Genevieve O'Reilly (born January 6, 1977) is an Irish actress who portrayed Mon Mothma in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, and returned to the role for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, for five episodes of Star Wars Rebels, and for two Disney+ television series, Andor and Ahsoka.
On June 19, 2003, StarWars.com announced that O'Reilly was cast into the role of Mon Mothma in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, a character previously portrayed by Caroline Blakiston in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. During the original casting process, she was given a scene to audition with, and she tried to not overthink doing a nod to Blakiston. Cast for her strong resemblance to Blakiston, she carefully studied the British actress' performance in order to capture the character's voice and mannerisms. O'Reilly filmed a few scenes that were meant to set up the formation of the Rebel Alliance. She enjoyed filming those scenes, and saw the costumes as extraordinary. Before the film's release, director George Lucas and producer Rick McCallum wrote to O'Reilly informing her that the scenes of her speaking were cut. The actress respected their decision and reasoned that the film needed to focus on Darth Vader's origin. When O'Reilly watched the film, the scenes' exclusion made total sense to her.
On April 7, 2016, it was revealed that O'Reilly would return as Mothma in the Anthology film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. She found the film to be a very exciting and creative project. She also voiced her character for several episodes of the TV series Star Wars Rebels, which aired on March 4, 2017.
On April 24, 2020, StarWars.com announced that O'Reilly would reprise her role as Mothma in the upcoming Disney+ show Andor. The actress was delighted to have the opportunity to better understand her character. She was also excited to explore Mothma as a Rebel leader and as a woman, which included showing the private face of someone who navigates a system of oppression. O'Reilly wanted to understand the pain and personal cost felt by Caroline Blakiston in Return of the Jedi, and she enjoyed learning more about Mothma's life. She was excited for the audience to see Mothma's journey of becoming the Rebel leader seen in Rogue One. O'Reilly liked Tony Gilroy's writing because it had several worlds and felt universal as well as personal. The actress wanted Mothma's new look in the show to reflect her new stage as a member of high society.
O'Reilly felt that the scene with Mothma and Luthen Rael in the latter's gallery set up what the crew were trying to do with the character, which was to show her public face and the private woman within it. The set's public space and private interplay behind the corner allowed for creativity between O'Reilly and Stellan Skarsgård, the actor who played Rael. O'Reilly liked working with Skarsgård and thought that he is a brilliant actor. Scenes in the Chandrilan Embassy were filmed in a practically built set that had a wraparound LED screen that used StageCraft technology. In September, 2022, O'Reilly attended the Andor launch event in Hollywood, California.