Katee Sackhoff opens up about Bo-Katan: a struggle to understand the character, a three-year career pause, and a path back to confidence
Katee Sackhoff has candidly shared that she didn’t fully understand Bo-Katan Kryze, a revelation that she says “destroyed my confidence” and led to a period where she essentially didn’t work for three years. Speaking on her podcast, The Sackhoff Show, the Battlestar Galactica alum described the emotional toll of trying to inhabit a character who felt far removed from her own identity.
“I lost all of my confidence after Mandalorian. All of it,” Sackhoff said. “Bo-Katan is nowhere near who I am as a human being. Her life, what she wants — I didn’t understand her. As much as I understood her, I never felt her in my stomach. I never identified with her. I didn’t know how to find her.”
Bo-Katan의 journey spans animation and live action. Sackhoff first voiced the Mandalorian warrior in Star Wars: The Clone Wars in 2012, then returned as the character in Star Wars Rebels in 2017. She made her live-action debut as Bo-Katan in The Mandalorian’s second season in 2020, later taking a more prominent role in season 3 in 2023. After wrapping season 3 in spring 2022, she faced a challenging period where auditions and bookings dried up.
In the years that followed, Sackhoff’s on-screen credits were sparse. Between 2022 and 2024, her career included a single episode of Law & Order, along with voice work for Robot Chicken and appearances in animated projects like Watchmen and Justice League films. She returned to Bo-Katan for a 2024 episode of Star Wars: Tales of the Empire, underscoring her ongoing connection to the character.
The turning point, she said, came after she hired a new manager who connected her with an acting coach. The coach emphasized getting back into her “belly” and reclaiming her confidence, framing the work as returning to instinct rather than changeable technique: “My goal is not to teach you how to act. You know how to act. I just need to get you back in your belly. You just need to find your confidence again.”
Looking ahead, Sackhoff is set to appear in a limited series adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie, directed by Mike Flanagan, with whom she previously collaborated on Oculus (2013). She expressed trust in Flanagan, noting, “I trust Mike. I’ve relinquished control and I trust Mike, ’cause I’ve worked with him before and I know he’s amazing. I don’t know if I trust myself yet.”
What this story suggests for the industry—and for viewers
– The emotional and psychological cost of demanding, iconic roles can be real. Sackhoff’s experience highlights how identifying with a character can be as important as technical skill in shaping performance.
– Finding the right support is crucial. Her pivot—from new management to an acting coach focused on deep, instinctual confidence—offers a roadmap for actors navigating career plateaus.
– Resilience can lead to fresh opportunities. Sackhoff’s return to screens with a high-profile Carrie project signals renewed momentum and continued relevance in a demanding industry.
Summary
Katee Sackhoff has shared a deeply personal account of the confidence crisis she faced while portraying Bo-Katan, a period that included a multi-year hiatus from on-screen work. With new professional support, she’s rebuilding her confidence and returning to the screen in a Carrie series with Mike Flanagan, illustrating a comeback grounded in self-knowledge and renewed trust in collaboration.
Additional notes
– Sackhoff’s ongoing ties to Bo-Katan across animation and live action demonstrate the enduring appeal and complexity of the character.
– The Carrie project could offer a platform to showcase a rejuvenated performance approach, harmonizing experience with newfound confidence.
– This story resonates with many actors who navigate creative doubt, reminding audiences of the human side of star-driven storytelling.