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Ivanna Sakhno Full Q&A | Shin Hati, Lightsabers, “Companionship” Tease for Ahsoka S2 SpaceCon 2025
Nov 3, 2025
Recorded live at SpaceCon San Antonio on October 25, 2025. Ivanna Sakhno (Shin Hati in Ahsoka) sits down for a wide-ranging fan Q&A: her top-secret audition, crafting Shin’s physical presence, lightsaber work, and heartfelt memories of Ray Stevenson.
Highlights
Secret audition → casting: Sent one self-tape using dummy sides from another film; later learned it was for Star Wars and met with Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau to discuss the role of Shin.
Building Shin Hati: Anchors the character in precise movement and posture (she even cites the Tibetan fox as a reference), plus an aikido base from childhood.
Lightsaber philosophy: Treats duels as a “conversation” between fighters—motivation first, choreography second. Admits to whacking herself more than once (one small concussion, documented as “hit by a lightsaber”).
Playing a villain: Calls it “delicious”—exploring darkness to grow empathy for others.
Force vs. saber: Chooses the Force—says the blade is an extension of an inner state.
Language & life: Left Ukraine at 13 and learned English by immersion in Canada.
Costume & design: Collaborated with costume designer Shawna Trpcic; shares the moldavite detail Ray proposed—Ivanna wore it in her Padawan braid; Ray in a ring and belt accent.
Ray Stevenson: A moving tribute—mentor, friend, and guiding light; she keeps him close while shaping Shin in Season 2.
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0:00
We want to go.
0:02
[Applause]
0:11
Hello. Hi.
0:15
Hello. How are you?
0:16
I'm good. I'm good. It's my first time
0:18
in Texas.
0:19
First time in Texas? Yes.
0:21
Are you enjoying this so far?
0:23
I really, really am. Listen, you got you
0:25
or maybe we should thank you because
0:27
this weather that we're having this
0:28
weekend was not here a week ago. So many
0:31
more.
0:31
You brought you brought something from
0:34
uh what's it called? The
0:36
galaxy
0:38
far reaches.
0:39
Far far away.
0:40
There you go. So, we appreciate you
0:42
bringing that for us.
0:43
My pleasure.
0:44
And you're being joined by some of your
0:45
cast members. Natasha is here. You might
0:47
be having a ball together.
0:48
Oh, it's always so exciting to be
0:50
together. It's just it's the best time.
0:52
We really I I really wanted to invade
0:55
her panel. I just I was kind of held up
0:57
at this signing. So, but I I know you
1:00
you had a wonderful time with her.
1:01
We appreciate the thoughts is that's
1:03
what counts. Um so, I asked her a
1:05
question because we've not had her here
1:07
before. We've not had you here before.
1:09
So, I'm going to ask you the same
1:10
question. Um what was your experience
1:13
auditioning for the role of Shin Hati?
1:16
We have a lot of fans of Shin, right?
1:20
What was your experience during the
1:21
audition process? And then where were
1:23
you? What do you recall from getting
1:25
that that that special magic phone call
1:27
that you were joining the Sober cast?
1:29
Yeah, I was I was working in France at
1:31
that time and I I mean it's very top
1:34
secret, right? So you kind of get um a
1:37
vague description of the character and I
1:39
got what we call dummy sides. Basically
1:42
sides that are written for the audition
1:44
or sides from a different movie. And I
1:47
just did one um one tape and it was one
1:50
scene and afterwards I got a call from
1:54
the casting director and um and
1:57
basically found out that it was for Star
1:59
Wars. I got the chance to get on a call
2:00
with David John who were very kind to
2:03
explain to me what the series is about
2:06
and um told me a little bit about Shin
2:09
and of course right away I just wanted
2:11
to become part of it and um it was quite
2:14
quick but I um I've mentioned before I
2:16
think so much of it has to do with John
2:18
and Dave leading with intuition and just
2:21
knowing what they want and I I just feel
2:23
really lucky that I I became part of
2:26
this family.
