So, there’s a fresh face in the Star Wars galaxy, and she’s packing a whole lot more than Beskar. Natasha Liu Bordizzo, the blazing comet out of Sydney, just inherited one of the most colorful Mandalorians ever: Sabine Wren. If you watched “Ahsoka,” you know things have gotten wild. Sabine jumped from a beloved animated legend to a flesh-and-blood dynamo — and Bordizzo is driving that transformation with style, grit, and paint splatters.
From Sydney Sidewalks to Wren’s Mandalorian Boots
Let’s set the coordinates for Natasha’s journey: Born in Sydney, Australia, on August 25, 1994, she wasn’t always aiming for blasters and jetpacks. In fact, she started strong with a black belt in Taekwondo and a serious background in Kenpō karate. Before Natasha even peeked at a script, she could have probably kicked a Stormtrooper through a blast door. She brought this energy to her debut role in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny” (2016), playing Snow Vase — an apprentice with a sword and a cause.
Did she skate through that action-packed film? Not a chance. She waded right in, spending hours every day in the dojang, sweating through sword routines and mastering the wire-fu ballets that made Yuen Woo-ping’s work unforgettable. Natasha recounted, “I was in the dojang from about 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., five days a week. We definitely got there in the end.” That resilience? Total Mandalorian energy.
How the Mandalorian Paintbrush Found Her
Years later, the galaxy dialed her number. Dave Filoni, the hat-wearing maestro behind so much Star Wars genius, cast Natasha as Sabine in late 2021. That’s not just any role — it’s a beloved figure, first voiced by Tiya Sircar in “Star Wars Rebels.” So, no pressure, right? Actually, a ton of pressure, but Bordizzo jumped in with both feet.
She didn’t just skim a character sheet. Natasha dove into Star Wars deep dives, soaking up everything from Jedi mind tricks to droid banter. Not only did she binge “Rebels” to catch Sabine’s spark, but she also paid tribute to Sircar’s version. She told media how much she respected Sircar’s take: “I loved Tiya Sircar’s Sabine! I loved the energy, the sarcasm, and playfulness that really made Sabine Sabine.” Wise move. She kept those colors in her palette, but also painted with a new brush.
But making Sabine truly her own meant she needed more than just homework. Natasha focused on balancing the old with the new, so she honored Sircar’s animated legacy while letting new shades of Sabine emerge. Dave Filoni didn’t just hover in the background. According to Bordizzo, Filoni told her, “You are Sabine. You’re making the correct choices. Because you’re Sabine.” That’s not just a pep talk. That is full-on permission to blast through hyperspace without holding back.
Mandalorian Combat, Now in High Definition
Blasters and graffiti are cool, but Mandalorian cred demands skills — real skills. Bordizzo didn’t flinch. She upped her martial arts training because a normal workout wasn’t going to cut it for a bounty hunter who switches easily between spray paint and saber duels. Natasha spent months working on fighting styles. Her prep for Sabine included lightsaber combat and hand-to-hand choreography, all while channeling both the Mandalorian brawler side and the refined Jedi flow.
She mentioned that the choreography for Ahsoka was “super interesting” because she had to embody two fighting traditions at once — sometimes switching between them in seconds. “Trying to embody those two things — sometimes one right after the other — in the choreography was super interesting, because they’re such different modes of being.” (You can almost hear Sabine muttering about space-wizards.) (dorksideoftheforce.com)
Not to mention, wielding a lightsaber isn’t like twirling a baton. There’s weight, both in the wrist and in the mythos. And if you saw those sharp, snappy moves in “Ahsoka,” you know Natasha honored that.
What Makes Sabine Tick (And Sometimes Blow Stuff Up)
Sabine has always been a fan favorite because she’s a kaleidoscope of personality traits. She’s rebellious, artistic, loyal, and, let’s be honest, stubborn as a bantha. Natasha understood that to play Sabine, you gotta channel all that, and more.
She didn’t shy away from Sabine’s struggles. And this new chapter? It’s juicier and messier than ever. Sabine’s story fuses Mandalorian legacy, personal pain, and relentless hope. “Ahsoka” picks up with Sabine wrestling with big questions — about the Force, about loyalty, and about what fighting for a family really means. Bordizzo told Slashfilm that she personally relates to Sabine’s struggle to reach for the power within herself. “The Force, and Sabine trying to achieve use of the Force, was such a metaphor for me of trying to achieve that groundedness in real life.”
She’s not only fighting outside battles; she’s wrestling with her place in the galaxy. And Natasha isn’t just swinging a saber — she’s adding layers, making Sabine vulnerable and brave at the same time.
How Filoni’s Wisdom Shaped This Wild Ride
Dave Filoni’s fingerprints are everywhere in “Ahsoka.” But his guidance for Natasha went deeper than regular directorial advice. He wanted Sabine to feel familiar, but he also encouraged Natasha to let her own instincts shape the role. Bordizzo shared that Filoni advised her to trust herself and be Sabine, not just copy someone else’s map.
For fans who spent years loving animated Sabine, that balance feels crucial. Filoni gets how risky it is for a character to leap from one medium to another. But thanks to his encouragement and Natasha’s commitment, live-action Sabine steps out as fully-realized, never feeling like a stranger in her own helmet (thedirect.com).
Legacy, Spray Paint, and Star Wars Buzz
What about the fan reaction? Let’s just say, Twitter (or whatever we’re calling it now) lights up with Sabine GIFs every week. The cosplay crowd is here for Natasha’s blend of cool and chaos. Sabine’s iconic purple and teal hair even started trending again. Artists flocked to sketches of her new look. The Mandalorian community? Loud, proud, and mostly thrilled.
- Fans praised Bordizzo for capturing Sabine’s attitude and humor.
- Many lauded her chemistry with Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka.
- Social media overflowed with side-by-side shots comparing animated and live-action stances — and yes, they’re nearly seamless.
But the buzz isn’t just surface-level. There’s real excitement over Sabine’s character growth. Viewers see her as more vulnerable, more uncertain, and yet, even braver than before.
So, What’s Next for Sabine?
Nobody drops spoilers faster than Hondo Onaka drops credits, but Disney holds their secrets tighter than a locked blast door. Still, breadcrumbs are everywhere.
After “Ahsoka” season 1, Sabine seems poised for some big journeys:
- She’s still grappling with her connection (or lack thereof) to the Force.
- Her partnership with Ahsoka has just begun to rebuild, and it looks like both have unfinished business.
- Whispers in the Star Wars corners hint at future team-ups, more Mandalorian drama, and, yes, even bigger explosions.
The cast and creators play coy about specifics, but the creative team assures us Sabine’s story is far from over. According to interviews around the “Ahsoka” press junket, Natasha gained even more confidence for the next phase, saying she’s excited by Sabine’s mix of scars, skills, and smart-aleck remarks.
Why This Next Chapter Really Matters
Let’s face it — Star Wars has never just been about ships and saber duels. It’s about finding yourself in a galaxy full of expectations, danger, and hope. Bordizzo’s Sabine nails that vibe. She’s a piece of modern Star Wars legend — one step ahead, hair always one color too bright, heart on her sleeve even when the armor goes on.
For viewers who watched Rebels, this next chapter lights up long-held dreams. For new fans, it’s the ideal jumping-on point. Sabine Wren’s art, defiance, and spirit keep painting on, and it feels like Natasha Liu Bordizzo’s just getting started.
So keep your jetpacks fueled and your paint cans handy — Mandalore’s favorite artist is far from finished, and Natasha’s bringing a whole new color palette to the Star Wars universe. Stay sharp, bounty hunters. Things are just getting more interesting from here.
