It would make the Emperor weird, genderless, spooky and alien. Like when Aeryn Sun had that Scorpius makeup

or the female Cenobites in Hellraiser but with a mystic old guy voice.

The original ESB Emperor was really otherworldly and spooky (genuinely a Phantom menace)

I would prefer and old woman myself because it would make him look as if he is fragile and brittle when in fact he is terrifyingly powerful without any need for a sword.

I love Ian but he is a bit of a Pantomime villain.