Mommy, you told me it's not nice to keep secrets, but you've been keeping a giant secret from me.
—Shmi Solo
Shmi Solo was a mostly human, force sensitive child. She was best known as the bastard child of Anakin Skywalker and Aerith Laverne and the half-sister of Han Solo. She is also the stepdaughter of Padme Amidala and the half-sister of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa Solo.
Biography[]
Shmi Solo was born in 27 BBY on Tatooine on Lars Moisture Farm. Aerith was 14 at the time of Shmi's birth, while her ex-boyfriend, Anakin, was 15. Because Aerith dumped Anakin and left the Jedi Temple when she realised she was pregnant, Anakin did not know at the time of Shmi's birth that he was a father.
For a long time, Aerith tried to get along without Anakin's support. She did this because she was afraid of Palpatine and what he was capable of doing and willing to do if it got back to him that Anakin had a child. Even though she didn't outright know the Supreme Chancellor was a Sith, she never quite trusted him and was always suspicious of his interest in her boyfriend and his intentions.
Eventually, though, in 23 BBY, Aerith elected to swallow her pride and search for Anakin to tell him that he is a father, being heavily weighted down by a struggle just to survive and care for her then 5-year-old child. Although Aerith was successful in her search for Anakin, she was unable to tell him that he had a child. After she witnessed him profess his love for Padmé Amidala, she had a mental breakdown, attacked Padmé and left. The two reunited on Geonosis, but Aerith had been beaten badly in the ensuing fight. Aerith walked away and died from her injuries. Anakin, upon discovering her death, was so grief-stricken and overwhelmed that the force in him became, for that single moment, powerful enough to bring her back to life. The unconscious Aerith was then brought to a medical centre. Once Aerith regained consciousness, Arden Solo (a Tatooine Smuggler that had been helping her here and there) was at her bedside. Aerith assumed it was Arden who rescued her and the two married and had a son. Shmi's half-brother was named Han Solo.
Arden happily adopted Shmi and for a while, the young child's life was smooth sailing. Unknown to her, Aerith had desperately confided in Padmé that Shmi was Anakin's daughter in her desperate search for him, not knowing that Anakin had fallen for the young soon-to-be Senator. Padmé gave Aerith an ultimatum shortly before her wedding to Arden Solo. She had 3 years to tell Anakin the truth or Padmé would tell him herself. Eventually, the ending stretch of her 3-year ultimatum came. Padmé began to have second thoughts about telling Anakin herself when she realised that she was pregnant. She, however, did not have a chance to act on these qualms. After Anakin began having nightmares of his wife dying in childbirth, he turned to Aerith for comfort out of desperation. He had sought help elsewhere but did not find it.
The initial reunion quickly became confrontational when Anakin realised that his old flame was married to Arden Solo, his rival. Anakin later found Aerith and apologised to her for his behaviour. Aerith took the opportunity to tell him about Shmi. Anakin didn't believe her at first, but he came to accept it. Discovering he had a child caused him to temporarily stop having nightmares.
Anakin decided he wanted to be a father to Shmi and be part of her life. During his time with her, however, he gradually begins to realise that he still has feelings for Aerith. Obi-Wan Kenobi sees this and attempts to separate the two, but his attempts fail.
Death[]
Palpatine soon discovered that Anakin had a daughter and that the more time he spent with her, the more the Chancellor's grip on the Jedi loosened. Palpatine called on his apprentice-in-training, Amenra, and instructed her to kill Shmi and to make her suffer.
During a meeting with the Jedi Council, Amenra attacks the temple and the unsuspecting Jedi. Shmi gets separated from her mother in the confusion. After a while, Amenra finds Shmi, and while she manages to hold her own for a few minutes, Amenra ultimately overpowers and critically injures her. Anakin rushes Shmi to a hospital but is too late. Little Shmi, at the tender age of 8, dies in her father's arms.
Post-mortem[]
Shmi's death caused Anakin to spiral down and for his nightmares to resume full throttle. Aerith fell into depression as a direct result. Han never knew of the true nature of his half-sister's death. He was led to believe she died in an engine explosion, which is what he grew up believing.
Shortly after Shmi's funeral, Anakin and Aerith decided to avenge their child and kill Amenra. The two went after her and Aerith as injured into a coma, leaving Anakin to complete the task. He took on the moniker of Darth Vader very shortly after.
Personality and traits[]
Shmi's personality is never described in detail, however, it can be surmised that Shmi is kind, as she is often compassionate to little Han. She is also a tad bossy, very clever, and determined and headstrong.
Behind the scenes[]
Shmi will be played by Savannah Zapata in the 2017 fan film "Star Wars: Elimination". Zapata was in a commercial for Walt Disney World's Star Wars attraction.