The 8 Biggest Actors You May Not Realise Have Appeared In The 'Star Wars' Universe

WARNING: SPOILERS for The Mandalorian 3x06, 'Guns for Hire'

Aside from the episode's closing scenes, in which Bo-Katan Kryze reclaimed the Darksaber, the most talked about element of The Mandalorian 3x06, 'Guns for Hire', was the appearance of singer Lizzo as the Duchess of planet Plazir-15, and actor Jack Black as her husband, the reformed Imperial Captain Bombardier.

While their roles were unexpected, both Lizzo and Black were easily recognisable, with their faces clearly visible. However, in the Star Wars universe, this is not always the case. Some surprisingly well-known actors in Star Wars films and TV series have remained almost anonymous in cameo roles, or even as major characters, either because they acted in a voice-only role, or had their faces hidden by helmets or visual effects.

Here are some of the biggest names you may not realise have appeared in Star Wars projects.

1. David Tennant

While Scottish actor David Tennant has built an impressive body of work over his career, the majority of audiences probably know him best as Doctor Who's Tenth Doctor, or more recently, the demon Crowley in Good Omens. Alongside his live-action roles, Tennant performs a lot of voice work, as the voice of Spitelout in the How To Train Your Dragon franchise, and the current official voice of Disney's beloved Scrooge McDuck, as well as narrating various British TV shows. It is in the role of voice actor that Tennant made his appearance in the world of Star Wars.

Tennant voices Huyang, an aging Architect droid of mysterious origin, in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, who resides at the Jedi Temple, where he helps Younglings craft their first Lightsabers. Huyang features prominently in a three episode arc in which he accompanies Ahsoka Tano, Grandmaster Yoda, and a group of Younglings on a trip to the planet Ilum, where the Younglings will collect the Kyber Crystals that form their saber's core, only to have the excursion interrupted by Hondo Ohnaka's pirate crew.

The just released Ahsoka trailer reveals that Tennant is set to reprise the role of Huyang.

2. Daniel Craig

The beginning of Disney's sequel trilogy brought with it a new Star Wars tradition: The Stormtrooper cameo. Many actors who had grown up with the Original Trilogy were eager to nab a role, however small, in the sequels. Disney was happy to oblige, however, to keep these appearances from being a distraction, they were often hidden beneath a Trooper helmet.

The firzt of these big cameos was the then-current, but now former 007, Daniel Craig. In a memorable scene in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Craig plays the Stormtrooper on whom sequel trilogy heroine Rey performs her first successful Jedi mind-trick.

2. Jason Isaacs

While British actor Jason Isaacs has enjoyed a long and varied career, most fans probably know him best as Lucius Malfoy, Death Eater and Father of Harry's rival Lucius Malfoy, in the Harry Potter films. As with David Tennant, Isaacs came to Star Wars in a voice role, however, unlike Tennant, who played a pivotal albeit minor character, Isaacs' part was a more major one.

Isaacs voiced the Grand Inquisitor in Star Wars: Rebels. A former Jedi Temple guard turned loyal servant of Darth Vader, The Grand Inquisitor is the main villain of the series first season, hunting down Jedi Kanan Jarrus and his new Padawan, Ezra Bridger. While the Inquisitor is killed in battle with Kanan and Ezra at the end of season one, Isaacs reprises the role briefly in season two, as a vision fought by Kanan in the Jedi Temple.

Jason Isaacs' voicework as the Grand Inquisitor was well received, so when it was announced that the character would make his live-action debut in Obi-Wan Kenobi, some expected Isaacs to reprise the role again. However, ultimately, Rupert Friend was cast instead.

3. Tom Hardy (and maybe Princes William and Harry)

While the scene was ultimately cut for pacing and concerns it didn't fit with the rest of the film's tone, The Last Jedi's Stormtrooper cameo might have been the franchises biggest. In the scene in question, which would have taken place during the portion of the film in which Finn and Rose have infiltrated Supreme Leader Snoke's flagship, posing as Captains. Finn panics when a Trooper he had been through training with recognizes him, however, the Trooper doesn't realise Finn had defected, and thinks he was simply promoted.

