Silya Shessaun / Legends Silya Shessaun was a female Human from Thesme who represented the Thesme sector in the Galactic Senate during the waning years of the Galactic Republic . Coming from a working - class family , she was one of the few non - upper class citizens of Thesme able to make a name for herself in the political arena . Due to her origins , Shessaun consistently championed the causes of the poor and underprivileged . During her time as a Galactic Senator , she often confided in her close friend , fellow Senator Padmé Amidala of the Chommell sector . Shessaun received only minor criticism in her tenure , since she seemed to focus on her sector as a whole more than her native Thesme . Shessaun was forced back to her homeworld when the Separatist Crisis threatened it circa 22 BBY . During the Clone Wars , Amidala asked her to join the Delegation of 2000 , but the Thesme native believed that such actions were little better than those of the Confederacy of Independent Systems . When the New Order rose in 19 BBY , and Amidala apparently died during the " Jedi uprising , " Shessaun launched an inquest into her friend ' s death , but the now - Emperor Palpatine barred it . She was later asked to step down as Senator due to her lack of enthusiasm for the Galactic Empire , and lived out her early retirement on Alderaan . Shessaun would later return to her native Thesme , where she peacefully died in 4 ABY . Biography . Early life . Silya Shessaun was born on Thesme into a working - class family . She was considered a child prodigy , and was thrust into the political arena at an early age . She set about championing the causes of the poor and underprivileged in her work , which would carry on into her later career . When she became an Apprentice Legislator , she traveled to a summit on Alderaan , where she met Padmé Amidala . The two were paired off during a week - long workshop , with the older Shessaun taking the role of the mentor . The Thesme native was impressed with the young girl from Naboo , and the two became friends . They remained in correspondence with one another after the summit , and Shessaun was pleased to hear that Amidala became the Queen of Naboo . Galactic Senator . At the age of twenty , Shessaun became Thesme ' s Galactic Senator , the first of her planet ' s working - class to do so . She carried her humble demeanor into office , where she would become a key figure in several social programs galaxy - wide . She did receive some criticism from those who felt she focused too much on the galaxy at large , rather than her native Thesme . Her friend Amidala would also join the Senatorial ranks in 24 BBY , and the two would confer on issues constantly . During the Separatist Crisis , Shessaun was called back to her homeworld to mediate a variety of territorial disputes . Several worlds under her jurisdiction in the Thesme sector threatened to secede and join the Confederacy of Independent Systems , but Shessaun had no intention of losing them , so she treated each dispute personally . She was one of the most vocal members of the Loyalist Committee outside Coruscant during the Clone Wars , but she missed the luxury of being able to discuss issues with Amidala . Despite this , Shessaun refused to join the Delegation of 2000 , feeling that any effort to undermine Supreme Chancellor Palpatine would be tantamount to a Separatist act . The New Order and Rebellion . When the Clone Wars came to a close in 19 BBY , Shessaun heard that her good friend Amidala had perished in the so - called " Jedi rebellion . " Shessaun was skeptical as to the circumstances of her friend ' s death , but she attended the funeral on Naboo nonetheless . Returning to Coruscant , she attempted to launch a Senate inquest into the death , but her attempts were blocked by the now - Emperor Palpatine , who cited " security concerns . " Shessaun was now convinced that the Galactic Empire was a corrupt beast , but she kept her sympathies for the growing rebellion movements a secret . Despite her best efforts to distance herself from the Delegation of 2 , 000 and other rebellious groups , her previous ties to Amidala and the more vocally anti - Palpatine Senators prompted her more pro - Imperial colleagues to force her out of office . She was never specifically targeted as some of her fellow Senators were , but she was nonetheless replaced by a representative more amiable to the Empire . Moving to Alderaan , Shessaun spent her early retirement secretly aiding Bail Organa ' s rebellion movement . She aided Organa in raising his adopted daughter , Leia , not knowing that the young girl was actually the daughter of her late friend , Amidala . Eventually , Shessaun moved back to Thesme . There , on her homeworld , she died peacefully amongst her loved ones , including Leia Organa , shortly after the Battle of Endor . Personality and traits . Silya Shessaun , having been born into a working - class family , had lived the life of the underprivileged , and decided to aid them once she had the requisite power . She would consistently champion the cause of the underdog , as she had been in their position before . Despite this , she understood how dangerous speaking out publicly against oppressive rulers was , and she chose not to openly defy Palpatine during the Clone Wars . She soon learned the error of her ways , but was still unable to act while in office , leading her to have to sacrifice her post in order to aid Organa ' s rebellious efforts . Her devotion to the working - class gained her a small set of detractors during her tenure as Senator , as she seemed to spend less time on Thesme than some of its inhabitants might have wanted . It took the threat of secession to draw her back , almost permanently . The talents that had gained her the status of " prodigy " and had allowed her to become a Senator in the first place allowed her to stave off any prospective secessionist movements in the Thesme sector . Behind the scenes . Silya Shessaun was portrayed by Lisa Shaunessy in , but was cut from the film . The name " Silya Shessaun " is derived from an anagram of the name " Lisa Shaunessy . " The backstory for Shessaun ' s character was developed by Nathan Hathaway Adams ( under the alias " Twi ' LekEntertainer " ) , through StarWars . com ' s " What ' s The Story ? " feature . Adams ' entry was elaborated on by Evan Burger ( under the alias " ShadowCultist " ) , " Master Starkeiller " and Greg Mitchell ( under the alias " HedecGa " ) . Mitchell ' s addition focused on her refusal to join the Delegation of 2 , 000 , though the elements added by " Master Starkeiller " and Burger are unknown . The character was later given an entry in " The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia " .