One of the more compelling things about the Star Wars Saga is the use of masks. Darth Vader wears a mask to help him breath and sustain his life after the injuries he suffered on Mustafar. The stormtroopers wear masks to increase the fear that beings experience when they see the Empire's foot soldiers. Yet masks are also used by characters to hide their real identity. Princess Leia wears a mask to disguise herself as Boussh so she can get inside Jabba's Palace in the effort to free Han Solo.

What strikes me as interesting is the use of masks in the prequel films. All throughout the original trilogy, many prominent and popular characters wear masks, while the most prominent use of masks in the prequels comes from the clonetroopers and the brief appearance of Darth Vader's armor at the end of ROTS. However, that does not mean that characters aren't using masks in the prequel films. For you see, Darth Sidious wears a mask. In order to conceal his real identity and his true purpose, Darth Sidious hides behind the mask of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. From assorted EU material, there are many beings in the employ of the Dark Lord who do not know that Palpatine is Sidious. This mask is necessary for Sidious to continue to execute his plan to take over the Republic and destroy the Jedi. We all know why Sidious wears this mask. As Palpatine, he can manipulate events to his benefit, but also have people think that he's merely trying to serve the public good. He tightens the vice around the Jedi until the time comes to spring his trap with nobody realizing his true nature until it's too late.

Padme also wears a mask that hides her identity. Note here that this is not necessarily to conceal her idenity, though this is helpful in TPM. Rather Padme's mask conceals who she really is and what she really wants. As in the case of Darth Sidious, Padme's personality does show up in places through the mask she wears, but also like Darth Sidious, her mask hides some of her hopes and dreams.

When we first meet her, Padme appears cold and aloof as Queen of Naboo. Sitting on the throne, she must conduct herself in a regal manner. She is thought by some to be stiff and boring. This, of course, is by design, to hide just how young she is from others, potential adversaries in particular. The gowns, headdresses, and elaborate makeup all seek to protect her real identity in the face of danger, but they also work to hide who she really is. She continues to wear this mask in AOTC and ROTS, using the formal robes and gowns of her senatorial office to hide her hopes and dreams. This, I think, is part of what makes Padme such a fascinating character. Her mask is not an effort to hide anything, the pregnancy notwithstanding. She's not secretly manipulating events to give her power over the Republic. Yet nevertheless, the mask she wears hides her true identity, an identity that I think many people don't see at first glance.