Katee Sackhoff

Born on April 8, 1980, Katee Sackhoff was raised as a Star Wars enthusiast. As a child, she watched Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. She admired Leia Organa and considers Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back to be among her favorite movies. Later in her career, she lent her voice to the stop-motion animated series Robot Chicken, which is known for its Star Wars parodies. Dave Filoni, the supervising director of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, is acquainted with the show's creators, Seth Green and Matt Senreich, and inquired about their experience working with Sackhoff. This led to Sackhoff's casting as the voice of Bo-Katan Kryze, a Mandalorian, in The Clone Wars. Filoni heavily influenced the creation of Kryze, shaping the character's initial form with Sackhoff's vocal performance. Sackhoff followed Filoni's guidance and ensured her voice matched his vision. Over time, she gradually incorporated more of her personal interpretation into Kryze's voice. She viewed Kryze's evolution throughout the series as a representation of life, forgiveness, and the potential for personal transformation.

On September 2, 2012, Sackhoff was officially welcomed into the 501st Legion, a fan organization, as an honorary member in recognition of her voice work as Kryze. She was also presented with a Kryze helmet. Additionally, Sackhoff reprised her role as Kryze in the animated series Star Wars Rebels.

During Celebration Chicago in 2019, Sackhoff engaged in a conversation with Filoni regarding The Mandalorian series, asserting that Kryze was still alive and that her age aligned with the timeline. Filoni reassured her that plans for Kryze's appearance were already underway, although Sackhoff remained skeptical. Subsequently, she received a call informing her that Jon Favreau, an executive producer of the show, wished to meet with her. During their meeting, Sackhoff eventually realized that her image as Kryze was displayed on the wall and that Favreau was extending an invitation for her to join the show, which she enthusiastically accepted. Sackhoff felt fortunate to be cast as Kryze in live-action for the show's second season. She embraced the opportunity, assuming it would be a one-time appearance. Sackhoff believed that Kryze's experiences had prepared her to lead her people.

On her initial day of filming, Sackhoff donned her costume and underwent a makeup test. The makeup team dedicated considerable time to perfecting Sackhoff's eyebrows, ensuring the accuracy of her freckles, and applying Kryze's scar. In the days leading up to the start of filming, Sackhoff began to contemplate how to physically embody Kryze, a consideration she had never previously faced. She acknowledged that her decade-long experience of voicing Kryze had provided her with a deep understanding of the character's personality, but it did not translate into an understanding of her physical presence. Sackhoff struggled to translate Kryze's manner of walking and facial expressions in a way that felt authentic rather than cartoonish. She felt unprepared, unsure of how Kryze spoke and carried herself. She needed to discover a way to convey Kryze's regal bearing and stoicism while also moving with calculated precision.

Sackhoff stated that the most challenging aspect was overcoming her own self-doubt and insecurities. She aimed to portray Kryze's fierce exterior while acknowledging her underlying insecurities, which she believed explained Kryze's reluctance to assume leadership. Sackhoff likened her experience on set to Roger Rabbit venturing into the real world for the first time. During filming, she realized that certain animated mannerisms of Kryze did not translate well to live-action, so she sought to strike a balance that would allow fans to instantly recognize Kryze while also presenting her as a more impressive and compelling figure than they had imagined. Sackhoff first wore her costume in the wardrobe department of the Los Angeles-based production.

Sackhoff expressed her excitement about working with Bryce Dallas Howard, the director of the episode "Chapter 11: The Heiress," as she was a fan of her work. Howard provided Sackhoff with valuable guidance in her portrayal of Kryze in the episode. Sackhoff noted that Kryze possesses a significant ego, which can be a beneficial trait for a leader. During lunch breaks on set, Filoni shared the nearly completed Siege of Mandalore episodes from the final season of The Clone Wars and provided insights into character development and Kryze's whereabouts since the rise and fall of the Galactic Empire. Sackhoff enjoyed collaborating with Howard and Mercedes Varnado, the actress who portrayed Koska Reeves. For the episode "Chapter 16: The Rescue," Filoni informed Sackhoff that Plo Koon was originally intended to rescue Grogu to conceal Luke Skywalker's appearance in the episode. She considered her live-action portrayal to be a faithful representation of Kryze as she appeared in The Clone Wars and Rebels, and she believed that it honored the animated character. She found enjoyment in watching compilations of fans reacting to Kryze's live-action debut.

At Celebration Anaheim in 2022, Sackhoff announced her return to the role in the third season of The Mandalorian. Sackhoff and Jon Favreau worked together to define Kryze's current state of mind in the season. Favreau also offered her encouragement and coaching to overcome her anxieties. Sackhoff wanted Kryze to appear as though she belonged in the world and to have a slightly different appearance. In an effort to embrace and embody Kryze more fully, Sackhoff and the crew refined her hairstyle and accentuated her freckles. Filming for the third season commenced before the premiere of The Book of Boba Fett, so Sackhoff was initially unsure why Grogu was present. She mentioned that wearing the suit for sixteen hours each day was uncomfortable, so she tried to maintain a positive attitude. Five different stuntwomen wore the armor, each specializing in different skill sets and tasks. This arrangement allowed Sackhoff to spend time with her newborn child. Favreau and executive producer Rick Famuyiwa consistently sought Sackhoff's expertise on a daily basis. Sackhoff performed some of the action sequences, such as a knee-slide. She mastered a new stunt move for Season 3. For the scenes depicting Kryze seated on her throne, Favreau desired a slightly disrespectful demeanor, so he instructed Sackhoff to sit and walk back multiple times. Sackhoff viewed Kryze's posture as a metaphor for some of her inner struggles.

• Official site
• Katee Sackhoff on Wikipedia
• Katee Sackhoff at the Internet Movie Database