2:33
And then Shin herself, she's enigmatic,
2:35
she's intense, she's emotionally
2:38
restrained. Uh for you, what is your
2:40
process like to kind of tap into that
2:43
that mental state and how do you kind of
2:45
stay there throughout life? I I think
2:48
with Shen um or any lightsaber wielder,
2:52
it has so much to do with physicality
2:53
and understanding her um body language
2:58
and uh in the first season um a lot of
3:01
it had to do with um um there's this
3:05
animal called the Tibetan fox and kind
3:08
of I mean to be honest visually looks
3:10
like a child drew it like the idea of a
3:13
fox. It was quite messed up, but it just
3:16
moves with quite great precision. So, it
3:18
was kind of um an initiation for me of
3:21
sorts. And um I I was studying the fox.
3:24
I was also studying just um martial
3:27
arts. I did martial arts when I was a
3:29
kid, iikido. So, that was fundamentally
3:32
what helped me kind of like get through
3:35
the gates. Um and then up until the
3:38
second season, you learned that a lot of
3:40
it, your body kind of keeps the score
3:42
and and and you have um you have
3:47
a physical memory of what you learned in
3:49
the first season. So, my driving force
3:52
behind it is just hopefully getting
3:54
better and more precise with my
3:56
movements and um and let Shen unfold or
4:01
keep unfolding into being basically. And
4:05
in regards to her darkness or intensity,
4:08
I think um not to be too actor, but but
4:10
I think the more you understand humanity
4:12
and the other side of the spectrum, the
4:14
more understand your own um mind and
4:18
heart and the people around you, um it
4:20
leads to only understanding the darkness
4:22
without somebody else. If that makes
4:24
sense.
4:25
No, it makes perfect sense. We
4:27
appreciate you saying that. We have a
4:29
lot of fan questions. This one is from
4:32
Blake. Blake, where are you, sir? Right
4:34
here. There you go. Perfect.
4:36
And I love your shirt. Rico,
4:40
you have to do that, by the way, when
4:41
the panel like comes up here. I'll talk
4:43
to the moderator for that one. Uh, but
4:45
Blake would like to know, uh, what
4:48
moment for your character most reflects
4:51
you in real life?
4:53
Wow, that's such a good question. I
4:55
don't think anybody has ever asked me
4:57
that question. Um,
4:58
good job, Blake.
5:00
Um, I think with
5:04
Shen, um, I think what I resonate most
5:08
with her about is her desire to
5:10
understand herself and understand her
5:12
beginning. Um, in some ways Shen,
5:16
not to be like, not to speak too deeply
5:19
about my own beginning, but she's when I
5:22
was 8 years old in some ways. So I um
5:25
she leads me to um to finding more grace
5:30
and love towards myself and that child
5:32
self. And so um it's a profound
5:35
experience to um to get to explore her
5:39
and understand her being because it
5:41
leads to me understanding my home.
5:50
You are a force wielder and you also
5:54
wield a lightsaber. And so unless you
5:56
were growing up with those things, I
5:58
imagine there's an intense regimen and
6:01
training and it's probably taking you
6:04
maybe months or maybe you're a pro at it
6:06
and it took you just a few weeks to get
6:08
into it. Can can you describe all the
6:11
the work and effort and energy it takes
6:14
for you to not only do all that on set,
6:18
all the choreography and all of that,
6:20
but also having to act while doing these
6:23
things. And it might seem like it's easy
6:25
cuz you guys do it so effortlessly, but
6:28
I know there's a lot of work that goes
6:29
into that. Um, I think what I've gotten
6:32
to really learn about lightsaber
6:36
combat, if you will, is um, I really
6:38
wanted to be not just um, a
6:42
choreography, but understanding the
6:44
conversation between two wielders and,
6:47
um, the conversation between two
6:49
fighters. So, understanding the
6:51
philosophy behind it and the reason
6:53
behind the strikes was really important
6:55
to me. Um, I think the more you allow
6:59
yourself, um, you the more you allow it
7:02
to sit in your body and lend into your
7:05
movements, the the easier it becomes. I
7:08
think so much of it has to do with that
7:11
trust and with being present cuz once
7:13
you
7:15
once you understand the the fight
7:17
better, you can actually have
7:19
conversation within it. And so in the
7:21
fight of even if you miss a strike,
7:23
you're able to come back and make it
7:26
make sense, you know. So um I I don't
7:29
take it um lightly at all. I think it's
7:32
a great honor to hold a lightsaber and I
7:34
can only hope that I can continue
7:36
growing within my understanding of it
7:38
and how how I operate with it.
