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Padmé Amidala is a fictional character in George Lucas' science fiction saga Star Wars. She first appeared on film in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) as the young queen of the planet Naboo. In subsequent prequel trilogy films, Padmé represents Naboo in the Galactic Senate. She is featured in the animated miniseries Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003–2005) and in Star Wars literature. Padmé is the secret wife of Anakin Skywalker and mother of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa Solo. This made her grandmother of Jacen, Jaina and Anakin Solo as well as to Ben Skywalker.
Born in a mountain village on Naboo 46 years before the events of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Padmé Naberrie is known successively by her regnal name as Queen Amidala of Naboo and Senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo and the Chomell Sector. She is a key politician in the Galactic Republic who holds to the principles of democracy and rule of law. As an opponent of militarism, she attracts many enemies during the turbulent Separatist crisis and Clone Wars, which lead to the creation of the Galactic Empire.
Initial drafts of Star Wars written by Lucas in the 1970s do not explain the role which the mother of Luke and Leia plays in the saga. Vague references are made to her in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983), but the character was not fully realized until the prequel trilogy of films that debuted between 1999 and 2005. Padmé Amidala was portrayed by actress Natalie Portman in the trilogy, and an elaborate wardrobe was tailored for the character by costume designer Trisha Biggar.
The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel (or 'heroic romance') written by the English academic J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier fantasy book, The Hobbit, but developed into a much larger story. It was written in stages between 1937 and 1949, with much of it being created during World War II.Although intended as a single-volume work, it was originally published in three volumes in 1954 and 1955, and it is in this three-volume form that it is popularly known. It has since been reprinted numerous times and translated into at least 38 languages, becoming one of the most popular works in 20th-century literature.
The Lord of the Rings is set in a alternate prehistoric Earth, specifically in the continent called Middle-earth. It is populated by Men (humans) and other humanoid races: Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves, and Orcs. The story centres on the Ring of Power made by the Dark Lord Sauron. Starting from quiet beginnings in the Shire, the story ranges across Middle-earth and follows the course of the War of the Ring through the eyes of its characters, most notably the central protagonist Frodo Baggins. The main story is followed by six appendices that provide a wealth of historical and linguistic background material.
Along with Tolkien's other writings, The Lord of the Rings has been subjected to extensive analysis of its literary themes and origins. Although a major work in itself, the story is merely the last movement of a mythology that Tolkien had worked on since 1917. Influences on this earlier work, and on the story of The Lord of the Rings, include philology, mythology, industrialization, and religion, as well as earlier fantasy works and Tolkien's experiences in World War I. The Lord of the Rings in its turn is considered to have had a great effect on modern fantasy, and the impact of Tolkien's works is such that the use of the words "Tolkienian" and "Tolkienesque" have been recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary.
The immense and enduring popularity of The Lord of the Rings has led to numerous references in popular culture, the founding of many societies by fans of Tolkien's works, and the publishing of many books about Tolkien and his works. The Lord of the Rings has inspired (and continues to inspire) artwork, music, films and television, video games, and subsequent literature. Adaptations of The Lord of the Rings have been made for radio, theatre, and film. The 2001 – 2003 release of the widely acclaimed Lord of the Rings film trilogy prompted a new surge of interest in The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's other works.