In the last seven years, these threeDisneyprincess actresses have all joinedStar Wars—one as recently as December 2024.When Disney boughtStar Wars, plenty of jokes were made about Princess Leia now technically being a Disney princess. Of course, as much discourse as there has been about this, Leia isn’t really a Disney princess at all, because that label has its own meaning.
Since Disney’s acquisition ofStar Warsin 2012, however,Star Wars’movies and TV showshave cast three actresses who really did have leading roles inDisney’s princess movies. The most recent addition was introduced in episode 5 ofStar Wars’newest TV show,Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. Although she might look and sound quite different in this new role,Skeleton Crew’sbrand-new bounty hunter, Pokkit, shares an actress with one of Disney’s most popular princesses from 12 years ago.
Skeleton Crew’s Pokkit Was Also The Voice Of Merida
Kelly Macdonald’s New Role Looks Quite Different
Skeleton Crewepisode 5introduced Pokkit, a bounty hunter who recognizes Jod Na Nawood (who she knows as Dash Zentin) and calls in his bounty, sending a"crew of murderous pirates"after Jod and the kids. While she may play a ruthless bounty hunter inStar Wars, though,Kelly Macdonald was also the voice of Merida in Disney’s 2012 movieBrave. Merida is one of the spunkier of Disney’s princesses, perhaps making this connection more apt than one might expect.
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Merida is of course far from a bounty hunter, but she is a fierce and strong-willed young princess who refuses to marry at her parents' behest and insists upon saving herself. In the end, she proves to be a proper leader in her own right, subverting her culture’s expectations and taking everyone by surprise. Pokkit may not be quite so noble, but it makes sense that these two characters would share an actress. This also makes Pokkit one of threeStar Warscharacters portrayed by Disney princess actresses.
This also makes Pokkit one of threeStar Warscharacters portrayed by Disney princess actresses.
Kelly Macdonald Joins Ming-Na Wen And Kelly Marie Tran
The Voice Actresses For Mulan And Raya Are Also In Star Wars
In addition to Macdonald’s Pokkit,Ming-Na Wen has appeared in bothStar Warsas Fennec Shand and Disney as Mulan, and Kelly Marie Tran portrayed Rose Tico inStar Warsand Raya inRaya and the Last Dragon. Yet again, there are some surprising links between these characters. Wen, who voiced Mulan in the original 1998 animated version of the movie, has played Fennec Shand in multipleStar Warsshows, includingThe MandalorianandThe Book of Boba Fett.
While Fennec and Mulan certainly have very different motivations and value systems, both women are fearless, strong, and skilled. Kelly Marie Tran’s two characters are perhaps even more directly linked, as both are unlikely heroes who end up saving countless people’s lives. Rose Tico initially feels like she is an outsider inStar Wars: The Last Jedibut grows into a true Resistance fighter, and Raya goes from a life in isolation to the very person who brings back all the dragons.
At present, only Macdonald, Wen, and Tran have been both Disney princesses andStar Warscharacters. With Disney owningStar Wars, however, perhaps there will be more connections such as these in the future. In the meantime, it was a delightful surprise to see that Disney’s Merida actress Kelly Macdonald has now entered theStar Warsgalaxy as Pokkit inSkeleton Crew.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Cast
Skeleton Crew follows four ordinary children who become lost in the expansive Star Wars galaxy. As they navigate unfamiliar worlds and the challenges they present, the group endeavors to find their way back to their home planet, undertaking a journey across the iconic Star Wars universe.
