Leida Mothma

Leida Mothma was a human female Chandrilan from the planet Chandrila and was the daughter of Perrin Fertha and Mon Mothma, who represented their homeworld as its senator in the Imperial Senate. Leida, along with her parents, resided on the Imperial capital of Coruscant, at the Chandrilan Embassy. She favored Chandrilan traditional customs over the politics of her mother, with whom she had a strained relationship. However, Leida did have a good relationship with her father, as well as her mother's cousin, Vel Sartha.

Biography

Early life

The daughter of Perrin Fertha and Senator Mon Mothma,^[1] Leida Mothma was born around 18 BBY,^[2] on her homeworld of Chandrila.^[1] At a young age, she met the Chandrilan banker Tay Kolma, one of her mother's oldest friends, as well as his sisters, Adrine and Marsa.^[5] Mothma also met her mother's cousin, Vel Sartha, whom she affectionately called Aunt Vel.^[6] Leida lived with her parents on the planet Coruscant, the capital of the Galactic Empire, during the Imperial Era,^[3] and spent most of her time there.^[1]

On Coruscant, her mother had an established career in politics and worked as Chandrila's representative in the Imperial Senate,^[7] but Leida grew upset at her mother's focus on politics and instead^[1] became a devout follower of the old Chandrilan customs,^[8] which Mon saw as archaic.^[1] Holding meetings to practice the old sayings with her equally devout friends, Leida went so far as to track down an elder for the ceremonies.^[8] In secret, her mother was working as part of the growing rebellion, which Mon was, at several times, tempted to share with Leida. However, she always decided she could not tell her daughter about the world of rebellion to keep her safe.^[9]

Rebellious streak

In 5 BBY,^[2] Leida joined her parents for breakfast at the Chandrilan Embassy, the family's residence. Upon arrival, Mothma backed out of plans for her mother to take her to classes and asked her father to take her instead, as she believed Mon only did it to show off that she was an involved parent. Mon was taken aback by the sentiments, but Leida accused her mother of only thinking about herself, then contained her breakfast as Mon left, hurt by Leida's words and Fertha's lack of support.^[3]

A few days later, Leida attended a dinner party at the Embassy, wearing a shiny white and silver dress. During the festivities, Mothma spoke to her father, then approached her mother. However, as she spoke to Mon, she introduced her to Tay Kolma, though Leida admitted that she did not remember him. Mothma then asked her mother if she could be excused, as her father had said Leida needed to ask her first. Mon said she could be excused, and, before leaving, Leida told her mother to have fun.^[5]

Not long after, Leida attended another party hosted at her family apartment, this time dressed in a golden dress. Leida approached her mother, who was again talking to Kolma, who Leida commented was "here all the time now," with Kolma responding that he was learning to love Coruscant. Mon told Leida that her father was looking for her, and Leida noted that her mother was drinking Chandrilan Squigs, which Mon denied, stating that she had lost her taste for them. Mothma agreed that the drink was disgusting, but Kolma stated that that was the point. Leida then left to find her father, telling Kolma that it was nice to see him again. While her parents talked with some of the guests in the dining room, Leida ate some green-colored sweets.^[7]

A few days later, Vel paid a visit to the Mothma family at the Embassy, claiming to have just returned from Tassio Moon and presented Leida a golden gown. When Mon returned home following a disastrous session with the Imperial Senate, Leida excitedly ran up to her to show her the dress. When Mon pointed out that Perrin may not let her daughter wear it, Leida snapped back that her father let her do whatever she wanted. After an awkward moment of silence, Mon told Leida to go try on the dress. Mothma did as she had suggested, and in her absence, Sartha and Mon talked privately. Leida reappeared soon after, dressed in the gown and happily spinning around to show her mother and Vel.^[6]

Not long after, Leida ate with her parents and Vel, during which Fertha mentioned Tay Kolma, whom Leida then referred to as Mon's old boyfriend. Mon inquired of Perrin if this was something that he had told Leida, but Perrin merely told Leida that the key word was "old." Mon then corrected her daughter, saying that Kolma was an old friend of hers from grade school. Ledia continued to eat before Vel left, with Mon seeing her out.^[6]

A traditional arrangement

The next day, Leida and her friends took part in a traditional Chandrilan ceremony in the dining room of the Embassy, which meant that she could start receiving marriage proposals. While her mother was against it and her father was open-minded on the subject, Leida herself was happy to take part in it as she loved it and the friends she had made during preparations, with Mon claiming that her lessons were the only thing that she showed up on time for. When the ceremony was finished, Leida and the others exited the dining room where Leida was pleasantly surprised to see Vel, who claimed she had returned to see Leida, as the two of them embraced.^[8]