7:42
I also imagine uh because again this is
7:45
all very difficult to to pick up and
7:47
learn and memorize. So there's probably
7:50
little things, little accidents that
7:52
happen. You might hit someone
7:54
accidentally. I think uh Aiden was here
7:56
last week talking about a lot of bruised
7:58
knuckles and a lot of that. So for you,
8:01
what are some of those challenges
8:03
learning this choreography? Like
8:04
Sarah, I've hit myself so many times. Oh
8:07
my god. I I remember in the first season
8:10
I was brought into um um a clinic cuz I
8:15
hit myself with a lightsaber and I got a
8:17
little a tiny concussion from it. And so
8:20
the doctor when he was writing the
8:21
document he literally I still have the
8:23
document I was like the reason for
8:25
injury hit by a lightsaber.
8:28
Um and then honestly that'll be
8:30
continued even second season. There's
8:32
quite a few moments, even capture it on
8:34
camera when I just yanked myself. But
8:37
most thankfully, I didn't hit too many
8:39
of my opponents. It only has to do with
8:41
me injuring myself, which is, you know,
8:46
I maybe I prefer just hitting myself
8:48
instead of others. I don't know. I've
8:51
done a lot of interviews with Jedi and I
8:54
that's the first time I've ever heard
8:55
someone hit themselves that many times.
8:58
That's
8:59
amazing. Uh, Celeste has a question.
9:02
Celeste, where are you?
9:04
[Applause]
9:05
She's here something. Oh, back there.
9:07
Hold the lightsaber.
9:09
Yes.
9:09
Uh, Celeste would like to know, "What's
9:11
the best part about playing a villain?"
9:14
Oo, it's delicious. Um, I just think
9:18
there's um it's so exciting to get to be
9:21
a rascal, for lack of a better word. I
9:24
think um the best part of playing a
9:27
villain
9:29
I don't know the whole like the the
9:32
ability to dive into the darkness and I
9:35
think you only come out of the other
9:37
side understanding more about um you you
9:41
come out of the other side having more
9:43
compassion towards others and understand
9:46
the reason behind certain actions. Um,
9:49
yeah. Uh, and also, I mean, to be fair,
9:52
in this in this case, playing a villain
9:55
in Star Wars, getting to hold a
9:57
lightsaber that holds the dark force is
10:00
sacred to me. So, that's the coolest
10:03
part.
10:04
Uh, this next question is from Patrick.
10:06
Patrick, where are you, sir? Patrick's
10:08
over here. Great question here, Patrick.
10:10
He would like to know, "What do you
10:12
think is a force power you would like to
10:15
have, but you would abuse in real life?
10:22
force power that I would like to have
10:24
and abuse.
10:26
I mean, it's easy to abuse any power
10:27
once you have it, right? So, um you can
10:30
abuse anything if you if you don't have
10:32
the balance within it. I would say
10:36
um
10:38
I mean when I look at the current state
10:39
of the world, I wish you a fourstroke,
10:42
you know, but I
10:44
I
10:50
But it's not Patrick how the world
10:52
works. So I do want to believe that we
10:54
can leave with light and only grow from
10:57
it. But yeah,
11:00
this next question is from Veronica who
11:03
claims to be your BFF. Veronica. BFF.
11:05
Hi.
11:07
Hi.
11:08
I think he's actually right about that.
11:09
Okay. Um, this I'll ask the second part
11:12
of this if that's okay. Do you prefer
11:14
the force or a saber? Hey, to you, what
11:18
looks cooler on screen?
11:20
Dear BFF, how can you compare the two?
11:22
They're part of the same, a force or can
11:25
you Oh, man. Um, I would say I would say
11:29
the force because holding a lightsaber
11:34
is connected to holding a force within
11:36
yourself as well. So, um, I would say
11:38
the force. I have to go with the horse.
11:40
Yeah.
11:41
Yeah.
11:46
Next question here is from Mark. Mark,
11:48
where are you, sir? There. Hi. I saw you
11:52
like Oh, it's me. Uh, Mark would like to
11:55
know, was it difficult for you to learn
11:56
English having grown up in Ukraine?
