The Most Rebellious Women in Star Wars

We all know the quote — “Rebellions are built on hope.” But in Star Wars™, the Rebellion is also built from the tireless effort of countless courageous women. Those are the heroes, the Rebels. But we also see rebellion within Sith™ apprentices, either those who turned to the dark side from the light or who defied their masters and became unlikely heroes.

The following list is as complex as the women whose names are on it. So let’s break down some of these rebellious women’s stories from a galaxy, far, far away.

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Leia Organa

The face of the rebellion and the living embodiment of hope, Leia Organa™ is one the most defiant women in Star Wars. From her introduction in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope™, she’s clearly not a typical princess. She doesn’t give up the location of the Rebel base despite her homeworld of Alderaan™ being the cost. She knows how to use a blaster, she ruthlessly disses Han Solo™ and Chewbacca™, and she can certainly handle her own rescue. From these scenes and throughout the Skywalker Saga, Leia proves herself a capable Rebel leader.

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Hera Syndulla

Hera Syndulla™ is the daughter of Twi’lek™ independence fighter Cham™, so you could argue rebellion is in her blood. As shown in Star Wars: The Bad Batch™, from a young age Hera even defied her parents, sneaking out past Imperial-imposed barriers to adventure with her droid Chopper™ and fantasize about the day she’d become a pilot. Well, that day came and in Star Wars: Rebels™ we see her piloting the Ghost. When her exploits attract the attention of emerging Rebel cells, she and her crew are recruited as the Phoenix Squadron to lead the charge against evil.

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Sabine Wren

Another member of the Ghost crew and Rebel Alliance, Sabine™ is also a Mandalorian™ and a former Imperial Academy cadet. This mechanical master created deadly weapons for the Empire that were used against her people. Once she realized her teachers wanted to use her skills for the destruction of her homeworld, her family, and other rebellious Mandalorians, she defected and went on the run. Eventually, Sabine ran into Hera, Kanan Jarrus™, and the rest of the Ghost crew. There she became an extremely valuable and valued team member who helped liberate Lothal™ as well as many other planets.

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Iden Versio

In the video game Star Wars: Battlefront™ II , Iden Versio™ commands Inferno Squadron™ , an elite task force of Imperials. She’s a ruthless strategist and fighter who buries secrets — and bodies. A TIE Fighter™ pilot, master of combat, and admirable soldier, Iden has no reason to doubt the Empire. Until, that is, Operation: Cinder™ goes into effect, a posthumous order from Emperor Palpatine™ calling for the systematic destruction of any planets not loyal to the Galactic Empire.

Because her home planet is on that list, Iden surrenders to the Rebel Alliance, pledging her loyalty to them if she can save her people. Iden spends the next few years repenting for her crimes by hunting Imperial remnants and finding the schematics for a First Order Dreadnought™, which would later be utilized by Poe Dameron™ in a decisive Resistance victory.

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Ahsoka Tano

Ahsoka Tano™ has had an incredibly complex life and her rebellion lies in both her departure from the Jedi Order as well as her consistent commitment to herself and her inner truth. As a Jedi Padawan™, Ahsoka rebels against her master Anakin Skywalker™ as well as older Jedi mindsets, always looking out for the betterment of the world and the beings in it.

After the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars™, Ahsoka assists in establishing numerous rebel cells. She spends time as an undercover agent called Fulcrum™, feeding intelligence and secrets to the scattered seeds of the Alliance. Although her character has grown and matured since her introduction, she is at her core someone who will rebel against tyranny, oppression, and unfairness across the galaxy.

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Qi’ra

Han Solo’s childhood friend and first love, Qi’ra partners with Han and Lando Calrissian™ in Solo: A Star Wars Story™ during the infamous Kessel Run™. She is a former slave who rose to the top of Crimson Dawn™, a crime syndicate particularly important in Star Wars history as it relates to former Sith Lord Darth Maul™. Qi’ra is a smart and savvy double-crosser, fearlessly defying the system that put her in captivity as well as defying her so-called fate as a Corellian™ street scoundrel.

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Barriss Offee

Like Ahsoka, Barriss Offee™ rebels against the Jedi Order during the Clone Wars™, yet her path is much darker. This Padawan prefers peace to war, and through the studying of ancient Jedi texts she comes to believe the Jedi are solely responsible for this pan-galactic tragedy. Barriss grows disillusioned with the contrast between Jedi ideals and their role in the Clone Wars, so she bombs the Jedi Temple™ and allows herself to be completely corrupted by the dark side.

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Jyn Erso

Jyn Erso™, protagonist of Star Wars: Rogue One™, was brought into the Rebellion at an early age. After her parents’ murder, Jyn is raised by extremist Saw Gerrera™. However, she is abandoned by him and his Partisans, so she turns to a life of crime to survive. It is on a prison transport that she is rescued by the Alliance, including K-2SO™ and Cassian Andor™; her freedom is conditional on her assistance in locating her father Galen Erso, one of the scientists responsible for the creation of the Death Star™. Despite her reluctance, Jyn eventually believes in the cause and is actually a pivotal part of the Alliance gaining the upper hand and getting the “Stardust” plans that are shown being handed to Princess Leia in A New Hope.

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Asajj Ventress

Born on the planet Dathomir™, the Nightsister™ and Sith disciple known as Asajj Ventress™ has a complicated and rather tragic history with rebellion. She begins as an orphaned slave, then a Jedi Padawan who falls to the dark side as an assassin, and finally ends her time in the galaxy as a bounty hunter. Between it all, she betrays Count Dooku™, allies with Obi-Wan Kenobi™, and falls in love with the Jedi Master Quinlan Vos™ before sacrificing herself for him. Throughout her entire life, Asajj Ventress betrays and is betrayed — though this goes to show how willing she is to rebel against preconceived notions, rules, and systems to ultimately benefit herself and those she holds dear.

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Bo-Katan Kryze

Bo-Katan Kryze™, a proud member of Death Watch™, actively opposes her own sister Duchess Satine Kryze’s™ rule and the pacifist, modernist age of Mandalore™. Taking pride in Mandalore’s warrior history, B0-Katan and other Mandalorians, most notably Pre Vizsla™, terrorize their home planet in an attempt to reinstate martial law.

Through a series of interferences by Darth Maul, the former Sith apprentice takes charge and Bo-Katan refuses to recognize him as the rightful ruler. She and other Mandalorian loyalists are driven away, showing that she remains true to her roots in the face of any opposition. Later, in Star Wars: The Mandalorian™, Bo-Katan leads the Nite Owls™ against Imperial remnants, aligning with rebel ideals — even if her methods aren’t always to their liking.

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Who is your favorite rebellious woman in Star Wars? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!