The Mandalorian Actors Who Are Gorgeous In Real Life
All our powers are useless when it comes to Baby Yoda. No other character in the series—or dare we say, the entire Star Wars franchise—has caused as much fanfare as The Child. It's the pointy ears, the dewy eyes and the sheer stature of this pint-sized creature that has us all swooning. While we would love to be besties with Baby Yoda, perhaps there's a better chance in linking up with one of his good-looking, human co-stars. The cast of The Mandalorian spends a lot of time covered up in costume, but in real life these actors are as pleasing to the eye as they are talented. (None of them are nearly as adorable as Grogu, of course, but we'll take what we can get).
One has to be ultra svelte to be in the Star Wars universe and this lot is no exception. From eccentric wellness tips, to extensive workout plans and overall genetic superiority, this cast spans up and coming actors as well as vets in the biz and all of them have gripped the world with the activities on and offline. While all the attention hasn't been positive, there is no denying that The Mandalorian is a hub of some of the most gorgeous people to look at—with or without costumes.
Rosario Dawson's super secret is...drinking clay?
She has only been part of The Mandalorian since its second season, but Rosario Dawson has been the object of many affections for the duration of her decades-long career. The stunner starred in hits such as Rent, Men in Black II, and Seven Pounds before she joined the series as Ahsoka Tano.
So, how does this A-lister keep her youthful glow? Apparently drinking clay does the trick. "There's really good, fine, food-grade clay that helps to clean out your system and rid you of parasites," she told The Cut. "I'm very natural about stuff, so it's clays and vitamins in my skin care, too. I'm not a retinol and acids-type person; I can't do all of that kind of stuff. It's about finding the stuff that works for me."
While her beauty tip may not be conventional, being an actor has allowed her to ease up on her expectations of beauty overall. "Once you've seen behind the camera, you know how everything goes. It's all a trick. It's not a trick that doesn't have a lot of work behind it, but a trick nonetheless," she revealed to BYRDIE. "If you want to have that kind of luminous skin, it takes multiple different things, it's not just going to be one magical thing. It's not just genetics, it's not just having enough money to buy La Mer. You can sleep well, do yoga, meditate, have a great conversation. That's beauty too."
Pedro Pascal's zaddy vibes radiate through the Mando armor
He first got our attention playing the oh-so-sensual Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones, then he dialed up the sexy in tight bell bottoms and equally tight shirts as DEA agent Javier Peña in Narcos. However, Pedro Pascal's latest role as the titular character in The Mandalorian seems to be the peak of his zaddy superpowers. The Chilean-born actor's ability to have the ladies (and gentlemen) swooning over him while covered in head-to-toe Mandalorian armor is so grand, it earned him a spot on People's Sexiest Men Alive lineup in 2020.
In fact, the actor's sexiness is so appealing it not only spawned fanfare on Twitter, but it also spawned an entire thinkpiece from Vulture trying to get us all to understand what it is about Din Djarin that is so damn irresistible. The conclusion? Mando is not just any other hero. Where most films and series constantly flaunt their exceptionally ripped leads, The Mandalorian relies more on swag—letting us feel that what's understood doesn't need to be overexposed. "The qualities that make him hot are also the reasons The Mandalorian is a great show," stated Vulture. "Story reveals character, so there's no need to be otherwise 'revealing.' Much like the Force, true hotness comes from within. Though we can always sense it, it remains invisible. It surrounds us. Binds us. Sustains us." We stan.
Giancarlo Esposito is a timeless, ageless TV villain
If aging like fine wine was a person, it'd be Giancarlo Esposito. Who can forget this mega talented actor's role as Gus Fring in Breaking Bad? (That boxcutter scene lives in our heads rent free). But before he played the spiffy drug lord, Esposito was Buggin' Out in a little 1989 film called Do the Right Thing. Thirty-two years after the premiere of that Spike Lee joint, and a stint on People magazine's "Sexiest Men Alive" list (via WECT), Esposito remains a sight for sore eyes.
It's not just Esposito's looks that have held up all these years; the actor's undeniable talent has also remained in tip-top shape. He was nominated for an Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series award at the 2020 Primetime Emmys for his role as uber villain Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian. While the nomination was major, snagging the role was a win in itself as it marked the first time there was a non-white formidable villain in Star Wars franchise history. "It means a lot to me because I've strived in my career to be colorless," Esposito told IndieWire. "I am of mixed race, half Italian, half African American, and I grew through the period of time where I was relegated to playing thieves and thugs...So for me, it's a crowning moment when I could get a phone call from Jon Favreau, to say, 'I wrote a role for you.'"
