Rick McCallum, in the introduction to Robin Gurland's chat back on June 7th, mentioned the following about the hotly debated discussion about the Queen of Naboo's identity. Many readers have posed this question to us, so here the official line:

UPDATE #1
Here's the exact quote from his chat:

ASKLucasfilm: Jedi-Al says: Rick, was it a separate actress that played the "fake" queen, when Natalie was Padme on screen? I didn't see her name in the credits.

RickMcCallum: No, it's Natalie that plays both parts.

UPDATE #2
ph also wants us to mention that there was at least one other error in the chat transcript, and supplies the quote from the chat as well:

Besides, net chat is not a 'set-in-stone' type forum. Take this quote from Robin Gurland:

" I chose Ewan because I thought he was the best choice for Qui-Gon Jinn."

Obviously just a misstep, and not a gross memory error on her part.

Thanks! We've gotten lots of mail on this subject aso we'll try to get to the bottom of this. We know it contradicts what was said earlier, so be sure we'll have more soon!

UPDATE #3
The Red Jedi reminds us of the London Daily Variety from May 27:

Interview with Robin Gurland - Episode I Spoilers

"One of the hardest roles to cast was that of Sabe', the handmaiden that fills in for the Queen when she is in hiding. Orignially we were going to use a stand in, but that was before we found a girl by the name of Kiera Knightley. She was only fourteen at the time of principle photography, two years younger than Natalie Portman but nevertheless the resemblance is striking. I wouldn't be surprised if she fools quite a few of the fans."