In the galaxy far, far away, few moments have resonated as powerfully as Mon Mothma’s Senate speech in Andor Season 2, Episode 9. Genevieve O’Reilly, who has portrayed the Chandrilan senator and Rebel Alliance leader across multiple Star Wars projects, recently shared her thoughts on this pivotal scene, which marks a turning point for her character and the rebellion. Her insights, detailed in interviews with various outlets, reveal the emotional weight and personal significance of delivering a speech that has been 20 years in the making.
In Andor Season 2, Episode 9, Mon Mothma takes a bold stand against Emperor Palpatine, publicly denouncing the Empire’s actions following the Ghorman Massacre. This speech, a long-anticipated moment for Star Wars fans, sees Mon Mothma shed her carefully maintained facade as a loyal senator to embrace her role as a rebel leader. O’Reilly described the experience as both daunting and exhilarating, noting the speech’s importance to her character’s arc.
“I was so nervous,” O’Reilly revealed in an interview with TechRadar.com, emphasizing the pressure of bringing such a significant piece of Star Wars lore to life. She further elaborated on the speech’s significance in an Entertainment Weekly interview, stating, “That’s the fulcrum of who Mon Mothma is right there. And so I got to stand up for her in that moment. That was really important to me, and I hope it means something to people because it felt really great to be able to give her that voice”.
The speech, written by Dan Gilroy, is a scathing critique of the Empire’s authoritarianism, with Mon Mothma calling out Palpatine as the architect of an “unprovoked genocide” on Ghorman. O’Reilly’s preparation for this iconic moment began with her first appearance as Mon Mothma in deleted scenes from Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith in 2005, making the speech a culmination of two decades of character development.
A Personal and Lonely Journey
Despite the speech’s commanding presence on screen, O’Reilly shared that filming the scene was an isolating experience. During her talk with Brandon Davis, she described it as one of her “loneliest filming days ever,” a stark contrast to the powerful image of Mon Mothma addressing the Senate. Yet, she channeled this isolation into her performance, transforming personal vulnerability into a moment of strength for her character.
O’Reilly’s preparation for the speech involved close collaboration with the Andor team, including costume designer Michael Wilkinson. The actress highlighted a key sartorial choice—Cassian Andor draping his coat over Mon Mothma to disguise her as they fled the Senate. “We knew that Cassian had to give her his coat because he has to disguise her to leave the building,” O’Reilly explained (via EW). “It wasn’t scripted where it happened, but I remember us really workshopping that. Where does it mean the most?”. This deliberate choice underscored Mon Mothma’s transition from senator to fugitive, a moment O’Reilly described as deeply symbolic.
Rewriting Star Wars Canon with Purpose
The speech in Andor Season 2 diverges from its depiction in Star Wars Rebels Season 3, Episode 18, Secret Cargo, where Mon Mothma’s denouncement of Palpatine is referenced but not shown in full. Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy and O’Reilly acknowledged this deliberate retcon, with Gilroy telling EW, “We are hijacking canon”. O’Reilly explained that the decision allowed Andor to focus on a different facet of Mon Mothma’s story, emphasizing the anxiety and stakes of the moment as she publicly challenges the Empire. “The idea that after twenty years of playing her that I have come to this point, where she could have a moment that feels deeply impactful, meant everything to me,” O’Reilly told TV Insider.
This reimagining has sparked discussions among fans, as Andor provides a more intimate and emotionally charged portrayal of Mon Mothma’s defection compared to the broader strokes in Rebels.18 O’Reilly’s performance, coupled with Gilroy’s nuanced writing, has elevated the speech into one of the most memorable moments in Star Wars television.
For O’Reilly, playing Mon Mothma over two decades has been a journey of discovery. From her early appearances in Revenge of the Sith to her expanded roles in Rogue One: A Star agrup Wars Story and Andor, she has sought to uncover the pain and strength behind the character originally portrayed by Caroline Blakiston in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. “I love that you remember that; thanks for that,” O’Reilly told THR when asked about sensing a particular anguish in Blakiston’s Mon Mothma. “It has been at the heart of my curiosity all the way through [Andor]. With respect to what Caroline and George [Lucas] did, that’s what I was seeking, and I think we found it and more”.
Mon Mothma’s speech in Andor Season 2 is more than a narrative climax; it is a testament to O’Reilly’s dedication to the character and Andor’s commitment to exploring the human cost of rebellion. As O’Reilly put it, “Her only weapon is her voice” (via Los Angeles Times). Through her performance, that voice has become a rallying cry for the Star Wars galaxy—and a highlight of one of television’s most acclaimed series.
