Page 58 - Star Wars Insider #177

INTERVIEW

IN CONVERSATION WITH...

Mark Hamill, 1978

As Luke Skywalker returns to cinema screens in The Last Jedi, this interview goes all the way
back to April 1978 when the Offi cial Star Wars Fan Club newsletter met up with actor Mark
Hamill, then 26, to discuss his casting as Luke and his friendships with rest of the cast.
Interview by Craig Miller

Did you like the character How did you get the part?
of Luke Skywalker? A friend of mine named Robert
Very much. Getting the part Englund told me about the
and making the fi lm are auditions. I heard there was a
memories I’ll have forever. picture George Lucas was doing
I admire Luke’s sense called The Star Wars. Robert
of loyalty and adventure. I said he’d been out for it. I asked
mean, I’m on a farm and I him what it was like, and he
want to see what’s over the said, “I don’t know, I haven’t
horizon. “What am I missing seen the script. George Lucas
out on?” It’s so brilliant of and Brian De Palma are doing
George Lucas, because I’m auditions. George is the guy on

trying to figure a way out of the left who never talks.” So I
that humdrum, void kind of go, “OK, I’ll go out for it.”
lifestyle, and boom! I buy two I asked him if it was like
robots and one of them has a 2001. Robert said that he
hologram in him. It’s a classic thought it was probably like
thing, and I’m thrilled at it. Flash Gordon.
I went in on one interview,
Do you see yourself didn’t see a script, didn’t do
as Luke? anything. I just talked about
When I see the movie, I myself. “Hi, I’m Mark Hamill.
don’t feel like it’s really me. I I have four sisters and two
see Luke Skywalker, and I’m brothers. I grew up in Virginia,
A New Hope
embarrassed when he’s naïve. New York, and Japan.” They
publicity photo.
Like when Han Solo says, Little did Mark said, “Thank you,” and I went

“Who’s going to fly this thing, Hamill know away. This was in November
he’d be playing
kid, you?”, and I say, “You bet the part again of 1975. In February of 1976,
I could!” I find myself going, 40 years later! I tested. The way I found out

“Oh, don’t be such a nerd!” about the test was an envelope
But reacting like that is right in arrived in the mail, and there
character, I guess. George Lucas has created an ensemble were six pages of dialogue and a note
that works together well. saying to be there Tuesday to test.
Do other people like him? I had totally ruled the part out. I had
Sure. The kids are going in and seeing a What do you think of your co-stars thought George was unimpressed, and

fantastic film, and by fantastic, I mean on the film, Harrison Ford and I went out and tried out for Apocalypse

unworldly. They see banthas. They see Carrie Fisher? Now. Fred Roos was the casting director,
Jawas. They see Tusken Raiders. They We’re sort of like a family. Carrie is like and he’s very instinctive. I think he
see Darth Vader. There’s just so much. my little sister, and I’m Harrison’s little really helped me get the part. I think he
And they see Luke. I think they brother. Harrison is a serious actor, and pressured George to pick Carrie, Harrison
feel comfortable with his character. a brilliant one. I’m surprised that he and me. We were cast as an ensemble.
He provides a nice balance, and didn’t get an Oscar nomination for Best There were two sets of three actors. We

fits in nicely with the others. I think Supporting Actor. were never mixed and matched.

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