How old ae Luke and Leia in ANH?

vakundok · Post by **vakundok** » 2003-06-09 03:26pm

If I remember well, Leia's age was not directly mentioned in the novelizations.

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2003-06-09 06:17pm

Skimming through, I don't see a mention of her age. However, even if there is one, we'll have to establish some sense of order. With Luke being mentioned first, and really the focus of ANH, his age of 20 should be the better of the two. Sense they are twins in the movies, that makes them both 20. Unless someone else knows where Leia's age is mentioned canon wise, I'm going with this.

YT300000 · Post by **YT300000** » 2003-06-09 06:50pm

evilcat4000 wrote:
Don't believe him? Portman was ~ 16 when they filmed TPM. In the film, Amidala was 14. In AotC, she played someone half a decade older than she was
Actualy in most movies it works the other way around. Actors especialy child actors play characters that are younger than themselves. In TPM for instance as you mentioned Portman was around 16 years of age while the character she played was around 14.

BTW Padme was 24 in Aotc . Since her real age at the time was 21 that would make her 3 years older in the film not "half a decade" older.

IIRC, when they filmed AotC she was younger.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2003-06-09 08:12pm

YT300000 wrote:
neoolong wrote:
Wicked Pilot wrote:In 1977 Mark Hammill was 26 and Carie Fisher was 21. Maybe this will lead you somewhere.
Actors often play characters younger than they are. It means little.
Don't believe him? Portman was ~ 16 when they filmed TPM. In the film, Amidala was 14. In AotC, she played someone half a decade older than she was.

If Portman turned 22 today, and TPM was released in the Spring of 1999, then that would have made her 17 during filming. And, IIRC, Amidala was supposed to be 16 during TPM.

YT300000 · Post by **YT300000** » 2003-06-09 08:17pm

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi wrote:If Portman turned 22 today, and TPM was released in the Spring of 1999, then that would have made her 17 during filming. And, IIRC, Amidala was supposed to be 16 during TPM.

Padme was 14:

SW.com wrote:At the age of eight, she joined the Apprentice Legislature and became an Apprentice Legislator at age 11. By 14, she was elected Queen of Naboo.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2003-06-09 09:52pm

YT300000 wrote: Padme was 14:

SW.com wrote:At the age of eight, she joined the Apprentice Legislature and became an Apprentice Legislator at age 11. By 14, she was elected Queen of Naboo.

Just because she was elected at 14 doesn't mean she was still 14 during the events of Episode I... how long is a term for Queen of Naboo, anyways?

YT300000 · Post by **YT300000** » 2003-06-09 10:04pm

DPDarkPrimus wrote:
YT300000 wrote: Padme was 14:

SW.com wrote:At the age of eight, she joined the Apprentice Legislature and became an Apprentice Legislator at age 11. By 14, she was elected Queen of Naboo.
Just because she was elected at 14 doesn't mean she was still 14 during the events of Episode I... how long is a term for Queen of Naboo, anyways?

I bring before you Queen Amidala, recently elected leader of the Naboo, who speaks on our behalf. -Palpatine, TPM

IIRC the TPM novel also has a passage in which she says/thinks that she was only queen for a month. Or it was in the Ep. 1 Journal she "wrote".

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2003-06-10 10:10am

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi wrote: And, IIRC, Amidala was supposed to be 16 during TPM.

It's possible to look older than you really are. I know girls which are ~15, but could easily pass for being much older.

MrAnderson · Post by **MrAnderson** » 2003-06-10 02:54pm

Does anyone else find this to be one of the biggest weaknesses of the movies?

Amidala elected Queen at 14? Smooth one George.

Leia an Imperial Senator at 20? That was also some smooth planning.

Does anyone else see this as a suggestion that the Republic was not really a republic but more of an autocracy with powerful familes holding power that is automatically past down from one generation to the next?

Or how about the dumb line from Amidala in AOTC where she mentions that she isnt even the youngest person elected Queen by the Naboo.

Isolder74 · Post by **Isolder74** » 2003-06-10 03:02pm

MrAnderson wrote:Does anyone else find this to be one of the biggest weaknesses of the movies?

Amidala elected Queen at 14? Smooth one George.

Leia an Imperial Senator at 20? That was also some smooth planning.

Does anyone else see this as a suggestion that the Republic was not really a republic but more of an autocracy with powerful familes holding power that is automatically past down from one generation to the next?

Or how about the dumb line from Amidala in AOTC where she mentions that she isnt even the youngest person elected Queen by the Naboo.

So there were Kings put into office as young as 8. Just because America has an age limit before one can be elected does not mean everyone has to live by those standards. BTW in the original US Constitution Senator were appointed by state legilators reather then by popular elections so the system of the Republic could be many different ways of electing senators based on how each planet chooses to elect then.

MrAnderson · Post by **MrAnderson** » 2003-06-10 04:01pm

Kings and Queens that young are always hereditary titles with the child in question not having any power until they hit an age of majority. Until then there is always someone appointed as a Regent who governs in their place.

This is different, in SW these are elected positions. I find it hard to believe that any society would elect a 14 year old. This suggests to me that the actual election is done by a small group of elitest who control the government and keep power to themselves.

So there were Kings put into office as young as 8. Just because America has an age limit before one can be elected does not mean everyone has to live by those standards. BTW in the original US Constitution Senator were appointed by state legilators reather then by popular elections so the system of the Republic could be many different ways of electing senators based on how each planet chooses to elect then.[/quote]

Isolder74 · Post by **Isolder74** » 2003-06-10 04:41pm

MrAnderson wrote:Kings and Queens that young are always hereditary titles with the child in question not having any power until they hit an age of majority. Until then there is always someone appointed as a Regent who governs in their place.

This is different, in SW these are elected positions. I find it hard to believe that any society would elect a 14 year old. This suggests to me that the actual election is done by a small group of elitest who control the government and keep power to themselves.

So the Greeks did on ocation, but you are right these elected officials often were merely figureheads to apease the general populace while the general status quo could still be maintained. BTW Leia a senetor at 20 is hardly pushing it. All I see is a illistration of how corruption was able to enter into the Republic because of the lake of failsafes in they system in general.

YT300000 · Post by **YT300000** » 2003-06-10 07:19pm

MrAnderson wrote:Kings and Queens that young are always hereditary titles with the child in question not having any power until they hit an age of majority. Until then there is always someone appointed as a Regent who governs in their place.

This is different, in SW these are elected positions. I find it hard to believe that any society would elect a 14 year old. This suggests to me that the actual election is done by a small group of elitest who control the government and keep power to themselves.

So there were Kings put into office as young as 8. Just because America has an age limit before one can be elected does not mean everyone has to live by those standards. BTW in the original US Constitution Senator were appointed by state legilators reather then by popular elections so the system of the Republic could be many different ways of electing senators based on how each planet chooses to elect then.

Apparently, all the Nubians loved Padme, and the whole planet almost unianimously voted to elect her and replace King Veruna.