6 iconic Star Wars women, from Carrie Fisher to Natalie Portman to Kelly Marie Tran

Celebrate Star Wars Day with a salute to six actresses who soared their way across the screen and into our hearts.

With Star Wars Day lighting up our lives, it’s time to honor six fabulous females who made us feel as if the Force forever runs strong. To misquote Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong’o), we love these Wookie-wonderful women!

1. Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia

“You have your moments. Not many of them, but you do have them,” Leia once said to Han Solo (Harrison Ford).

Carrie herself had many memorable moments, and even though she left us too early at age 60, Fisher left a wonderful legacy of Star Wars memories. From Leia telling Obi-Wan Kenobi he was her only hope, to her giving hope to the Resistance as General Leia Organa, Leia is truly the star of the franchise. (Sorry Luke.)

2. Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala

Prequels can be charming (we’re loving The Big Bang Theory prequel Young Sheldon) or nightmares (thanks, Pan, for almost ruining Peter Pan). The Star Wars franchise got it right in movies such as Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, with Natalie Portman conquering the challenges of her role as Padmé Amidala.

One of her most memorable lines still seems accurate to some.

“So this is how liberty dies… with thunderous applause.”

3. Daisy Ridley as Rey

Ridley earned her claim to fame as Rey in The Force Awakens. But looking back, Daisy Ridley now admits that she “didn’t really know what I was signing on to” when she agreed to enter the Star Wars world.

Watch for Daisy in Star Wars: Episode IX, which she predicts will be the last time that she appears as Rey.

4. Lupita Nyong’o as Maz Kanata

If you need someone to keep a secret, Lupita is your woman. On vacation in Morocco, Nyong’o encountered a real-life science fiction film scenario before getting a copy of the script for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Luckily for us, Lupita succeeded in opening the “locked contraption” that contained the script and accepted what for her was a Mission Possible: Shooting the film sporting a motion-capture suit to portray her CGI character.

Also, how can we not obsess over Nyong’o meeting Luke himself!

5. Felicity Jones as Jyn

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story gave Felicity Jones the opportunity to play the type of women who she admires, the actress told Glamour.

“What I love in my work is showing a full-sided woman, women who are strong but flawed,” Jones said.

Just like Baby in Dirty Dancing, who “nobody puts in a corner,” no one involved in Rogue One tried to put Jyn in a bikini, hot pants, or other stereotypical sexy sci-fi woman’s outfit. Felicity describes her character as a proud “survivor” focused on her mission.

6.  Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico

Star Wars: The Last Jedi gave Kelly Marie Tran her breakout role. Tran proved that she could hold her own with the best of them, joining seasoned stars such as Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill in the Star Wars family. She also made history as the first Asian American woman to have a starring role in the series.

Related Story: Why we'll always admire Carrie Fisher

As you celebrate Star Wars Day, we urge you to honor these women and their roles in a galaxy far, far away.

May the 4th be with you.