7 A-List Actors Who Hid in Star Wars

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The Star Wars films have launched or significantly boosted the careers of many actors, including Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, and Ewan McGregor. More recently, Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver became household names thanks to the sequel trilogy. However, the franchise also features brief appearances by established or up-and-coming stars – roles so small you might miss them if you blink, or even if you tune them out!

We’re focusing only on actors with visible roles in the final film, so we excluded Prince Harry and Prince William. They filmed a scene as Stormtroopers for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but it didn’t make the final cut. Similarly, deleted scenes weren’t considered – the role had to actually appear in the finished movie. This also means Tom Hardy, who filmed alongside the Princes, wasn’t included.

7) Keira Knightley in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Natalie Portman and Keira Knightley often get mistaken for each other, even though they’re both talented actresses. This made Keira Knightley a perfect fit to play Queen Amidala’s double in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. While many viewers likely recognize her, Knightley is essentially playing a character within a character, hidden in plain sight with the help of makeup.

If you’re looking for quick, easy-to-miss cameos in The Phantom Menace, the film features several well-known actors. Dominic West appears as a Naboo palace guard, and Sally Hawkins is among the parade onlookers at the film’s end. Sofia Coppola also makes an appearance as Saché, one of Padmé Amidala’s handmaidens. And if you look closely to the left of Ralph Brown’s character, Ric Olié, in the image above, you’ll spot Richard Armitage – who later played Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy.

6) Simon Pegg in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

It’s easy to miss that Unkar Plutt is actually played by Simon Pegg, known from Star Trek and Shaun of the Dead, because he’s in a bulky, warm costume and alters his voice. This casting makes sense, though – Pegg is a fan of the Star Wars franchise and has worked with director J.J. Abrams before.

Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz, known for Sonic the Hedgehog, also lent their voices to Star Wars: The Force Awakens. They were the ones who created all of BB-8’s unique sounds. Interestingly, even James Bond actor Daniel Craig made an appearance, voicing a Stormtrooper who was easily tricked while guarding Rey.

5) Treat Williams in The Empire Strikes Back

Treat Williams, who recently passed away, was a wonderful actor known for roles in films and television shows like Once Upon a Time in America, Deep Rising, and Chicago Fire. Interestingly, before those well-known projects, he made a small appearance in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back simply because he was visiting his friend, Carrie Fisher, while she was filming.

It’s hard to identify the character, as he doesn’t have any dialogue. However, there’s a shot of a Rebel soldier wearing the same uniform as Williams, based on photos from the set with Fisher. You can definitely spot John Ratzenberger, known for his work at Pixar and as Cliff Clavin, as another Rebel soldier on Hoth – complete with a mustache!

4) Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Rian Johnson first worked together on Johnson’s early film, Brick. They later teamed up again for the 2012 movie Looper, and then on Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Knives Out.

Five years after their first collaboration, the pair worked together again on what was Johnson’s most ambitious project to date. However, Joseph Gordon-Levitt had a relatively minor role, playing Slowen Lo, an alien who informs Finn and Rose that they aren’t allowed to park their ship on the beach of Canto Bight.

3) Jason Sudeikis in Star Wars: The Mandalorian

Even if you don’t know who voiced the Stormtroopers that captured Grogu for Moff Gideon, it’s clear the actors are comedians. Their everyday, matter-of-fact dialogue is genuinely funny, and their delivery makes it even better.

You’re right! Jason Sudeikis, known for his work on Saturday Night Live and in the movie We’re the Millers, provides the voice for JS-1975. Adam Pally, from The Mindy Project, voices the character AP-1982.

2) Karl Urban in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

As The Boys nears its conclusion, Karl Urban will likely remain a popular actor in both films and television. He’s incredibly charismatic, even when portraying a villain, like in the often-overlooked film The Bluff.

Through his friendship with Star Trek director J.J. Abrams, Urban fulfilled a long-held dream by appearing in a Star Wars film. He voiced a stormtrooper in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, briefly heard as the Knights of Ren walked by.

1) Rose Byrne in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones

Before becoming known for her roles in both comedies and dramas, Rose Byrne had a small role in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. Similar to Keira Knightley, Byrne’s character has a connection to Padme. She plays Dormé, one of Padme’s handmaidens, and appears mainly at the start of the film.

This happened early in Rose Byrne’s career, well before she became famous for her memorable role in Bridesmaids and her powerful performance in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. She was still about ten years away from Bridesmaids and roughly 25 years away from If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.

Who do you think should be cast in a future Star Wars movie or show? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-03-13 02:12