Emily Swallow

One of Emily Swallow's earliest Star Wars memories involves playing Ewok Adventures in her backyard, and she was an admirer of Princess Leia Organa. Swallow was aware that she was auditioning for a project potentially related to Star Wars, but the details were so closely guarded that she remained uncertain about the specifics. The character description only indicated "that she was the leader of a group of people in hiding and she was masked." Swallow felt well-prepared due to her theater background and experience with mask work during her graduate studies at New York University. In an audition scene reminiscent of a moment in "Chapter 3: The Sin" where the Armorer intervenes in a conflict among her covert, she delivered the line "This is the Way" without any prior understanding of its context. On December 12, 2018, StarWars.com revealed that Swallow had been cast in The Mandalorian television series.

Swallow appreciated the enigmatic nature of the Armorer's personal life, contrasting with other roles she had taken on. She also admired the Armorer's status as a warrior who carefully considers when to engage in combat and holds deep respect for spirituality. Swallow also viewed her character as an effective mentor to Din Djarin. Initially, she maintained a cautiously optimistic outlook regarding the significance and involvement of her character in the series. Although executive producers Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni shared limited information about the Armorer with Swallow, they afforded her considerable creative latitude in shaping the character's decisions. Swallow deliberately avoided delving too deeply into the Armorer's backstory, as it aided her performance. She was not given the script of scenes she was not in. Swallow frequently engaged in discussions with Favreau and Filoni concerning the dynamic between the Armorer and Djarin. The Armorer's full-body armor eliminated the need for Swallow to undergo hair and makeup, saving approximately 90 minutes. Because she did not show her face as the Armorer, Swallow had to focus more intently on her body language, especially after securing the role and arriving on set. She mentioned that the initial episodes were enjoyable as she collaborated with a team to determine the language of movement and what translated effectively. While wearing a helmet, Swallow experienced disorientation in her vision, exacerbated by the subdued lighting in the forge, and lacked peripheral vision. Swallow frequently stumbled and collided with other actors portraying Mandalorians. She noted that tilting her head downward to look was highly distracting, hindering her ability to portray a confident and composed character. The crew consistently ensured that Swallow's path remained clear during her movements. On extended shooting days, the costume became burdensome for Swallow.

During filming, she captured all dialogue using a microphone inside the helmet. Post-filming, Swallow and the crew worked together on automated dialogue replacement, discussing any necessary line adjustments. Minimal ADR was required because the dialogue had already been recorded. Swallow gives credit to Favreau, the directors, and the editors for making her performance appear effortlessly confident. She expressed that portraying a character who is cherished and respected for reasons other than her appearance feels liberating. When Swallow attended the red carpet premiere in November, 2019, she felt like she part of something magical that captured the heart of the original trilogy. Following the premiere, she participated in conventions and encountered fans who drew inspiration from the Armorer, which she described as a profound honor and source of joy.

Swallow was uncertain about her return to Star Wars since the Armorer was absent from The Mandalorian's second season. In "Chapter 5: Return of the Mandalorian" of The Book of Boba Fett television series, she played the Armorer once more. Swallow participated in a Zoom call with Favreau and Filoni to ensure her awareness of the information the Armorer revealed that was new to the audience. They subsequently informed her that they were establishing elements for both Season 3 and future developments. They proceeded to explain how the Armorer would contribute to the next season's narrative, enabling Swallow to gain a deeper understanding of her connection with Din Djarin. In preparation, Swallow studied the lore of the Darksaber by watching Star Wars animation. She described working with director Bryce Dallas Howard as a dream come true, praising Howard's leadership and ability to capture every desired shot while also soliciting Swallow's input. Scenes on the Glavis Ringworld were filmed in the Volume set, utilizing StageCraft technology. Swallow found the set visually stunning and recognized the sense of isolation the Mandalorians would experience from living in constant concealment. During the filming of a demanding and lengthy hammering sequence, Howard provided Swallow with hammering instructions via a microphone projecting from an unknown location. Upon viewing Chapter 5 immediately after its release, Swallow was amazed by the final product and could not discern that she was watching a shot that was not filmed on location.

Swallow returned to portray the Armorer in the third season of The Mandalorian. She gained insights into specific aspects of Mandalorian history and her character's role within it. She inquired with executive producers Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni about the timeline of the Children of the Watch's separation from Death Watch, but she kept the answer to herself. Swallow also sought to understand the Armorer's personal losses in her backstory. She believed that the Armorer possessed a "sixth sense" and recognized Din Djarin's future significance to the Mandalorians. She believed that Djarin changed the Armorer because he challenged her in new ways and she never had such a personal relationship with someone like him. Swallow made an effort to maintain the Armorer's aura of mystery. According to Swallow, the episodes in the third season were filmed in a non-sequential order. For the episode "Chapter 17: The Apostate," Swallow and the other Mandalorian actors acted as if they were fighting a large lake monster that was not actually present. She described the experience as peculiar and the filming location as "remarkably unremarkable." Swallow was impressed by the special effects used for the creature, which made it appear incredibly realistic. She had a stunt double, but she consistently performed the stunts she was capable of and was always present on set during filming. She refrained from performing any highly technical maneuvers for which she lacked training or insurance. Her stunt double donned the armor when the creature swiped at the Armorer, causing her to flip.

• Pedro Pascal Revealed as The Mandalorian on StarWars.com (backup link)
• The Star Wars Show: Anthony Daniels Graces Us With His Presence and We Attend The Mandalorian Fan Event on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (November 20, 2019) (backup link)
• " Launchpad " — Star Wars Insider 199
• This Week! in Star Wars Exciting Lucasfilm Announcements, A New Story From The High Republic, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
• Star Wars: The Mandalorian: Guide to Season One
• The Book of Boba Fett — " Chapter 5: Return of the Mandalorian "
• The Armorer Unmasked: Actor Emily Swallow Talks Her Return on The Book of Boba Fett on StarWars.com (backup link)
• " Fully Armed & Operational " — Star Wars Insider 209
• Katee Sackhoff, Carl Weathers, Emily Swallow, and More Confirmed for Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2022 on StarWars.com (backup link)
• SWCA 2022: Sabine Wren Joins the Cast of Ahsoka and 6 Other Favorite Moments from the Mando+ Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)
• This Week! in Star Wars All the D23 Expo News, a First Look at Phase II of The High Republic, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
• " Launchpad " — Star Wars Insider 214
• The Mandalorian — " Chapter 17: The Apostate "
• The Mandalorian Season 3 Launch Event on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
• The Mandalorian — " Chapter 19: The Convert "
• "As Fierce as Possible": Katee Sackhoff on the Evolution of Bo-Katan Kryze on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Star Wars Celebration LIVE! 2023 - DAY 1 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
• Carl Weathers, Emily Swallow, and Giancarlo Esposito | Star Wars Celebration LIVE! 2023 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
• The Mandalorian — " Chapter 20: The Foundling "
• The Mandalorian — " Chapter 21: The Pirate "
• The Mandalorian — " Chapter 23: The Spies "

• Emily Swallow ( @bigeswallz ) on Twitter (backup link (bigeswallz) not verified!)
• Emily Swallow on Wikipedia
• Emily Swallow at the Internet Movie Database
• THE MANDALORIAN Star Emily Swallow On Her Journey Into The STAR WARS Universe! | Ep 52 on the Brotherly Love Pod YouTube channel (February 16, 2024) (backup link)