Femi Taylor Listen (born 8 April 1961) is a Nigerian-born British dancer and actress, best known for portraying Jabba the Hutt's Twi'lek slave dancer Oola in the 1983 motion picture Return of the Jedi.[1]

Femi Taylor
Born (1961-04-08) 8 April 1961 (age 63)
Occupation(s)Actress, dancer
Years active1979–present
SpouseClaus Skytte
Children2

Career

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Taylor portrayed the slave dancer Oola in Return of the Jedi, the last film of the original trilogy. She reprised the part fourteen years later, filming new scenes for the 1997 Special Edition release, and was the only performer from the original to do so. Because of this role, she appears at science fiction and Star Wars conventions around the world.

Taylor was cast as Tantomile in the 1981 original London production of the musical Cats, during which she learned she had been cast as Oola for Return of the Jedi. She appeared in the 1998 TV movie version of Cats as Exotica, a character that was created specially for her and exclusively for the film.

Personal life

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Taylor lives in Odense, Denmark, has two children and is married to Claus Skytte.[2]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1980 The Apple Dancer
1983 Return of the Jedi Oola Reprised the role in 1997 to film an additional scene for the special edition
1987 Playing Away Masie
1990 A Kink in the Picasso Nadia
1991 Flirting Letitia Adjewa
1998 Cats Exotica

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1984 Miracles Take Longer Tracy Benedict 2 episodes
1986 The Bill Nurse Episode: Loan Shark
ScreenPlay Linda Episode: Drums Along Balmoral Drive

References

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  1. ^ Matt Forbeck (2011). Star Wars vs. Star Trek: Could the Empire kick the Federation's ass? And other galaxy-shaking enigmas. Adams Media. p. 34. ISBN 9781440525773. Femi Taylor actress.
  2. ^ "Star Wars-stjerne bor i Odense: - Det er utroligt, at rollen har ført mig til Japan, Hawaii, Rusland og Europa". ugeavisen.dk (in Danish). 1 November 2021. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021.
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