Phaedra was a female criminal from Wroon, existing during the Imperial Era of the Galactic Empire. She was incarcerated at a detention facility located on the planet Gulhadar from approximately 8 BBY to 2 BBY, due to her numerous offenses. During her imprisonment, she was assigned to cleaning duties, granting her access to various chemicals. She later utilized these chemicals to formulate pills that could simulate death in the person who ingested them. Although she conceived a plan to use these pills for an escape, she lacked the necessary accomplices. However, this situation changed when the Wookiee, Chewbacca, was incarcerated at the same prison. Chewbacca engaged in combat with the Chagrian, Aragu Kato. During this altercation, Phaedra intervened, feigning a Jedi mind trick to induce Kato to drop a knife and return to their cell. Kato exposed Phaedra's deception, revealing she was not a Jedi. Phaedra admitted this, clarifying her intention was merely to distract Kato, allowing Chewbacca to strike Kato and secure victory. Following the fight, Phaedra introduced herself to Chewbacca and also encountered the pirate Maz Kanata, confessing her past misdeeds.
Later, Phaedra and Kanata were in a room while Chewbacca was embroiled in another fight with other inmates. The two women initiated a conversation about breaking free from the prison. Phaedra explained to Kanata that she had been searching for individuals of Kanata and Chewbacca's size for her scheme. She also emphasized the need for two additional prisoners, the Aqualish Ponda Baba and Doctor Cornelius Evazan, to participate. Subsequently, Phaedra provided the pills to Chewbacca. As Kanata questioned Phaedra about obtaining the pills, Chewbacca collapsed, appearing to be dead, as part of Phaedra's strategy. He was then removed from the area. Phaedra then told Kanata that she was next in the escape plan. While Kanata went to free Evazan and Baba in exchange for them moving dioxis gas canisters, Phaedra pretended to be cleaning in a prison wing. The guards there told Phaedra she wasn't supposed to be there, and she attacked them with a mop, and stole their blaster.
Phaedra then went to get Kanata and hid her in a trolley, and they met up with Chewbacca, who had recovered from the pills' effects. The two then headed to the flight deck. Upon arrival, Phaedra revealed to Chewbacca that she had bribed a guard for an access code to a transport. However, at that exact moment, the transport took off, leaving them stranded. Three guards approached, demanding Phaedra's credentials. Phaedra, attempting to buy time, told Chewbacca she was formulating a plan. The guards threatened to shoot if Phaedra didn't produce her credentials. Again, Phaedra stalled, claiming she was working on it when Chewbacca pressed her. Kanata then revealed herself and shot the guards. With their transport gone, Phaedra admitted she didn't know how to pilot a transport without an access code, but assured them she would figure something out.
The trio was rescued when Han Solo, a friend of Chewbacca and Kanata, arrived in a starship and picked them up. After dropping Kanata off on Takodana, Phaedra accompanied Chewbacca and Solo to Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina on Tatooine. There, they confronted Greedo, the Rodian bounty hunter, regarding the location of Solo's ship, the Millennium Falcon.