11:59
Um, thank you for the question. I I left
12:03
Ukraine when I was 13 and I sort of left
12:06
on my own. I didn't speak any English at
12:08
that time. So I remember landing in
12:10
Canada for the first time and I I
12:12
couldn't even buy a bus ticket. I would
12:15
say also that at the same time I was 13
12:18
so it's much easier to to learn the
12:20
language um when you're younger and
12:22
being dipped into the environment made
12:24
it that much easier. Um at this time I
12:28
mean there are certain languages that I
12:29
wish to be able to be fluent in. Like I
12:32
here and there tried to learn Japanese a
12:34
little bit but it's um it's much more
12:35
difficult when you're an adult. So um
12:38
learning through watching films and just
12:42
listening to the environment around me
12:44
was very helpful. Yeah.
12:47
This next question I hope I say these
12:50
right. Is it Di and Fafa? Did I say that
12:54
right? Fantastic. She's already got the
12:57
camera ready. They want to know this is
13:00
a good one by the way. How do you
13:02
channel the dark side?
13:06
Poor impression of you.
13:08
I think uh part of channeling the dark
13:11
side um kind of translates to if you
13:16
would agree to what religion is and I
13:18
think what any religion teaches us
13:20
through meditation or prayer is
13:22
presentness. So in order to really
13:26
channel the dark side, it has to do with
13:28
being aligned with yourself and being
13:30
present. So having that practice that
13:34
leads me to alignment is um is the the
13:38
ticket.
13:41
We have a question from Larry. Larry,
13:44
where are you, sir? Larry's right over
13:46
there.
13:48
Larry would love to know, "What was your
13:50
favorite memory working on season 1 of
13:53
AOA?"
13:54
Uh, favorite memory. H
13:58
Yes. Speedy. Um, favorite memory. I
14:02
mean, I so many cuz it was just the
14:05
beginning of the journey and beginning
14:07
beginning of being a part of the family.
14:10
I remember holding the lightsaber for
14:11
the first time, which I'm sure you can
14:13
imagine how special that is. Um, I I
14:18
remember the first day of filming. It
14:20
was very much the opening sequence in
14:23
the first episode and it's just a mix of
14:27
motion being nervous and excited and
14:29
being by race side and us not even
14:33
believing that we get to be a part of
14:36
this world. So, I always hold that
14:38
moment very close in my heart. Um, I
14:43
filming the first fight was really,
14:46
really amazing. Um, every single moment
14:48
I have, you know, to be honest, I I
14:50
spoke at length about it, but Ry and I
14:52
would always always remind each other
14:55
how special it is to be there. So, every
14:57
single day was like the first one for
14:59
us, you know. So, yeah. Um, just being a
15:02
part of it, being part of the family is
15:03
my favorite memory. I know it's a very
15:06
broad answer, but it's true.
15:11
I asked this to Natasha and I think I've
15:14
asked this to uh most of the Star Wars
15:16
actors we've had on this stage because
15:18
everybody's had a very unique experience
15:20
doing it. Uh your first either costume
15:23
test or your first dress rehearsal just
15:26
putting on uh Shins's outfit for the
15:29
first time. What is that feeling like?
15:30
What does that mean to you?
15:34
Um it's a feeling of um a certain
15:38
responsibility I think thanks to Dave
15:42
and John and how how much of a
15:45
collective experience they make it to
15:47
be. Um both Ray and I got to be a part
15:50
of the creation of the costume. I
15:52
remember speaking to Shauna Restle, our
15:55
costume designer on the first season. Um
15:58
they invited us Yeah. they invited us to
16:02
um actually have the conversation. I
16:04
remember Ry brought up um Mald Dwight.
16:08
It's natural glass that was created by a
16:10
meteor impact millions of years ago and
16:12
you can find it in the area of Czech
16:13
Republic. But Dave um Ray has had this
16:17
idea of um moldy being part of his
16:20
costume and my costume. So I carry it in
16:22
my Padawan braid and he carries it in
16:24
his um ring and also his belt. So that
16:28
was really amazing to add to her
16:31
costumes. Um, I remember hearing about
16:36
the reason behind like every texture and
16:39
every color that was added to to her
16:41
costumes and why Shauna thought that um
16:44
it was imperative that it looked the way
16:46
it did. So I if anything I learned so
16:49
much about storytelling through Shauna
16:51
and Dave and the decisions they were
16:53
making, but it was very much a
16:54
collective experience. you I I never
16:57
expected to to have that on Star Wars
17:01
cuz sometimes you can feel like you're a
17:03
part of such a big environment and big
17:06
world and it ends up just being deeply
17:08
contained and familyike.
