Diana Lee Inosanto, renowned martial artist and daughter of the legendary Dan Inosanto, has truly dedicated her entire life to preparing for her role in the Star Wars universe. As the goddaughter of the iconic Bruce Lee, Inosanto’s journey has now led her to portray Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth, a formidable adversary in Ahsoka. Initially appearing in a single episode of The Mandalorian, where she clashed with Rosario Dawson’s former Jedi character, Inosanto now takes center stage in Ahsoka, offering a greater glimpse of her exceptional skills.
During an interview conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Inosanto revealed to EW that her father had fostered their shared love for the original Star Wars trilogy. As a young girl, she vividly remembers her father taking her and a group of martial arts students to watch the first film in theaters. Upon their return home, he hastily ventured out to purchase plastic lightsabers, which would become their training tools.
Amusingly, Inosanto reflects, “It’s ironic that my training with these double-staff, plastic lightsabers eventually led to this fight scene with Rosario. Who could have imagined?” Laughing, she adds, “Perhaps the Force truly exists out there.”
While Inosanto’s extensive martial arts background secured her role in The Mandalorian, she initially had limited knowledge of Morgan’s backstory. Her character’s name was even a mystery to her for some time. Ahsoka delves deeper into Morgan’s persona, unveiling her affiliation with the powerful witches known as the Nightsisters of Dathomir. Presently, she collaborates with mercenaries Baylan Skoll (the late Ray Stevenson) and his apprentice Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno), relentlessly pursuing the notorious Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen).
Hinting at Morgan’s unwavering loyalty to Thrawn, Inosanto asserts, “She is resolute in her allegiance to his cause and ideals.” Drawing inspiration from influential leaders throughout history, such as Julius Caesar and Catherine the Great, Inosanto crafts Morgan’s imposing presence on the screen.
Furthermore, the challenges presented by Ahsoka demanded that Inosanto intensify her training efforts compared to her experience on The Mandalorian. Wearing an eager smile, she entices, “There’s an extensive, adrenaline-pumping fight scene. Brace yourself—it’s mind-blowing.”