Jess

For other uses, see Jess.

Jess was a Human female singer at the palace of the crime lord Jabba the Hutt on the planet Tatooine. She often flirted with the crime lord's majordomo Bib Fortuna, though she wanted to leave the Hutt's service. Jess was present in the palace in 4 ABY when the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 arrived at the palace to deliver a hologram message from the Jedi Luke Skywalker. She later witnessed the Max Rebo Band's performance of "Jedi Rocks" and the enslaved dancer Oola's subsequent death at the hands of Jabba's rancor.

Right after Oola's death, Princess Leia Organa, disguised as the bounty hunter Boushh, arrived with the Wookiee Chewbacca and negotiated with Jabba over the price of him. When night fell that day, Jess slept on Jabba's dais as Organa made her way through the throne room to free Solo from carbonite. The next morning, Jess rested with the hunter J'Quille when Skywalker arrived to free his friends from Jabba. She then watched the Jedi and his friends be sentenced to death at the Great Pit of Carkoon.

Biography

A dancing girl with dreams

The Human female Jess^[1] was a dancing girl^[4] and a popular^[1] singer at the^[3] Hutt crime lord^[5] Jabba Desilijic Tiure's palace^[3] on the planet Tatooine^[6] by 4 ABY.^[7] She often flirted with^[1] Jabba's majordomo^[6] Bib Fortuna,^[1] and accompanied^[3] the bounty hunter^[6] Boba Fett. She dreamt of leaving Jabba's service^[3] and hoped to leave the palace she frequented and join a band.^[1]

During the Galactic Civil War^[2] in 4 ABY,^[7] Jess was present in^[2] the throne room^[6] of Jabba's palace, leaning against a column in one of the room's^[2] cubicles^[6] when the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 arrived to display a holographic message of Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker to Jabba. Jess watched the message that displayed Skywalker bargaining for the release of his friend Han Solo, who was kept encased in carbonite in the throne room, though Jabba laughed at the message and rejected it.^[2]

Spending time with the majordomo

Jess and Bib Fortuna (right) watched Oola's refusal to sit with Jabba.

Shortly after the droids' arrival, Jess was once again present in the throne room during a performance of "Jedi Rocks" by the Max Rebo Band. Jess and Fortuna sat together in a cubicle next to band member^[2] Max Rebo as Jabba ordered his enslaved dancer Oola to repeat her performance. After refusing to sit with the Hutt, Oola was dropped into to the^[8] rancor pit^[6] below the throne room. Fortuna led her over to the^[2] viewing grille^[6] and the two watched as she was eaten by Jabba's rancor.^[2]

While this occurred,^[2] the sound of blaster fire^[8] entered the throne room, which drew the attention of its occupants. Jess and others moved closer to the throne room entrance, but she was led back^[2] to the cubicle^[6] by Fortuna after Princess Leia Organa, disguised as the bounty hunter Boushh, and the Wookiee Chewbacca entered. Organa and Jabba negotiated over the price of the Wookiee^[2] while Jess and Fortuna looked on.^[6] During the talk, the Princess pulled out a thermal detonator, which led to panic in the throne room, but also an agreement in the negotiation. Chewbacca was taken down to the palace dungeons and the throne room party resumed.^[2]

When night fell on Tatooine, Jess slept on Jabba's dais while Fortuna and Jabba were awake in the Hutt's^[2] private elevator.^[6] Organa made her way through the throne room to free Solo from carbonite though after she did, Jabba and the members of his criminal empire revealed themselves and captured both of them.^[2] In the early morning of the next day,^[6] Jess rested in the arms of^[2] the Whiphid hunter J'Quille^[9] in one of the throne room cubicles when Luke Skywalker entered after being let in by a mind tricked Fortuna. The Jedi petitioned for the release of his friends and ended up threatening the Hutt with a stolen blaster pistol, causing him—and the Gamorrean guard Jubnuk^[10]—to be dropped into the rancor pit. After Skywalker killed the rancor, he and his allies were sentenced to death at the Great Pit of Carkoon in Tatooine's Dune Sea. While the Jedi was sentenced, Jess stood near J'Quille and did not leave the throne room with^[2] him^[9] when the sentencing was over.^[2]

Personality and traits

Jess, a popular individual,^[1] had a way of captivating her entire audience^[3] and those around her.^[1] Wanting to join a band and leave Jabba's palace,^[1] Jess also dreamed of leaving his service.^[3] The singer had light skin^[2] and platinum blonde hair with a blue stripe at the front.^[1] She was considered beautiful and Bib Fortuna appeared to be romantically interested in her during his last days as majordomo.^[11] She kept a flirtatious eye on him during the Rescue of Han Solo.^[12]

Equipment

During her time in Jabba's palace^[2] in 4 ABY,^[7] Jess wore a bronze-colored brassiere, blue pants with a bronze waist piece, and sandals.^[2]

Behind the scenes

"There's a scantily clad girl with platinum blonde hair, bare midriff, and flirtatious eye on Bib Fortuna. Her name is Jess."

―Pablo Hidalgo^[12]

Amanda Noar on the set of Return of the Jedi — Amanda Noar on the set of *Return of the Jedi*

Jess first appeared as a briefly glimpsed background character in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi played by English dancer and actress Amanda Noar.^[13] The character of Jess is more clearly visible in 1983's "Lapti Nek": The Music Video from Jabba's Palace, and additionally appears in Return of the Ewok, a mockumentary created by actor Warwick Davis during his time on the set of Return of the Jedi, that blends elements of the movie with the real world. In the short film, Davis, dressed as Wicket the Ewok, wanders onto the set of Jabba's Palace while searching for the Forest Moon of Endor. He finds Laudica and Jess rehearsing a choreographed dance to Lapti Nek, a song being performed by the Max Rebo Band.^[14]

Bib Fortuna actor Michael Carter, via an interview on TheForce.net, has alluded to several cut scenes from Return of the Jedi that involved Jess and Salacious B. Crumb.^[15] Some of these scenes appear in "Lapti Nek": The Music Video from Jabba's Palace.