Aayla Secura is a Rutian Twi’lek with a deep cerulean hue that accentuates her athletic build and exotic beauty, a graceful synergy of power and sensuality. Born to an influential clan on Ryloth, she was discovered by the Jedi at a young age and apprenticed to Kiffar Jedi Quinlan Vos. Operating out of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, she stood out among the many faces of the Jedi during the twilight years of the Order.

She was highly intuitive with the Force, empathic and intelligent. Aayla had an impish and at times even mischievous sense of humor. A skilled Jedi in the martial art of the lightsaber, she preferred to use it in a defensive mode and always sought to protect and preserve life.

Aayla Secura was co-created by artist Jan Duursema and writer John Ostrander, the character first appeared in the “Twilight” comic issues from Dark Horse Comics.
The character was specifically developed for the Star Wars Ongoing comic series “Twilight” story arc, as the Padawan learner of Jedi Quinlan Vos.

In the first character concept designs, she was of an aquatic species but as the design was further developed, she evolved into a female Twi’lek, inspired by Oola, the Twi’lek slave dancer of Jabba the Hutt from “Star Wars – Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi”, and was named Aayla Secura.

The original “Twilight” story plot called for Aayla Secura to appear in no more than a few panels, where she would perish. However, artist Jan Duursema was motivated to not let the character be killed off in the very first story arc where she would appear in, as the then existing Star Wars tales did not depict many strong female Jedi characters.

The plot was re-written for Aayla Secura to survive the events of “Twilight” and the character rose in popularity since, appearing in many more comic issues.

George Lucas himself called for the Twi’lek Jedi to be added to “Star Wars - Episode II: Attack Of The Clones“, making Aayla Secura the first expanded universe character to become part of a Star Wars movie.
Inspired by the energetic cover art created by Jon Foster for the Star Wars Ongoing “Darkness” issue 2, George Lucas decided the character would appear in the Geonosis Arena scene of the “Star Wars - Episode II: Attack Of The Clones” movie, which was already well into post-production.
In the short span of two weeks, the movie costume for Aayla Secura was assembled by Epsiode II Costume Supervisor Gillian Libbert and approved by George Lucas, who wanted the movie costume to be true to the comic book costume designed by Jan Duursema.

It was Amy Allen, then working with ILM as a Production Assistant, who was selected to portray Aayla Secura as a living, breathing Jedi on the movie screen in “Star Wars - Episode II: Attack Of The Clones”.
Fitting the costume and undergoing the time consuming process of applying the blue make-up and headdress, Amy Allen ultimately spent four days of shooting for “Star Wars - Episode II: Attack Of The Clones”, filming scenes in front of a green screen and directed by George Lucas.

Amy Allen has since reprised her role as Aayla Secura in “Star Wars - Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith” where the saga of the Twi’lek Jedi comes to an end as she perishes on Felucia, shot by the Republic Clonetroopers who all turn on their Jedi Generals upon receiving Order 66 from Chancellor Palpatine.