17:11
Yeah. And Natasha said almost the same
17:15
thing uh that you did. And she actually
17:17
used the word intent that her costume um
17:21
the things that she done, the the
17:23
decisions made on set, character
17:25
motivations, everything has an intent
17:27
behind it and that's what she actually
17:29
appreciated and loved about working in
17:31
this universe.
17:32
Okay. So agree it's very intentional.
17:34
Everything is. It truly is.
17:37
Uh, this next question, um, you probably
17:40
already know what it is, but did you
17:41
have a favorite Star Wars character
17:44
before joining Ahsoka? And Ahsoka wasn't
17:48
no name, I apologize.
17:50
Darth Vader. I know it's not
17:55
maybe unoriginal, but it really is. And
17:57
also, guys, I remember I didn't get to
17:59
watch Star Wars when I was a kid. So, I
18:01
really became part of the world when I
18:03
started becoming part of Ahsoka. And in
18:06
some ways I hold deep gratitude for it
18:08
cuz I I became a kid when I was watching
18:10
the original films and I got to do it
18:12
with my best friend and you know his
18:14
parents had a Star Wars themed wedding.
18:16
So it's somebody who truly truly like
18:19
bleeds Star Wars and um and I remember I
18:23
I didn't even know the line I am your
18:25
father. So you can imagine me being what
18:27
I was like. I think I was like 21 and I
18:29
was just watching the film and suddenly
18:31
like I just the discovery of it was so
18:34
raw and such an original experience to
18:37
me. So yeah, Darth Vader all the way.
18:39
Yeah.
18:40
Anybody else?
18:47
Got a question here from Jake from
18:49
Chicago. Jake, where are you, sir? Right
18:51
here. Oh, you got BFFs everywhere. Uh,
18:55
great question, J. What was your
18:57
reaction to getting the call from Megan
18:59
2.0? Any fans?
19:03
And how was that experience for you?
19:05
Uh, getting a call.
19:08
I remember reading the script and uh
19:11
Cashing really did like the original
19:13
script and I thought that it was funny
19:15
and um I um upon reading it, I got to
19:20
meet with Gerard, our director, who is
19:22
originally from New Zealand, but he flew
19:24
into LA and we did a couple of scenes
19:27
together um play around with um what
19:30
Amelia could be and it was a pretty
19:32
quick and smooth process. It was really
19:34
fun to create. I got to also explore New
19:36
Zealand and um the land the secretly
19:39
special. So, thank you for the question.
19:41
I hope you enjoyed.
19:44
There are a couple of questions here and
19:46
I also have one. So, I'm going to try
19:49
and organize these a little bit.
19:53
Um what is something that you can share
19:56
with the rest of us about Ray? Um maybe
20:00
just something offset uh a conversation.
20:02
And I hate to bomb Bar with this, but um
20:05
I think he
20:08
prepared and brought a certain level of
20:13
authenticity
20:15
and stoicism that we had not seen
20:17
probably in a really long time in this
20:20
franchise and um we all miss and I know
20:24
you do too. But what can you share with
20:25
us about Ray?
20:26
It's always an honor to speak about Ray.
20:29
Um I what you have described about him
20:32
that sort of authenticity
20:35
minus stoicism in real life is he
20:38
carried such immense humor and wisdom in
20:42
many ways he has become what a master
20:45
is. He became a true friend and um he
20:49
understood the force and the philosophy
20:52
behind Star Wars to such depth that it
20:55
continues to lead us and lead what I do
20:59
in the second season and my journey with
21:02
Shin. Um his passing from the physical
21:06
realm only translated into really him
21:09
becoming a force ghost. He taught me
21:11
what it's like to gain wings when
21:14
somebody um is no longer here but
21:16
continues to lead you. And knowing him
21:19
and knowing his light is one of the
21:22
biggest gifts in my life. And although
21:24
we knew each other maybe for like 2
21:27
years really. Um, he became one of the
21:30
most influential people in my life and
21:32
his children and his partner Beta are
21:35
now my own family and they got to visit
21:38
me when we were filming the second
21:40
season of London. So, I see them often
21:43
and I intend to come down with them for
21:45
the rest of my life. And Ry is very much
21:48
at the forefront of um how I lead my
21:51
life and the choices I make because I
21:53
think he's really one of a kind. He's
21:54
larger than life.
