Ashley Eckstein talks about the early reactions fans had to her character Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The interview took place at C2E2 prior to the current strikes.
Recently Ashley Eckstein joined her Star Wars: The Clone Wars co-stars on the main stage at the 2023 C2E2 convention. The actress reflected on the early reactions to her character, and how she dealt with it.
“It’s been quite the journey, it really has. From the very beginning where she was hated. And one thing to note, we were always a season ahead of what you all saw. We were well into season two by the time you all saw the first movie, so I knew how far she had come.”
“When it came out, so many people hated Ahsoka. First, I sobbed into my cheesecake,” Eckstein confessed. “But then I took a day to have a pity party. Then, I was like, no – this character is amazing. And everyone else is going to see what I see if they just give her time. And so, I asked fans for their patience. I said look, no character is perfect in the beginning, and if they were, then they’d be really boring. So please go on this journey with her.”
Eckstein’s experience is similar to what other Star Wars actors have faced. Ahmed Best, John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, and Moses Ingram have all spoken about the negative comments they’ve received for their roles in the franchise. However, Eckstein added that she finds the Star Wars fandom to be one of the most positive fandoms out there, specifically citing the charity work done by fan groups such as the 501st Legion.
Eckstein’s faith in the viewers paid off, and fandom embraced Ahsoka.
“I think the most important thing for me personally is to see and hear all of the stories of how Ahsoka has been changing lives, and that’s when things really changed for me, because not only did she change my life, but when you all share your stories with me about how she’s changed or saved your life, that sticks with me, and it’s changed me. And I just want to say thank you for trusting me with your stories and sharing them with me, and I will forever strive to be a real-life Ahsoka Tano however I can.”
Watch Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels on Disney+ now.
