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Ahsoka star Ivanna Sakhno says playing the Star Wars villain Shin Hati helped her better understand kindness

Ivanna Sakhno on playing Ahsoka’s Shin Hati: “The best part of being a villain is diving into the darkness."

News by Joshua Lapin-Bertone, Contributing writer

Published on Tue Nov 11 2025

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Most actors agree, playing a villain is just more fun. However, Ivanna Sakhno, who plays Shin Hati on Ahsoka, believes it also helps you gain a better understanding of kindness. Once a Jedi apprentice, Shin Hati is now on a villainous arc, forging her own path. Sakhno loved getting to play the character, especially during the lightsaber scenes.

“It’s delicious,” Ivanna Sakhno says during a panel at Space Con 2025. “I just think it’s so exciting to get to be a rascal, for lack of a better word. I think the best part of playing a villain is the ability to dive into the darkness.”

However, Sakhno says that exploring the darkness gave her a new appreciation for the light.

“I think you only come out on the other side having more compassion towards others and understand the reasons behind certain actions. And also, to be fair, in this case playing a villain in Star Wars, getting to hold a lightsaber that holds dark force is sacred to me. So, that’s the coolest part.”

Ahsoka season two is expected to premiere on Disney+ in 2026.

Get to know, understand, and love the Star Wars franchise more with our Star Wars watch order, guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies & TV shows, and all the Star Wars movies and Star Wars TV shows ranked.

About Spacecon

SPACECON is America’s newest comic con created by PMX Events. Attendees will see celebrity guests from the likes of Star Wars, Star Trek, Guardians of the Galaxy and other intergalactic movies and TV shows. Con goers will discover an immersive show experience to get up-close and personal with their favorite celebrities, voice artists, and comic artists with hundreds of exhibitors and special attractions to exhilarate any fandom.

Dates

Oct 24 - Oct 26

Location

San Antonio
USA

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Joshua Lapin-Bertone: Joshua is a pop culture writer specializing in comic book media. His work has appeared on the official DC Comics website, the DC Universe subscription service, HBO Max promotional videos, the Batman Universe fansite, and more. In between traveling around the country to cover various comic conventions, Joshua resides in Florida where he binges superhero television and reads obscure comics from yesteryear.