Sci-Fi Queen Claudia Black Finally Makes Her Star Wars Debut in ‘Ahsoka’

Star Wars: Ahsoka Episode 6 “Far, Far Away” on Disney+ takes viewers to a whole new galaxy. There, Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) is reunited with her master, Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen), Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) finally finds her bestie Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi), and we get to encounter strange and new alien creatures who give off big Jim Henson Workshop energy (in a good way). However, the first characters we meet on Peridia, the ancient homeworld of the witches of Dathomir, are three witches: Aktropaw (Jeryl Prescott Gallien), Klothow (Claudia Black), and Lakesis (Jane Edwina Seymour).

All three actresses playing these mysterious magickal beings have major genre cred. Prescott Gallien is a Walking Dead and Swamp Thing alum, while Jane Edwina Seymour recently played the Borg Queen in Star Trek: Picard Season 3. However, the actress who plays Klothow — the Dathomiri whom Morgan Elsbeth defers to as “Great Mother” — is legit sci-fi royalty. Claudia Black has been one of the most omnipresent faces in science fiction since starring in Farscape in the late ’90s. She’s since popped up in everything from Stargate SG-1 to Joss Whedon’s recently cancelled fantasy series The Nevers. Where she goes, we nerds follow.

But what’s the big deal with this strange new planet in Star Wars: Ahsoka? Have we heard of this place before? And where else have you seen Claudia Black? Here’s what you need to know about Klothow in Star Wars: Ahsoka…

What is Peridea? All About the Dathomiri Homeworld Harboring Grand Admiral Thrawn

In Star Wars: Ahsoka Episode 6 “Far, Far Away”, we follow the Eye of Sion as it drops out of hyperspace in a galaxy far, far away from the one in which Star Wars is already set. We learn that the characters have arrived at Peridea, the ancient homeworld of the Dathomiri. It’s coincidentally where the Purrgils travel to at the end of their lives to die. In a chilling and beautiful shot, we learn that the rings that orbit the planet are a Purrgil graveyard.

The Nightsisters of Dathomir were originally introduced — like Grand Admiral Thrawn — in a 1990s Star Wars novel. They are Force users who use “magick,” a power steeped in the Dark Side of the Force. They made their in canon debut in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, where it was confirmed that Darth Maul was the son of a Nightsister.

Our buddy over at Screencrush, Ryan Arey, has been theorizing for weeks that Star Wars: Ahsoka was laying the groundwork to introduce the Nightsisters as a new threat to the live action Star Wars universe, going so far as to speculate they will be the villains Rey (Daisy Ridley) will face in upcoming Star Wars movies.

Peridea also harbors creatures called Howlers, which can be ridden like a horse, and Noti, aliens who wear rock-like shells to hide from the Howlers.

According to Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson), the Jedi Younglings were taught legends of Peridea at the Temple. It was considered more of a fairy tale place than real history. That is, until now. Baylan also suggests to Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno) that there is a secret source of power on Peridea that will give him the power to end the cycle of destruction that defines reality. Sure that’s not a big deal!

Who is Claudia Black, The Actress Playing the Dathomiri Nightsister Great Mother Klothow in Star Wars: Ahsoka?

Claudia Black is a 50-year-old Australian actress best known for her work in science fiction and fantasy projects. She shot to fame in 1999, playing Aeryn Sun in Farscape. She followed this up appearing in the Vin Diesel flick Pitch Black and eventually joined the cast of Stargate SG-1. Recently she has appeared in HBO’s The Nevers and done voice work for Rick & Morty and Final Space. In fact, she’s as known as a voice over actress — working in video games like Uncharted and Dragon Age — as an action heroine.

You can follow Claudia Black on Instagram @theclaudiablack.