Shmi Skywalker Lars / Legends Shmi Skywalker Lars , as the oldest known Skywalker ancestor , was the Human mother of the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker , as well as step - mother to Owen Lars and the paternal grandmother of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa Solo . This made her the great - grandmother of Jaina , Jacen , and Anakin Solo , the latter who was named for her son , as well as Ben Skywalker . This also made her the great - great - grandmother of Allana Solo . She was also an ancestor of Nat Skywalker , Kol Skywalker , Cade Skywalker , and Ania Solo . Born on an unknown world , Shmi was sold into slavery at an early age . In 41 BBY , she gave birth to a son she named Anakin , who also served as a slave . She cared for her son greatly , and was willing to do anything to help him . After Anakin left to become a Jedi in 32 BBY , she was sold to Cliegg Lars , who freed her and married her . Just before the Clone Wars , Shmi died in her son ' s arms after being brutally tortured by a band of Tusken Raiders . Biography . Early life ( 72 BBY – 66 BBY ) . Shmi was born in 72 BBY . At the age of six , Shmi and her family embarked on a space voyage to the Outer Rim Territories , where they were captured by pirates and sold into slavery . Life as a slave ( 66 BBY – 32 BBY ) . Shmi had a difficult childhood , taken from one system to another by several masters while serving as a house servant . Upon reaching adulthood , she was dropped from house servant status and forced into cleaning work In 19 BBY , Anakin ' s wife Padmé gave birth to Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa and died soon afterward , having lost the will to live , as a result of Anakin Skywalker , the man she loved , turning to the dark side of the Force . The twins were separated by the Jedi : Leia was adopted by the childless couple Bail Prestor Organa and his wife ; Luke was adopted by Owen and Beru Lars . In 8 ABY , Leia discovered a journal of Shmi ' s at the old Lars Homestead , now in the possession of the Darklighter family . By watching the journal , Leia learned about the Skywalker family before the Clone Wars and discovered how Shmi had died . Leia also learned compassion and forgiveness for her father . A year after her journal was discovered , Leia gave birth to Han Solo ' s children , Jaina Solo and Jacen Solo . During the Emperor ' s return , Leia gave birth to her ' s and Han ' s third child , Anakin Solo , who would die during the Mission to Myrkr . In 27 ABY , Mara Jade Skywalker gave birth to her and Luke Skywalker ' s child , Ben Skywalker . Ten years later , Tenel Ka gave birth to Jacen Solo ' s child , Allana , making Allana Shmi ' s great - great - grandchild . By the time of the Second Imperial Civil War , over a hundred years after the death of Shmi Skywalker , her legacy and the name of her family lived on through her last known descendants : Kol Skywalker , Nat Skywalker and his nephew , Cade Skywalker . Personality and traits . Shmi was kind , peaceful , compassionate and polite , despite her years of slavery . She was selfless , willing to sacrifice anything for her son . She loved and cared for Anakin more than anything , and desperately wanted him to have a better life , knowing that there was something special about him . It was because of her love and sense that he had a special destiny that she allowed him to go to Coruscant to become a Jedi , knowing she would likely never see him again . She was befuddled by his birth however , as it seemed Anakin had " no father " . She cared for Cliegg Lars , her husband , following Anakin ' s departure and his son , Owen Lars , despite the fact that he was not her true son . Years later , her husband additionally described her as loving , " the best partner a man could ask for " . Even though Watto had mistreated Shmi and her son for years , she still was able to see the good in him , and after Anakin left , comforted him . Watto in turn became a kinder master , giving Shmi small gifts . Shmi still treated him well , again showing her kind nature and willingness to forgive . She earned a small income cleaning computer memory devices . Like her son , Shmi could fix almost anything . One of Shmi ' s former masters was Pi - Lippa , who taught Shmi various technical skills . These abilities increased Shmi ' s value as a slave , but unfortunate circumstances led her to becoming the property of Watto . She was always on the lookout for discarded tools in Mos Espa , and her dwelling was filled with mechanical and electronic devices like Anakin ' s . She did the best she could to raise her son , encouraging Anakin ' s interest in technology , and hoped their skills would one day liberate them from slavery . Behind the scenes . The character was portrayed by Swedish actress Pernilla August in " " and " " . However , that Anakin Skywalker ' s mother would be named Shmi and that August would portray her were announced in 1998 . The original trilogy was rereleased in theaters and VHS to commemorate the twenty year anniversary of the year before and " Star Wars Trivial Pursuit " was released to coincide with this . The limited edition game contained a sequestered pack of questions that served as a preview of , two of which divulged those bits of information . One of the first drafts for her name was Shmi Warka . In , Shmi Skywalker is voiced by Carolyn Seymour . In the game , Qui - Gon Jinn , controlled by the player , can kill Shmi during the level " Encounter in the Desert " with no reason . However , as this strongly contradicts the existing storyline , it is non - canon . < ref name = " TPMvg " > < / ref > Pernilla August reprised the role of Shmi Skywalker in the " " episode " Overlords " .