Princess Shmi Bhraj, Crown Princess of Tatooine
Her Imperial Majesty, Shmi Skywalker, Empress of the Coruscanti Empire

Shmi was a member of the royal family of Tatooine, known for its substantial quantity of spices. Though the royal family put up a long and arduous fight, the Hutts seized control and enslaved the citizens of the Bhraj kingdom. Along with her family, she was enslaved at a young age, usually working as a house servant. She changed owners many times during her life, and while some of these masters were kind—notably Pi-Lippa, who taught Shmi valuable technical skills—others were cruel, such as Gardulla the Hutt.

Once the Coruscanti Empire was made aware of the situation on Tatooine, the Jedi were sent to intervene. Qui-Gon rescued Shmi and she fell in love with him. After she found out she was pregnant, Tatooine was free and part of the Empire. Emperor Cliegg married her and acknowledged Anakin as his own child. The first years of Anakin's life, she lived with him on Tatooine in the restored Bhraj palace. Nine years later, when Queen Amidala sought refuge on Tatooine, Shmi was reunited with Qui-Gon and introduced him to his son for the very first time.

Shmi was extremely over-protective of her son and wanted him to marry the Queen of Naboo as much as Cliegg did. She never bothered to get to know the young handmaiden who captured his heart because, like her husband, she didn't believe it would lead anywhere. Even when Anakin spoke of his affections for Dormé, she ignored it and made every effort to persuad the handmaiden to forget about Anakin.