‘Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

The first chapter in the Skywalker saga, which was set 32 years before the original trilogy, introduced audiences to a Force-sensitive child, Anakin Skywalker. Here’s what the cast is doing now since the film’s May 1999 debut
Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn
Several years after appearing in Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List and earning his first Oscar nomination for the role, Liam Neeson starred as the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in 1999’s Star Wars Episode I — The Phantom Menace. The Star Wars film followed his character as he and his mentee Obi-Wan Kenobi came across a young Anakin Skywalker while they were serving as protection for 14-year-old Queen Padmé Amidala.

After his onscreen turn as Qui-Gon — which he later voiced in several Star Wars projects, including 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker and Tales of the Jedi — Neeson starred in films like Love Actually (2003), Taken (2008), The A-Team (2010) and Memory (2022).

Neeson dated fellow actress Helen Mirren from 1980 to 1985 before meeting his future wife, Natasha Richardson, in 1994. Together, they had two sons before she died from a skiing accident in 2009.
Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi
Ewan McGregor played Qui-Gon’s apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan was left in charge of Anakin’s training after Qui-Gon’s death at the end of the film. And the rest is, as they say, history.

McGregor went on to star in the remaining films of the prequel trilogy, as well as the Disney+ miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi in 2022. The actor also appeared in projects unrelated to Star Wars, such as Moulin Rouge! (2001), Fargo, Halston — which earned him an Emmy for lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie — and Raymond & Ray (2022).

McGregor was married to Eve Mavrakis, whom he shares four kids with, for 22 years before officially divorcing in 2020. He began dating fellow actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead in 2017 and later had their first child in 2021. The couple wed in April 2022.
Jake Lloyd as Anakin Skywalker
Following turns in the 1996 films Unhook the Stars and Jingle All the Way, Jake Lloyd brought to life the role of Anakin, who was destined to become the fearsome villain Darth Vader in later films.

Lloyd appeared in the 2001 film Madison before leaving Hollywood for good. In March 2015, the former child was reported for allegedly assaulting his mother and was arrested for reckless driving. Five years later, his family released a statement to Geek News Now saying that Lloyd was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala

Natalie Portman gave life — and moxie — to the teenage queen of Naboo, Padmé Amidala, who sought to protect her people from dark enemies arising in the galaxy.

Portman reprised her role in the next two Star Wars prequels and went on to star as Jane Foster in Marvel’s Thor film series.

She’s been nominated for three Oscars, and in 2010, she won Best Actress for Black Swan, where she met her future husband and the film’s choreographer, Benjamin Millepied. Portman and Millepied share two children, Amalia and Aleph.
Anthony Daniels as C-3PO
After previously playing the character in George Lucas’ original trilogy released in the ’70s and ’80s, Anthony Daniels reprised his role as the intelligent droid fluent in over 6 million forms of communications, C-3PO.

Daniels has continued to work as C-3PO on Star Wars projects, including the new trilogy beginning with 2015’s Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens and ending with The Rise of Skywalker. He also released a 2019 memoir about his role titled I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story.

The actor has been married to wife Christine Savage since 1999.
Kenny Baker as R2-D2
Kenny Baker was the original actor to portray the beloved droid R2-D2. He reprised his role for The Phantom Menace and the rest of the prequels.

Baker returned to the Star Wars universe as an R2 consultant for The Force Awakens. He died at 81 the following year and is survived by his two children, whom he had with his late wife, Eileen Baker.

Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu
Samuel L. Jackson had already appeared in films like Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing (1989), Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas (1990) and Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994) before starring as Jedi Master Mace Windu in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

Since then, he’s worked on a myriad of Hollywood hits, including The Hateful Eight (2015), Kong: Skull Island (2017) and more than a dozen Marvel projects as Nick Fury, including his own 2023 Disney+ spin-off series — Secret Invasion.

Jackson has been married to actress-director LaTanya Richardson since 1980. Their daughter Zoe was born two years later.
Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine
Ian McDiarmid was first cast as Emperor Palpatine by Lucas in Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi (1983). He came back to the character, also known as Darth Sidious, for the prequel trilogy.

McDiarmid later returned to Palpatine in The Rise of Skywalker and Obi Wan-Kenobi, as well as lending his voice for the character in the animated series Star Wars Rebels, Tales of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Bad Batch.
Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks
Ahmed Best portrayed the Gungan Jar Jar Binks in The Phantom Menace and voiced the character in the next two prequel films, several animated series and TV movies, as well as video games.

Following his turn as Jar Jar, Best made appearances on TV shows such as Alias, Cougar Town, Law & Order: LA and Big Time Rush.

In 2018, Best revealed in a tweet that public criticism towards his Star Wars character made him contemplate “ending his life.” However, he credited his son, who he shares with partner Raquel Horsford, as his “gift for survival.”

Best came back to Star Wars in 2020, voicing (human) Jedi Master Kelleran Beq on Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge. He played the live-action version of this character in 2023 in season 3 of Disney+’s The Mandalorian.