From sports to acting, Carl Weathers can do it all
Carl Weathers gives some of these youngins a run for their money. According to Newsweek, "Weathers was a star athlete" long before he was ever famous for his acting chops. The silver screen star played both college and professional football before skyrocketing to fame as Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise. But his laurels don't stop there. As the outlet noted, the actor has previously lent his good looks in commercials for brands such as Bud Light and Old Spice.
For The Mandalorian, Weathers brought those renowned acting chops to his role as Greef Karga. He also offered up his directing prowess in Season 2, helming "Chapter 12: The Siege," which was incredibly well-received by fans. "It came about because I got down to my knees and begged Jon Favreau, 'Please, please, please, let me direct an episode,'" Weathers told Breakfast Television Toronto. "And he said, 'If we have a Season 2, we'll take a look at doing that.' And true to his word, he came through, he delivered."
Gina Carano: MMA fighter, controversy magnet
Gina Carano is, hands down, a fierce athletic machine—with the killer biceps and chiseled abs to prove it. However, it seems the former MMA fighter-turned-actor is quite the magnet for controversy. According to INSIDER, her frequent head-butting with fans dates back to August 2020. Carano posted a picture of a 1936 Nazi rally showing attendees doing the Nazi salute. Her intention—which was showing how one man resisted the salute due to his love for a Jewish woman—was completely lost amidst the blowback. Carano dismissed fans' concerns, chalking the backlash up to bullying.
She went on to have several other incidents in which she was accused of being transphobic and racist after sharing some questionable points of view on Twitter. On top of all of that, she announced that she had joined Parler, a social media platform widely popular with Trump supporters. For perspective, some of the app's users include "inflammatory figures like Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes, activist Laura Loomer, right-wing personality Katie Hopkins, Fox host Sean Hannity, Congressman Devin Nunes, Senator Ted Cruz, and, most recently, members of the Trump family themselves," according to Vanity Fair. This all led to #FireGinaCarano trending on Twitter, as many fans want to see her removed from the series. As Cinema Blend noted, "neither Disney nor Lucasfilm publicly weighed in on the incidents."
Ming-Na Wen's determination puts us all to shame
At a glance, one would never predict Ming-Na Wen was in her 50s when she joined The Mandalorian. However, the actor has shown time and time again that age is just a number. With a proven track record under her belt, Wen could easily show up to set and just act. However, this fierce lady revealed that she does a majority of her own stunts in The Mandalorian, too. "I don't do some of the dangerous stuff," she told StarWars.com. "The helmet is very tough to work in, you have peripheral problems, you can't see down a lot so it just depends on the stunt. But I try to do as much as I can...I'm no spring chicken!"
But being durable enough to do your own stunt work is no easy feat. Prior to coming onto The Mandalorian, Wen sustained an injury at the end of Season 4 of Agents S.H.I.E.L.D and had to replace her ACL and repair her meniscus. You'd think that would slow her down. However, in a blog post on her website, WENEVER, the actor revealed that she found a way to still do her own stunts in the season five opener. "I actually DID a great deal of that fight scene with my newly implanted ACL and big knee brace — mere two months after surgery," she recalled. "I couldn't look like a wuss, right? What I couldn't do, my stunt double took care of for me."
Temuera Morrison is the comeback kid
Temuera Morrison first appeared in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones back in 2002, and though his role as Jango Fett was quite limited, he made quite the impression on fans. Love for Morrison runs so deep that his appearance as Boba Fett in The Mandalorian sent Star Wars fans into a tizzy. The journey getting there was a long one, however, as rumors involving his character(s) came and went with various news cycles over the years. The tide finally turned after he met with show execs, David Filoni and Jon Favreau. "I went to have a meeting at their office..."While I was waiting, I was looking at some of the conceptual drawings on the wall, and I suddenly saw an image of a guy that looked like me. I said, 'Jeez, I'm sure that's me there.' But I didn't want to get too excited." Morrison revealed in an interview with StarWars.com.
It seems the New Zealand-born actor won't have to wait for another decade before he sees himself in another Star Wars project. In December 2020, Kessel Run Transmissions reported that there've been rumblings that "Morrison has signed on for the Kenobi series." Yep, as in the Disney+ show Obi-Wan Kenobi that'll bring Ewan McGregor back to the Star Wars universe. But don't expect to see him come back as Jango or Boba Fett. As Kessel Run Transmissions noted, it looks like Morrison will reprise the role of CC-2224/Cody, which he played in Revenge of the Sith.
