Vanessa Marshall on Hera Syndulla at the Star Wars Rebels Event
Vanessa Marshall, the voice actor behind Hera Syndulla in Star Wars Rebels, joined us at a 2014 Disney XD press event where she introduced the Ghost crew, shared her enthusiasm for the Star Wars galaxy, and gave us an early look at the animated series.
This firsthand behind-the-scenes recap is for Star Wars Rebels fans who want to know who voiced Hera Syndulla and see the Stormtroopers, R2-D2, Chopper, photos, videos, and memories from the event before the series premiered.
Jump to Vanessa Marshall and Hera Syndulla
Editor’s note: I originally attended and wrote about this event in 2014, before Star Wars Rebels premiered. I have updated this post to preserve the firsthand photos and memories while putting the event in its proper historical context.
Vanessa Marshall and Hera Syndulla in Star Wars Rebels
If you are wondering who voices Hera Syndulla in Star Wars Rebels, the answer is Vanessa Marshall. She brought the Twi’lek pilot, captain of the Ghost, and heart of the rebel crew to life throughout the animated series.
I met Vanessa before audiences had watched Hera’s story unfold. At the time, we were being introduced to a brand-new group of Star Wars characters: Hera, Ezra, Kanan, Sabine, Zeb, and one hilariously temperamental droid named Chopper.
Looking back now, that is what makes these memories so special. We did not yet know which characters fans would carry in their hearts or how deeply people would connect with the Ghost crew. We were simply standing at the beginning of the adventure.
Vanessa was energetic, warm, and wonderfully enthusiastic. She spoke with the unmistakable excitement of someone who did not simply have a role in Star Wars; she genuinely loved being part of its galaxy.
Why This Behind-the-Scenes Star Wars Rebels Event Still Matters
This is not a studio recap assembled years later. These are my own photos and memories from a Disney press event held before Star Wars Rebels premiered.
Inside this post, you will see:
- Vanessa Marshall speaking about Star Wars Rebels and Hera Syndulla
- R2-D2 and Chopper together at the event
- Stormtroopers greeting guests as we arrived
- An early Hera character video
- The original full Star Wars Rebels trailer
- My firsthand memories of seeing the new series introduced
For longtime fans, it is a small time capsule from the beginning of the series. For newer fans discovering the Ghost crew, it is a look back at how the adventure was introduced before anyone knew where it would lead.
Readers also explore… More behind-the-scenes voice acting stories in my Genesis Rodriguez Big Hero 6 interview and Jamie Chung interview about bringing GoGo Tomago to life.
Inside the 2014 Star Wars Rebels Event
Of all the events on my Disney trip, this was the one my children were most excited for me to attend.
We walked to the Loews Hollywood Hotel and made our way upstairs to Preston’s Restaurant. I honestly did not know what to expect.
Then the etched glass doors opened.
There were Stormtroopers.
At that moment, the ordinary hotel hallway disappeared and the entire evening suddenly felt as though we had stepped into a galaxy far, far away.
Meeting R2-D2 and Chopper
Once inside, we met a droid who needed no introduction: R2-D2.
I had seen R2-D2 on a screen for years. Standing beside him was an entirely different kind of Star Wars moment.
Then there was the newest droid in the room: Chopper.
Chopper, also known as C1-10P, would become the Ghost crew’s wonderfully grumpy, stubborn, and endlessly memorable astromech droid.
Even before the series premiered, you could tell he was not designed to be a quiet little helper waiting patiently in the corner. Chopper had personality.
A lot of personality.
Who Voices Hera Syndulla in Star Wars Rebels?
Vanessa Marshall is the voice of Hera Syndulla in Star Wars Rebels.
At the event, Vanessa was the true star of the evening for me. She was kind, animated, and a captivating storyteller. Her excitement made it easy to understand how she could bring both warmth and strength to Hera.
Vanessa already had an extensive voice-acting career, with work in animated series including Ben 10, Johnny Bravo, and What’s New, Scooby-Doo?. But listening to her talk about Star Wars felt different.
She was not treating Hera as simply another voice role.
She seemed genuinely thrilled to be there.
This early character feature introduced audiences to Hera as the pilot and heart of the Ghost crew. Watching it now feels very different from watching it before the series premiered. We know where the journey goes. At the time, Hera was simply a new character waiting for fans to meet her.
