Page 79 - Star Wars Insider #176

ARCHIVE INTERVIEW

Can you tell us something “Leia’s character the heat. The work can be a bit
about your experience trying, but it’s a lot of fun to do. It’s
making the Star Wars movies? undergoes quite a a great crew, we’re family.
I grew up in the Star Wars saga. change. They found a
While everyone else was 25 to 30, How is it playing love scenes with
I was only 19 when the fi lming way for her to be nice Harrison Ford?
started. You can see me growing while remaining strong The most trouble we have is when
in each new episode. I used to kid the scene is written by, for instance,
everyone on the set by saying that and commited.” Harrison and the director, without
I had an excuse—I was a teenager, my being there. In Empire, the
but why were all these grown-ups scene where Harrison said, “I
shooting guns, and playing with all see how it looked, then make any know” was rewrittten between
the big toys? I almost think I look needed changes, rehearse those Harrison and Kershner. The rewrite
totally different now. changes, and reshoot. was great, but I just feel I need to be
I came into Star Wars straight The Empire Strikes Back was present when a scene that concerns

from an English drama school. much more of a film about people. me is redone. I sort of felt like I was
Quite a jump. I played Leia Organa, Irvin Kershner [director] required “the girl” again, just a she or her.
who is a royal. Leia is angry, which that everything in a scene “work” We didn’t have any trouble
is part of her strength but not all beforehand, so reshooting a doing that scene because Harrison
of it. She was very clear about her particular scene wouldn’t just be and I know each other so well. After
responsibilities toward her cause, a matter of redoing the same scene all the publicity tours, and talking
the Rebellion, and that was it for faster. We rehearsed a lot more about ourselves, and the movies
her. That commitment didn’t leave on Empire, but the rewriting and endlessly, we have developed ways
her any time for relationships. reshooting of scenes did put us of getting through scenes like that.
While it was OK for “the boys” to over schedule. Kershner was always
be strong, that same strength made willing to talk over any little bit of What do you think about all the
Leia seem, somehow, almost mean a scene to make it more comfortable fan mail you get?

or sarcastic with her “my way or no for the actors. When it first started, I would get
way” attitude. Empire really developed love letters from nine-year-old boys
Basically, Leia is the only female the relationships of the main who would compare me to
in Star Wars. Oh, there’s Aunt characters. You got to know them “a summer’s day.” It was very sweet
Beru, and some new characters a little better. Hopefully, you’ll get of them. They sent such lovely
in Revenge of the Jedi, but Leia to know them as well as you can in letters. Much of my mail was from
remains the main female role. Revenge of the Jedi, because it is the children, and some grown-ups,
Originally I was known as “the end of the trilogy. who had seen the movie 50 times

girl.” During my first day on the I like the script for Jedi. Leia’s each. I like the fans. If any of them
set, someone described the next character undergoes quite a change. write me after they see Revenge of
scene I was in as, “the girl crosses They found a way for her to be the Jedi, and the changes in Leia’s
the room and exits stage left. The nice while remaining strong and character, I hope they will still
camera operator will have to pan to committed. Leia is quite feminine. speak of that summer’s day. I’ll look
keep her in frame.” I asked whether Her character is as clearly defi ned forward to those letters.
I was to be “the girl” or “the camera as “the boys,” and she even
operator.” They got the idea. I’m dresses “like a woman.” It’s been
now an honorary camera operator. nice having the chance to work
on a character that developed
Now you’ve worked across all throughout the movies.
three movies, how has each Jedi will be a very complex
one differed? movie with a lot of scenes that
Each one is unique! Each episode must be done in front of a blue
has had its own director with his screen, where the actors will only
own different way of working, and have Richard Marquand’s [director]
it was lovely having a chance to verbal description to establish what
work with all of them, yet there is is supposed to be going on. There
still that thread of continuity. are so many things to consider,
Leia and
Star Wars was an introduction. and it takes a lot to get every detail Han share a
The relationships between the main right. You have to get the acting just romantic
moment, as the
characters were being established. right, the droids moving right. You
rebels celebrate
It was made, I think, as a fi lm to even have to take off the creature’s on Endor’s
be cut—we would shoot a scene, heads so the actors don’t faint from forest moon.

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