Shmi Skywalker is a fictional character of the Star Wars universe, the mother of Anakin Skywalker. Her first name by derived from "Lakshmi," a Hindu goddess. The character was played by Swedish actress Pernilla August.
Her first appearance was in The Phantom Menace, where she and her son were slaves of a junk merchant on the desert world Tatooine. Shmi is portrayed as a loving and devoted mother who does not question the necessity of her son leaving after he won his freedom in a pod race. Sadly, mother and son would not see each other again for ten years. Her final appearance occurs ten years later in Attack of the Clones after her son, now a Jedi apprentice, senses through the Force that she was in pain. Anakin travels to Tatooine to find her, and upon arriving learns that she had been freed by moisture farmer Cliegg Lars but had recently been abducted by the much maligned and animal-like Tusken Raiders. Young Skywalker uses his Jedi powers to find her inside one of their encampments just in time for her to die in his arms. Enraged, Anakin slaughters every single person in the camp, including all the women and children. Here, we get a glimpse of Anakin Skywalker's slide into the Dark Side of the Force.
