Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is one of the most criticized Star Wars movies, and it got various nominations for the Razzie Awards, including Worst Supporting Actress for an actress that had very, very little screen time. Back in 1977, George Lucas changed the film industry forever with the film now known as Star Wars: A New Hope, introducing viewers to heroes Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo, as well as to Sith lord Darth Vader. Along with the sequels Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, they form what’s known as the original trilogy.

Years later, Lucas expanded this universe with a prequel trilogy, released between 1999 and 2005, and which explored the backstory of Anakin Skywalker, from his days as a young slave in Tatooine to his rise as Darth Vader. The first entry in the prequel trilogy was Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, which wasn’t the big hit Lucasfilm was expecting, yet it was a big commercial success, so the studio moved forward with the sequels. The Phantom Menace was criticized for its screenplay, pace, and the performances of some cast members, mainly Jake Lloyd (young Anakin Skywalker) and Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks). However, they weren’t the only ones who were heavily criticized for their performances, and one of Padmé Amidala’s handmaidens was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award even though she was barely in the movie.

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As mentioned above, The Phantom Menace was nominated for seven Razzie Awards: Worst Picture, Director, Screenplay, Supporting Actor (twice: Jake Lloyd and Ahmed Best), Screen Couple, and Supporting Actress, this last one for the performance of Sofia Coppola as Saché, one of Padmé’s handmaidens. These were a group of young women chosen as aides to Queen Amidala and were responsible for assisting her with everyday tasks and served as bodyguards. The handmaidens wore the same robes so they could blend in, so it’s difficult to point just one out. Because of this, Coppola can be barely seen in the movie, yet she was nominated for Worst Supporting Actress, which most likely has nothing to do with her “performance” as Saché.

Before she made her directorial debut with The Virgin Suicides (also released in 1999), Coppola appeared in a couple of films in minor roles, except for The Godfather Part III, where she played Mary Corleone. Coppola’s performance was heavily criticized and gave her her first Razzies for Worst Supporting Actress and Worst New Star. Critics and the audience in general didn’t let go of that easily, and her second Razzie nomination for a very minor role in The Phantom Menace was most likely just another chance to get at her for her performance in The Godfather III. Coppola got the role thanks to Lucas being a close family friend and working partner of her father, Francis Ford Coppola, and when she heard he was shooting a new Star Wars movie, she asked if she could go and watch the shoot, and Lucas offered her the role of Saché.

Back in 2000, Coppola shared with Independent that she wasn’t too affected by all the criticism from her role as Mary Corleone, as she never  really wanted an acting career, so she surely didn’t care about her second nomination either. Coppola’s role as Saché in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was so small, most people don’t remember or even know she was in it, and while a Razzie nomination for it doesn’t matter, it does make for an interesting trivia fact in her career.

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Adrienne Tyler
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Adrienne Tyler is a features writer for Screen Rant. She is an Audiovisual Communication graduate who wanted to be a filmmaker, but life had other plans (and it turned out great). Prior to Screen Rant, she wrote for Pop Wrapped, 4 Your Excitement (4YE), and D20Crit, where she was also a regular guest at Netfreaks podcast. She was also a contributor for FanSided’s BamSmackPow and 1428 Elm. Adrienne is very into films and she enjoys a bit of everything: from superhero films to heartbreaking dramas, to low-budget horror films. Every time she manages to commit to a TV show without getting bored, an angel gets its wings.

When she’s not writing, you can find her trying to learn a new language, watching hockey (go Avs!), or wondering what life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and Limitless not been cancelled. Breakfast food is life and coffee is what makes the world go round.

Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. It was great.

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