Vanessa Marshall one of the prolific voice actors in genre. She’s portrayed Kerrigan in Heroes of the Storm, nearly every superheroine and villain in the DC Universe, but is best known for voicing pilot Hera Syndulla in the popular Star Wars Rebels.
FANDOM caught up with Marshall at the recent San Diego Comic-Con, where she talked about Hera’s arc over four seasons and the surprise ending even she didn’t see coming.
The critically acclaimed Star Wars Rebels wrapped in March 2018, much to the dismay of fans. The series was set five years before Episode IV: A New Hope, a period that the Empire was consolidating its power in the galaxy. Hera, Marshall’s character, lead a group of rebels on the vessel Ghost. The rebels carried out missions against the Empire, intersecting with other popular characters from Star Wars like Ahsoka Tano and Lando Calrissian.
“My favorite moment was when Ahsoka descended and revealed herself as Fulcrum,” Marshall said of the Season 1 reveal. Ahsoka was a crossover character from Rebels’ animated predecessor, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (which is returning in a 12-part series).
She also enjoyed punching Billy Dee Williams’ Lando Calrissian in the midsection/groin, but only saw the scene when it was completed and aired. It was a fan screening of the series finale where Marshall learned her character’s fate — Hera gave birth to her and Kanan Jarrus’ son, whom she named Jacen Syndulla.
“I’m very grateful she has a son and that she is not alone,” Marshall said, adding she was surprised with the reveal in the epilogue.
Check out the interview above to hear what type of mother she thinks Hera will be, and what the future may hold for the character.
FANDOM also asked Marshall about another green character she voices — Gamora from the animated Guardians of the Galaxy. Marshall definitely had issues with her live-action counterpart being killed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War.
“It was kind of a bummer,” Marshall admitted. “I don’t know if [the dead characters] end up coming back together elsewhere. I feel like [Marvel Studios] is going to bring things full circle. I remember Zoe [Saldana] saying she had a 12-year contract and I don’t think that includes burning into ash [laughs].”
As for the differences between the two warrior women, Marshall enjoyed playing both.
“They’re both highly skilled at combat they’re both very fierce. but their backgrounds drive them in very different ways. but ultimate they fight for good and not evil, so in that sense, they’re very similar,” she explained. “I think Hera leads with her heart. I’m not saying she’s softer but perhaps she’s got less of a horrendous past. I think Gamora is trying to redeem herself having been raised by Thanos. She’s trying to undo what’s she done.”
Star Wars Rebels: The Complete Fourth Season is out on Blu-ray and DVD July 31, 2018.
