You voice many characters in The Clone Wars, but which one were you the most nervous to tackle and why?

JAT: Oh, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Not for the reason people would think—the main reason was because this character is so beloved. I had to do this justice. I really wanted to keep the role. When I started doing this it was for the micro-series, and then the videogames, and I thought, I hope something else comes of this. There were always rumors that they would do this show—I wanted to be able to be attached to this character for the long term, because of my love for it, and the privilege to do it.

JAT: How is it that Obi-Wan and Padmé end up being as close as they are in Revenge of the Sith, where she trusts him? In Episode I and II, he doesn’t trust her—something has happened during this time and we don’t know what that is. I think that’s a great opportunity for a story. It would be fun to explore that because we generally don’t get to exchange lines that often.