The Stormtrooper who recognises Finn was played by Tom Hardy, known for his roles in Venom, Mad Max: Fury Road, and much more. The Troopers on either side of Hardy are strongly believed to be British Princes William and Harry. However, since no footage of the Princes unhelmeted exists, some fans question whether this is true.

4. Joseph Gordon-Levitt

While Joseph Gordon-Levitt has made quite the name for himself in the world of Indie Cinema, including dipping his toe into directing, many fans will still know him best for his early career, playing Tommy in sitcom 3rd Rock From The Sun, and the nerdy but sweet Cameron in 10 Things I Hate About You. Gordan-Levitt has appeared in every film made by Director Rian Johnson, and they chose not to break the streak with The Last Jedi.

Sometime before release, it was revealed that the actor had lent his voice to the film. Gordon-Levitt voices Slowen Lo, an alien who objects to where Finn and Rose park their ship on Canto Bight, and later reports them to authorities.

5. Sarah Michelle Gellar

90s hearthrobs Freddie Prinze Jr and Sarah Michelle Gellar are one of the few Hollywood couples to have made their marriage last, recently celebrating their 20th anniversary. Prinze Jr voiced the role of Kanan Jarrus, a survivor of Order 66 and therefore one of the last remaining Jedi, in all four seasons of Star Wars: Rebels. He has been open in his enjoyment of the role, regularly attending the Star Wars Celebration convention to meet fans, and reprised the role as a younger Kanan, then known as Caleb Dume, in the first episode of The Bad Batch, revealing how the character escaped Order 66.

Seeing how much street cred Prinze's Star Wars role gained him with their two children, Gellar, best known for playing the lead role in long-running series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, was eager to offer her own services to the franchise.

Gellar was soon cast as Seventh Sister, one of the recurring Inquisitor villains of Rebels season two, with her character regularly pitted against her Husband's. While Prinze's voice is easily detectable to those in the know, Gellar's lines as Seventh Sister have a slight digital alteration, masking her voice to all but the most hardcore fans.

6. Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Nyong'o made a splash early in her film career, earning an Oscar Nomination for her work in 12 Years A Slave. However, to more casual audiences, she is perhaps best known for her role as Nakia in the Black Panther films. While Nyong'o's name features prominently in the credits of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, it can be easy to miss her, given how completely she disappears into her character.

Nyong'o performs the voice and motion capture for Maz Kanata, an aging, force-sensitive alien and ally to the resistance in the sequels. The character of Maz has a convincing air of age and wisdom, making it difficult for many to pick the then thirty-something Nyong'o in the role. The actress reprised the role for the Star Wars: Forces of Destiny shorts, performing the opening voiceover in character as Maz.

7. Nick Nolte

Actor Nick Nolte has had a long and successful career in both film and Television, earning both Oscar and Emmy nominations for his large body of work. In fact, he has been consistently active in the industry since 1969. You'd think it would be difficult to miss such an actor in a franchise as big as Star Wars, but you might be wrong.

Nolte provides the voice for Kuill, an Ugnaught farmer befriended by Din Djarin in the first season of The Mandalorian, with the 0n-set work done by a costumed stuntwoman, Misty Rosas. While Nolte's casting was widely reported prior to the series debut, and some fans believe Kuill's face was designed to resemble the actor, for those who came to The Mandalorian later, missing the early Press, his involvement in the series is potentially easy to miss.

8. Jason Sudeikis

Jason Sudeikis began his career as a writer, and later a cast member, of Saturday Night Live, and has mostly remained in the comedy sphere, starring in films such as Hall Pass, Horrible Bosses, and We're The Millers. More recently, the actor has gained critical acclaim for playing the lead role in Apple + Sports Dramedy series Ted Lasso, which he also helped create.

Sudeikis plays a minor guest role in The Mandalorian's season one finale, and despite how small the role is, he is one of the most hated characters in the series history, perhaps even the Star Wars franchise as a whole. Why?

Sudeikis played the role of Biker Scout Trooper #1, also known as the Trooper who punched Grogu, then known simply as The Child.

With many more Star Wars films and TV series on the way, we are sure to see more cameos, both memorable and subtle, in the future.