Two days later, Leida walked with her parents to meet with Stekan Sculdun, the son of Chandrilan^[10] oligarch^[11] Davo Sculdun,^[10] something which Davo and Mon had arranged in exchange for help to justify the disappearance of 400,000 credits, which Mon had taken out as funding for the growing rebellion.^[12]

The wedding

Leida and Stekan would agree to be wed. In 4 BBY, the two families arrived at the Mothma Estate on Chandrila for the three-day-long ceremonies. Leida showed off her wedding gown to her peers. In addition to Leida's mother and father, Stekan's parents Davo and Runai were present. Leida's aunt Sartha also returned to Chandrila for the wedding. In total, there were dozens of guests attending the event.^[13]

The evening of the first day, Leida and Stekan spoke to other guests together while their fathers engaged in conversation. Fertha asked Davo if his son would be tough enough to deal with Leida, causing Stekan's father to say that he would learn one way or another. As the event continued, Leida attempted to hold her partner's hand, but Stekan repeatedly rebuffed her. Leida eventually became angry and stormed away, which Runai informed Mon about, addressing it as the couple's first fight. As Leida sat on the ground by herself and cried, Mon soon arrived to comfort her after learning about the fight from Runai. Leida tearfully told her mother that Stekan was a child.^[13]

The next day, a contingent of attendees went on a traditional wedding hike. Leida and Stekan spoke amicably to each other during it. That night, Leida sat next to her mother when her father made a toast in front of the entire gathering. Leida listened as Fertha encouraged the new couple to continue to find the joy in their lives together despite the inevitable pain that life would bring them.^[14]

On the final day, Leida dressed herself in the wedding gown and spoke to her mother right before the traditional ceremonies began. Although Mon tried to give Leida the option to not go through with the wedding and force Chandrilan traditions upon herself, Leida rejected her pleas and remained focused on proceeding. Despite Mon's thoughts on the matter, she complied with the ceremony. Leida and Stekan went on to have the first dance, and as the dancing continued and a speaker droid emerged playing a remix of the popular song "Niamos!," Leida was among the many to excitedly engage in a more upbeat celebration.^[4]

Personality and traits

Leida Mothma was a human female with long brown hair and brown eyes.^[3] Despite spending most of her time on Coruscant, Mothma grew bitter about her mother's political career in the Imperial Senate and instead retreated into the simplicity of Chandrila's traditions. By the time she was thirteen, she was already nursing a rebellious streak.^[1] Mothma was weary of her mother's political endeavors and did not have the best relationship with her, thinking her mother's actions were motivated only by how they would be publicly perceived.^[3] She showed amusement when Vel Sartha commented with sarcasm that all good suitors were already taken when Perrin inquired over her lack of a husband.^[6] Leida would enlist her father's support to get out of things her mother wanted for her.^[3] Although Leida was well-rehearsed in the formalities of a dinner with many political guests, it did not stop her from making a snide remark at Mon Mothma's friend Tay Kolma.^[5]

Behind the scenes

Leida Mothma made her debut in "The Axe Forgets," the fifth episode of Star Wars: Andor. She was portrayed by Bronte Carmichael.^[3] In Star Wars Legends, Mon Mothma's daughter was first mentioned in the Dark Empire Sourcebook, written by Michael Allen Horne published in 1993 by West End Games for use with Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game.^[15] Her first name of Lieda was confirmed in the 2002 reference book The New Essential Guide to Characters by Daniel Wallace.^[16]

Appearances

• Star Wars: Andor — "The Axe Forgets" (First appearance)
• Star Wars: Andor — "Announcement"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Narkina 5"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Nobody's Listening!"
• Star Wars: Andor — "One Way Out" (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars: Andor — "Daughter of Ferrix"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Rix Road"
• Star Wars: Andor — "One Year Later"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Sagrona Teema"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Harvest"
• Star Wars: Andor — "What a Festive Evening" (Indirect mention only)

Sources

Notes and references

External links

• Who Is Mon Mothma? After Decades, Star Wars Reveals the Rebel Leader's Story by Breznican, Anthony on Vanity Fair (September 27, 2022): "She has a daughter. It was somewhat of an arranged marriage" (backup link archived on October 1, 2022)