Anna Daniels
Naturally, Eckstein did eventually learn about Ahsoka’s place in the greater Star Wars universe, and when she did she was very excited. “My mind exploded, because I’m a lifelong Star Wars fan and I didn’t realize Anakin Skywalker had a padawan,” Eckstein says. “And needless to say, I couldn’t believe that I was going to be playing her. It was definitely a surreal moment.”
That enthusiasm comes through in Eckstein’s performance, which is a big part of why Ahsoka went from a subject of ridicule to one of the most popular Star Wars characters in existence over the course of The Clone Wars‘ seven seasons.
But Eckstein has become Ahsoka in other ways, too. Over the past 14 years (The Clone Wars debuted in 2008, but voice recording began as early as 2006), Eckstein has used the lessons she’s learned from playing the young Togruta to make herself a better person. “I want so badly to be a real-life Ahsoka Tano,” Eckstein says. “If I asked myself what would Ahsoka do, I feel like whatever choice she would make is the right choice.”
You can see the results in Eckstein’s apparel company, Her Universe, which aims to end bullying in geek spaces by giving women and other underrepresented fans nerd-friendly clothing that appeals just to them. You can allso see it in her children’s book, I Am a Padawan, which uses Ahsoka’s story to teach young readers how to be better learners. It doesn’t end there, either. Eckstein has used the morals found in The Clone Wars‘ final season to guide her through 2020 — which, as we all know, has been a particularly strange and trying time.
“Ahsoka says, ‘In my life, when you find people who need your help, you help them no matter what. I guess it’s just who I am,'” Eckstein shares with Looper. “I think we can all learn from Ahsoka. I think she delivers the most perfect message at the perfect time, because the only way we’re going to get through this and get back to our new normal is to help people no matter what.”
“I’m so proud of Ahsoka,” Eckstein continues, “that she would be there for us during this time, to deliver that message.”
She’s not the only one.
The final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is available to stream on Disney+ now.
Written by: Looper
