Why Claudia Black Left Ahsoka Season 2: “Something Needs to Change”

Claudia Black, who played the Nightsister Klothow in Season 1 of Ahsoka, is speaking candidly about why she chose not to return for the Disney+ series’ second season. 

In a pair of recent interviews, the veteran actress revealed that pay and logistical challenges—not creative differences—led to her difficult decision to step away.

Black explained that when production shifted from Los Angeles to London, the financial burden became unsustainable for her as a single mother. Disney, she said, simply could not meet the pay level she would have needed to fulfill both her on-set obligations and her responsibilities at home. “They could not pay me what I needed to be paid,” she told Bleeding Cool, adding that her Season 1 salary was closer to what she earned in her early twenties than what many would expect from a major Star Wars role.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Black stressed that her choice to speak openly was rooted in a desire to highlight the realities faced by women—particularly single parents—working in Hollywood. She pointed out that studio assumptions about what actors are willing to accept often overlook the “invisible work” women do in their households, work that directly affects their ability to take jobs that require long-distance travel.

Despite the challenges, Black emphasized that her departure was not personal and praised the support she has received from across the industry since going public. She also reached out to Ahsoka creator Dave Filoni to clarify that she loved being part of the series and that her decision came down to burnout and the practical realities of life, not dissatisfaction with the role.

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Lucasfilm declined to comment.