22:04
We had a couple questions about Ray from
22:05
Lucky and Lee. Where are you guys? There
22:08
you go. There you go. Um I think we're
22:10
going to leave Ray at that. I had an
22:13
honor of interviewing Rory um a few
22:17
months back and I was one of the lucky
22:19
few that uh had to ask him about nothing
22:22
about the new season but but just his
22:26
excitement um and the responsibility
22:28
that he felt uh taking over for such a a
22:33
phenomenal actor like Ray. Um, so
22:36
without any details, um, can you
22:39
describe Rory and the two of you either
22:43
talking about joining this franchise or,
22:46
you know, you're you're now taking him
22:48
under your wing as we probably did for
22:50
you. So, what has it been like working
22:51
with the great Rory McKenna? Any fans of
22:54
Rory? I can't be alone here.
22:55
Rory is amazing.
22:57
um what you describe as intentionality,
23:00
responsibility
23:02
and um and uh he brought deep meaning
23:07
into into um Balin and without
23:11
overspeaking cuz I really want his work
23:13
to speak for itself. I think you will be
23:16
impressed and surprised and seeing him
23:19
honor uh what Ry has created and
23:24
witnessing him bringing his own into 's
23:27
shoes and his own brilliance has been
23:31
something that I do not take for
23:33
granted. So, I'm really excited to see
23:35
what the second season is going to be
23:37
like, but being by his side and and
23:40
sharing that space is um was wonderful.
23:44
Yeah, Rory is amazing. I'm sure you you
23:48
know, we all have seen his work. So,
23:50
we're very lucky to have him be part of
23:52
the second season. It couldn't have
23:54
happened to a better individual. I think
23:58
he's on cloud9. He's just living his
24:01
childhood dream. So,
24:03
it's amazing to get a chance to talk to
24:06
him about it so early.
24:08
Um, what do you hope audiences take away
24:11
from Shin's journey so far?
24:15
So far, you mean the first season?
24:17
Only the first season. Don't get me in
24:18
trouble.
24:19
It's so It's so difficult.
24:22
anything.
24:24
Um uh from the first season is um
24:30
as I said earlier um I think um allowing
24:35
someone to
24:37
keep unfolding into being and
24:40
understanding that we all come from
24:43
different paths and sometimes the
24:45
darkness that we lead with is
24:48
unintentional. It's difficult not to
24:51
judge when that affects others. But
24:54
finding um finding kindness for one
24:58
another, understanding for one another,
25:00
and not dealing in absolutes um is
25:04
something that I think we can all learn
25:06
from.
25:08
I love that. Thank you.
25:14
I I asked Natasha this question, so I'm
25:16
going to be fair and ask you the same
25:17
thing. one word to help us understand or
25:22
how you would describe what we're in for
25:25
for season two.
25:27
Oh, I wonder what Natasha said.
25:31
She She actually cheated. She said
25:33
bigger and better.
25:34
Oh god. Well, that's true. That's true.
25:37
Uh
25:39
[Music]
25:39
[Applause]
25:48
companionship.
25:51
I'll be that one.
25:59
Uh, I saved this one for last because I
26:01
think this means more to you um than
26:04
everyone else in here. So, if I can just
26:06
hand this to you.
26:08
Oh, thank you. Who wrote this? It says
26:12
Slava.
26:15
Thank you.
26:17
Very
26:19
thank you so much. Thank you guys for
26:22
welcoming me and in and Texas. It's been
26:25
a pleasure to be a part of this this
26:27
conversation. We are so happy that you
26:29
made this trip. We are so excited to see
26:32
where Shin's journey takes place from
26:35
here on out. Um, you left us with a
26:38
wonderful cliffhanger and we cannot wait
26:40
to see what's in store for season 2.
26:42
Thank you again for being here. San
26:44
Antonio
26:45
[Applause]
26:58
[Applause]