In a galaxy far, far away, the Star Wars universe continues to captivate fans, and its latest series, “Ashoka,” now streaming on Disney+ is no exception.
This exciting installment delves into the story of Ahsoka Tano, the former Jedi Knight who fans first met as the Padawan learner or none other than Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker (aka Darth Vader).
Amid the buzz surrounding this lightsaber-wielding warrior, another star is making her mark in the series: Filipino-American actor Diana Lee Inosanto, who portrays the witch Morgan Elsbeth, a member of the enigmatic Nightsisters.
Diana’s connection to martial arts runs deep in her blood, as she is the daughter of Filipino martial arts legend Dan Inosanto. She attributes her success in the role to the training she received from her father during her childhood, which included, ironically, playful lessons with toy lightsabers.
“Never would I have expected that those childhood years of him teaching me Filipino Martial Arts (ironically at one time with a toy lightsaber!) would foreshadow my battle sequence with a beloved character as Ahsoka Tano,” said Diana as quoted by Spin.ph.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Diana Lee Inosanto revealed that a rematch between Morgan Elsbeth and #AhsokaTano is on the way for Ahsoka. pic.twitter.com/0AXzEFg6ZE
— Star Councils (he/him) (@StarCouncils) September 3, 2023
Expressing her gratitude, she added, “I am forever grateful to my father, Dan Inosanto.”
Diana Lee Inosanto, who plays Morgan Elsbeth in #Ahsoka, is the goddaughter of Bruce Lee
She’s been a Star Wars fan since a kid, and her father was inspired to train her in martial arts with plastic lightsabers after watching Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader’s duel in #ANewHope pic.twitter.com/AXSN14yhvl
— Star Wars Facts (@sw_tweets) August 29, 2023
But her ties to martial arts don’t stop there. She revealed that other members of the stunt team for the Star Wars series, many of whom also worked on “The Mandolarian,” received guidance from her dad. This close-knit team helped her transition smoothly into her role in “Ashoka.”
“I have to give a shout-out to the stunt team of The Mandalorian, several of whom trained with my father, and made me feel right at home,” said Diana.
As if her martial arts pedigree wasn’t impressive enough, Diana is also the goddaughter of the martial arts icon and actor Bruce Lee, who happened to be her dad’s master.
Indeed, the Force is strong with Diana as she adds her unique talents and heritage to the ever-expanding Star Wars universe.
