O'Reilly's portrayal of Mon Mothma has received a universally positive critical reception, and Blakiston's initial cameo appearance as the character has become an Internet meme.

One of only four female characters with dialogue in the original three Star Wars films, Mon Mothma was portrayed by Caroline Blakiston in Return of the Jedi (1983).

"[6] O'Reilly reprised the role in the 2016 prequel film Rogue One,[1][5] and voiced the character in five 2017 episodes of the animated series Star Wars Rebels.

"[1] In expanding the character for Andor, O'Reilly drew from various real-life female politicians, including Liz Cheney, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jacinda Ardern and Angela Merkel.

A leader and outspoken voice of the Galactic Senate's Loyalist faction, she pushes back against the increasing overreach of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's policies and the subtle subjugation of the galaxy's citizens.

[9][11] Mon's policies spark the rise of two opposing factions within the Senate: the Populists, who support the autonomy of individual planets and systems, and the Centrists, who believe a stronger central government is necessary.

"[8] Zosha Millan of Polygon compared Mon to series hero Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) in that they are both fighting against the Empire to give regular people better lives, but in different ways.

After some resistance, she agrees to commence the Chandrilan courtship process between her daughter and the son of shady banker Davo Sculdun (Richard Dillane) in exchange for his assistance with her financial machinations.

[1][5] Corey Larson of Screen Rant argued that this was done because "the movie's political aspects needed to be shaved down considerably in order to make the film more palatable in the theater.

[19]In a deleted scene from the film, Mon secretly meets with senators Bail Organa of Alderaan (Jimmy Smits) and Padmé Amidala of Naboo (Natalie Portman) during the last days of the Galactic Republic.

"[10] O'Reilly voiced Mon Mothma in five 2017 episodes of the animated series Star Wars Rebels, set a couple of years before the events of Rogue One.

In "In the Name of the Rebellion: Part 1", the Rebel Alliance receives valuable intel from extremist Saw Gerrera, but Mon makes it clear she does not condone Saw's unscrupulous methods.

In 2022, O'Reilly reprised the role of Mon Mothma in the live-action television series Andor, set five years before the events of the 2016 film Rogue One.

[24] Dalton Ross of Entertainment Weekly wrote of Mon's inclusion, "[We] are finally seeing this classic original trilogy character ... fleshed out beyond mere Rebellion briefings and interviews in Return of the Jedi and Rogue One.

"[19] Being set five years before the events of Rogue One allows the series "to discover where this woman goes, and how she navigates the dangers and the risks that is her life, and how she ends up in a world where she introduces Cassian Andor to Jyn Erso.

"[18] In "Aldhani", Senator Mon Mothma meets with antiques dealer Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) on Coruscant, ostensibly looking for a gift for her husband.

[19] In "The Axe Forgets", Mon establishes a new charitable foundation while managing increasingly tense relations with her husband and daughter, who are annoyed by her devotion to her work.

Mon also reunites with banker Tay Kolma (Ben Miles), a childhood friend from Chandrila, and enlists him to help her funnel her family funds to the Rebellion without detection.

She reunites with Vel, revealed as her cousin, and encourages her to keep a low profile while maintaining the facade of a rich and politically uninvolved young woman.

To create a cover story for the missing funds, Mon stages an argument in front of her driver Kloris (Lee Ross), who she knows in an ISB spy, suggesting that Perrin has gambled the money away.

[44] In "Part Seven: Dreams and Madness", Mon reluctantly oversees the tribunal administering Hera's disciplinary hearing, and comes to believe that the threat of Thrawn's return is real.

[53][54] In this continuity, New Republic Chief of State Mon Mothma is unable to demilitarize the government due to ongoing conflicts with Imperial warlords and other remnants of the Empire.

[12] In Heir to the Empire, she becomes the New Republic's Chief of State and works with characters including Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Admiral Ackbar to restore Coruscant as the democratic heart of the galaxy.

Her son, Jobin, was a rebel soldier killed in the Battle of Hoth, and Mon's duties as a resistance leader impacted the time she could spend with her daughter, Lieda.

[56][57] Both The Essential Guide to Characters (1995) and The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia (2008) mention that Lieda ultimately worked alongside Mon toward peace for the Republic.

[61] In the story, Bail Organa meets with fellow senators Mon and Garm Bel Iblis on Corellia to formally organize a rebellion, only for the group to be arrested by Darth Vader.

[9] Adrian Quidilla of Screen Rant wrote that "Mon Mothma's ability to inspire and organize a galaxy-wide revolution makes her arguably the most significant Rebellion figure of them all, as the outcome of the Star Wars original trilogy couldn't have happened without her unflagging hope.

"[16] Jeremy Smith of Slashfilm agreed that the character has been an integral figure in the Star Wars saga since her first film appearance", but noted that prior to Andor, Mon had been "completely underserved" in live-action media.

[36] Blake Hawkins of Comic Book Resources called Mon a "badass" and "master manipulator" for the character's actions in the season one finale "Rix Road".

[20] O'Reilly's portrayal of Mon Mothma has received a universally positive critical reception,[4][36] and Blakiston's initial cameo role as the character has become an Internet meme.