Cathy Munroe is a British actress, best known for her role as Zuckuss in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Although Zuckuss plays a small role in the original Star Warstrilogy, Munroe's portrayal of the mysterious alien bounty hunter left a lasting impression on fans of the franchise.
London born Cathy Munroe attended Italia Conti stage school in London for four years, training in acting, dancing, and singing. During this time, she passed numerous LAMDA examinations and performed as part of a band called Encore.
Due to her physical appearance and her ability to move in complex costumes, she was cast as Zuckuss. The character, one of the bounty hunters hunting Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon, wore an impressive costume designed by concept artists Ralph McQuarrie and John Mollo, with a mask crafted by legendary makeup supervisor Stuart Freeborn.
Cathy Munroe als Zuckuss in The Empire Strikes Back
In addition to her role as Zuckuss, Munroe also played another small role in The Empire Strikes Back : that of Wiorkettle, a Snivvian who moves in the background of Cloud City.
Cathy Munroe als Wiorkettle in The Empire Strikes Back
After her work on The Empire Strikes Back , Munroe appeared in several other well-known productions, including The Shining (1980), The Great Muppet Caper (1981), Octopussy (1983), and episodes of Doctor Who. Although these roles were often small, they contributed to her versatile career in the film and television industry.
Cathy is also a professional singer and has directed local pantomimes, further showcasing her broad range of talents in the entertainment industry.