Page 30 - Star Wars Insider #194

INTERVIEW: ANTHONY DANIELS

08 08 C-3PO takes a
last look at his
friends in
The Rise of
Skywalker
(2019).
09 In the finale of
the Skywalker
saga, C-3PO
(Anthony
Daniels) once
again finds
himself in
the middle
of the action.

09 When you’re interacting with Many people had a hand in the
other actors, do you sometimes creation of C-3PO, but is the

find that the costume is a barrier? essence of the character you?
What I envy on the set is being The essence of C-3PO is C-3PO,
able to improvise. You use slightly I’m afraid. I’ve written this book,
different energy in the performance all these pages. Maybe I wrote it as
than in rehearsal, but I need much for myself as for anyone else,
to know where things are. The because what genuinely surprised
geography of the me was realizing
sets is a nightmare, that I’ve written
so I’m triangulating “Liz Moore, the about a journey.
on anything that I never thought it
hopefully doesn’t sculptor who was going to be a
move. Various shots created C-3PO, journey, certainly
with the Ewoks—when Han got too were very diffi cult not a hero’s journey.
impertinent, and you can see the because of effects gave him this It never occurred to
fury on C-3PO’s face, but of course and fl oor textures me that in 45 years
his face doesn’t change. and so on. Finding face that has I’d have gone from
marks is diffi cult, A to Z. It was only
You know exactly what C-3PO and I don’t always the ability to be when I began to
is thinking at that precise get it right. I was read the pieces that
moment. It’s all there. rehearsing one a very beautiful I saw this transition,
I know, it’s mad! Liz Moore, the day with the gang, blank canvas.” this progress, up
sculptor who created C-3PO, gave Oscar Isaac, Daisy hills and down.
him this face that has the ability to Ridley, and John It’s odd, there was
be a very beautiful blank canvas. Boyega, and they’re saying, “Maybe a lot of preparation in creating
Without getting too technical about we should do this?” and suddenly C-3PO, in every sense of the word,
it, depending on its relative position I’m leaping in with this major piece by the whole team and by me, but
to the shoulder, to the body, or of pantomime, because I rehearse somehow he sort of happened. You
whatever, and the angle, the speed exactly as I am in performance. I can almost explain it, but maybe
of movement, you’ve got so many hope the book gives you a general some things are better left as a
options to play with. idea of the joy and the pain of it. piece of magic.

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