The Nubian CantinaThe Nubian CantinaPage 2
Captain Panaka
Head of Security
Portrayed by Hugh Quarshie"Often referred to as 'the quickest eyes on Naboo', Captain Panaka is the head of the Queen's security forces. Powerfully built and completely dedicated to the safety of his sovereign, he never fails to catch the detail that might make the difference between success and failure in any security plan.
Captain Panaka is an expert in his field, and he knows it. Even in the presence of awe-inspiring Jedi Knights, he relies on his own experience and instincts to guide his actions. He is no fool, and realizes that the Jedi are probably acting in his Queen's and his people's best interest; but, throughout the Republic, things are no longer what they used to be, and one needs to be extremely careful. Especially when dealing with external matters. Especially when one is Head of Security.
Although he trained his forces to the best of his abilities, Panaka knows their number is no match for the menace that looms over Naboo. Still, he has faith in their loyalty - both to him and to their monarch - and knows he can count on them not to waver in the face of danger."
- Star Wars official website
Hugh Quarshie lives in England but maintains close links with Ghana, where he was born, and spent the first few years of his life. He studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford, where he was president of the O.U. African society, and co-director of the Oxford and Cambridge Shakespeare Company. After graduating, he worked as a journalist becoming sub-editor at West Africa Magazine. He subsequently co-directed Othello at the Greenwich Theatre, and authored the play The Prisoner of Hendon.
Hugh's theatrical credits include: Julius Caesar, Faust, The Relapse, The Winter's Tale, Henry IV parts I & II, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth, all for the Royal Shakespeare Company. He was also in Much Ado About Nothing and The Taming Of The Shrew for the Oxford and Cambridge Shakespeare Company, Othello for the Oxford Playhouse, Whose Life Is It Anyway at the Savoy Theatre, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at the Royal National Theatre, and two separate productions of The Great White Hope - at the RSC and the Tricycle Theatre. At the Deutsches Schauspielhaus, Hamburg, he was in Romeo and Juliet and Guys and Dolls, both directed by Michael Bogdanov.
His many films include: "Wing Commander", "Highlander" and "The Dogs of War".
Spouse - Annika Sundström (? - present); two children, Maya (born 1990) and Freya (born 1995)
Member of The Royal Shakespeare Company
He has openly refused to play Othello, because he finds the role demeaning for a black person to play.
source: the Internet Movie Database website and the official Star Wars website
Oola
Dancer Extraordinaire
Portrayed by Femi Taylor"A beautiful Twi’lek entertainer,the green-skinned female danced her last dance for crime lord Jabba the Hutt. Oola grew up on the harsh planet of Ryloth; she had the twin head tentacles that the Twi’lek call 'lekku', but which most others call head-tails, or worms. The red-eyed dancer was kidnapped by Jabba’s majordomo, the Twi’lek Bib Fortuna, and trained in seductive dancing. She was presented to Jabba, who was taken with her, but she was repulsed and resisted his advances. She did do one seductive dance for the Hutt, but when he wanted more and she refused, he sent her plunging into a pit where a hungry rancor awaited."
- Star Wars official websiteFemi Taylor is an accomplished dancer, who has appeared in both the original London stage version and the video version of "Cats". She revived her role as the scantily-clad Oola for the "Special Edition" of "The Return of the Jedi". Ms Taylor was still able to wear her old costume, 14 years after her original performance.
She continues to attend Star Wars conventions and loves meeting her fans from around the world.
Her brother, Benedict Taylor, has a brief role in "The Phantom Menace" as one of the fighter pilots attacking the Federation Command Ship.
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