Katy M. O'Brian's martial arts background helped her stay fit and secure the bag
Katy M. O'Brian plays the no nonsense henchwoman to Moff Gideon, Comms Officer, and though she is only acting in the series, we wouldn't dare try to mess with her in real life. In an interview with VoyageLA, the actor revealed that not only is she a trained martial artist, but she is also a former policewoman. Her experience in both fields assisted her steady climb to stardom and landed her in various hit shows, including The Walking Dead, How to Get Away with Murder, Z Nation, Black Lightning, as well as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
"The first year in LA was rough, but I had several friends from college who helped me survive. I also found awesome support in the martial arts community," O'Brain told VoyageLA. "I had a background in Hapkido/Self-Defense instruction and basic training in several other styles. With the opportunities in the LA community, I was able to just barely make ends meet with various martial arts-related jobs."
Mark Hamill is the ultimate Star Wars OG
If you aren't so sure about Mark Hamill's pull in the Star Wars universe, just look up reactions to his small cameo in The Mandalorian. The actor is a bona fide Hollywood vet, and his sultry vibes are as unwavering as his presence as Luke Skywalker. In the finale episode of Season 2, the team behind The Mandalorian was able to work their famed magic and digitize an appearance by Luke Skywalker towards the end of the episode. "The fact that we were able to keep my involvement a secret for over a year with no leaks is nothing less than a miracle. A real triumph for spoiler-haters everywhere!," Hamill tweeted.
It seems the surprise cameo was well worth the wait as it lit up Star Wars Twitter and even overwhelmed the beloved actor. "Sometimes the greatest gifts are the most unexpected and something you never realized you wanted until it was given," Hamill wrote nearly two weeks after the episode aired. "I'm a fan myself, so I knew true fans would love it, but to see them thrilled beyond belief with the exuberance of children, whooping it up, screaming in ecstasy, the tears of sheer joy...it's a rollercoaster of emotions I'll never forget," he concluded.
Chris Bartlett is a man of many Star Wars suits
Who doesn't love a man with a deep dimple and inviting eyes? This actor's journey to playing Zero in The Mandalorian was quite unconventional. In an interview with That Hashtag Show, Chris Bartlett revealed that it was actually his love for C-3PO that ultimately landed him a spot on the Disney+ show. Bartlett explained that he was making a C-3PO costume, when he decided to send a picture of his progress to a friend who worked at Lucasfilm. It turned out the costume was so impressive, that two phone calls and "an expedited the chrome finish on his suit" later, Bartlett's career as a professional C-3PO impersonator began.
"[People] just kept calling... whether it was a McDonald's commercial or appearance on the Oscars or a trip to the White House to meet the president. I've been doing it for almost 14 years," he told That Hashtag Show. The role was, of course, originated by Anthony Daniels in 1977, and Bartlett has become a part of C-3PO's legacy. As he told Rebel Force Radio, "I am the backup to Sir Anthony Daniels."
For his role in The Mandalorian, however, Bartlett took on several other characters. "I got a call to go down for a fitting, as a droid," he told Starburst magazine. "By this time I'd been performing as C-3PO for twelve years." As his IMDB page notes, the actor suited up to be the bodies of Zero, a ferryman, a teacher droid, and an RA-7 droid throughout the series.
Dominic Pace is the bounty hunter with a good heart
Dominic Pace's love for Star Wars dates back to the original trilogy, so getting to play Gekko the Bounty Hunter was a dream come true. "[I was a fan] before I could even spell. My first playset was the Cantina Playset. I had the original 12 figures. My mother got me that magnetic alphabet board and I remember the first word I put together on there was 'Jawa,'" he told Star Wars Interviews.
Pace's venture into the franchise was pure luck that came about, as he explained to the outlet, when he connected with a makeup artist named Brian Sipe during a makeup test. "At the end I handed him my business card telling him I'd love to work on whatever project he was doing," Pace recalled to Star Wars Interviews. Well, as fate would have it, that project would just so happen to be a little thing called The Mandalorian, and Pace was welcomed aboard. "I received a phone call two weeks later to report for a project code named, Huckleberry," Pace told the outlet. "I didn't realize it was a Star Wars project until I was invited into a wardrobe room."
Pace has used his platform in a big way. As The Hashtag Show reported, he launched a meet and greet tour called the "Support Small Businesses Tour" to help out independent stores impacted by coronavirus. The outlet also noted that he "has helped many charities along the way."