Why Hera Syndulla Stood Out
Hera was introduced as much more than the person flying the ship.
She was the captain of the Ghost, a gifted pilot, and the steady center of a crew filled with very different personalities. She could lead, fight, listen, make impossible decisions, and hold a found family together.
That balance is part of what made Vanessa Marshall such an important voice for the character. Hera needed authority without losing compassion. She needed strength without becoming cold.
Even at this early event, before we had watched the full story unfold, there was something compelling about the combination of character and actor.
Our Star Wars Rebels Presentation and Sneak Peek
After meeting the characters and droids, we gathered for a special presentation with Vanessa Marshall.
She introduced clips from the new series and answered questions about the world we were about to enter. The room had the particular kind of excitement that happens when everyone knows they are seeing something before the rest of the world.
We also watched an extended trailer and character footage from Star Wars Rebels.
There were familiar pieces of the Star Wars universe, but there was also a new crew, a new ship, and a new story taking shape.
Watching that trailer now is pure nostalgia. In 2014, it was a promise of what might come next.
What Changed After This Star Wars Rebels Event?
When I first wrote this post, Star Wars Rebels had not premiered yet. We were meeting Hera, Chopper, and the Ghost crew as brand-new additions to the Star Wars galaxy.
The series went on to tell its story across four seasons, and Hera became one of its defining characters. Vanessa Marshall’s performance helped establish the warmth, authority, and loyalty that made Hera so memorable.
Vanessa later returned to voice Hera again in other animated Star Wars stories, giving longtime fans another chance to hear the character she helped create.
That makes this event feel less like an old promotional stop and more like a photograph from the beginning of something fans did not yet know they would love.
Perfect with… A Star Wars Rebels rewatch, a May the 4th family movie night, or an argument over which member of the Ghost crew is the best. For more firsthand Disney stories, browse my Disney Pixar archive.
Why I Am Glad I Kept These Star Wars Rebels Memories
My children were the reason this event meant so much to me before I even walked through the doors.
They were the Star Wars fans waiting at home. They were the ones who understood just how exciting it was that their mom had met R2-D2, stood beside Stormtroopers, and seen Chopper before the rest of the world really knew him.
Years later, the press-event language and launch dates are no longer the important part.
The important part is that I was there.
I took these photos. I watched Vanessa Marshall introduce us to Hera. I stood in a room where a new corner of the Star Wars galaxy was opening for the first time.
That is the memory worth keeping.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vanessa Marshall and Star Wars Rebels
Who voices Hera Syndulla in Star Wars Rebels?
Vanessa Marshall voices Hera Syndulla in Star Wars Rebels. Hera is the Twi’lek pilot and captain of the Ghost crew.
Did Vanessa Marshall attend the Star Wars Rebels press event?
Yes. I attended a 2014 Disney XD press event where Vanessa Marshall introduced clips, answered questions, and spoke about the new series before it premiered.
What is Hera Syndulla’s role in Star Wars Rebels?
Hera is a gifted pilot, the captain of the Ghost, and a leader of the rebel crew. She is often the steady center of the group’s found-family dynamic.
Who is Chopper in Star Wars Rebels?
Chopper, or C1-10P, is the Ghost crew’s astromech droid. He is known for his grumpy personality, independence, and habit of doing things his own way.
When did Star Wars Rebels premiere?
Star Wars Rebels premiered in 2014. This event took place before audiences had watched the Ghost crew’s story unfold.
Is this a firsthand Star Wars Rebels event recap?
Yes. I attended the event in person and took the original photos shared throughout this post.
Are the original Star Wars Rebels videos still available?
Yes. The early Hera character feature and the official full trailer from the original post are embedded above.
Final Thoughts on Meeting Vanessa Marshall
When those etched glass doors opened and the Stormtroopers appeared, I thought that would be the moment I remembered most.
Then there was R2-D2.
Then Chopper.
And then Vanessa Marshall began talking about Hera Syndulla and the new Star Wars story we were about to see.
More than a decade later, I am grateful I still have the photographs and memories from that evening. They preserve a moment before Star Wars Rebels had four seasons, before fans knew the Ghost crew’s full story, and before Hera Syndulla became a character so many people would love.
For one evening, we were simply standing at the beginning.