Warwick Davis, known for playing Wicket the Ewok in
Return of the Jedi and the lead character in
Willow, did a
Reddit AMA chat on 6/27 @ 9am PT.
Here are the
Star Wars related questions & answers:
Question: Warwick, I’ve been a huge fan of yours for years! My questions: Which one of the many characters you played in Star Wars: Episode 1 was your favorite? And the one I’m sure everyone will ask, have you gotten a call about Episode VII??
WarwickADavis: I think it was the character that you see watching the pod race, which George named Weazel, because I quite like characters who are more mysterious, who you don’t know that much about, and he’s quite intriguing because you don’t know much about him other than he likes to gamble on pod races. I think he’s my favourite. Although, I played Yoda for one scene as well.
Question: Who inspired you to be an actor?...
WarwickADavis: Well, nobody inspired me to be an actor. I became an actor through the fact that my grandmother heard a radio commercial asking for short people to be in Star Wars. Since then my inspiration has come from John Candy, Steve Coogan, and Will Ferrell...
Question: What movie was the most fun to work on, and why was it Leprechaun: Back 2 the Hood?
WarwickADavis: Although I had a great time making all the Leprechaun movies, I think my experience as an 11 year old on Return of the Jedi takes it, because being a Star Wars fan, I was literally living out my dream with my on screen heros.
Question: ...Any good behind the scenes stories from any of your work that you would like to share?
WarwickADavis: Let me think. It’s funny when you try and then can’t think of anything. I mean, its kinda out there a bit, but the characteristics of Wicket in Return of the Jedi were modeled on my pet dog who used to tilt his head from side to side when he heard a strange sound. I felt this would work quite well for the character. Also, the food that Princess Leia gives Wicket by the log was actually one of those healthy but horrible tasting rice cakes. And one final snippet, Wicket’s tongue is not animatronic, its actually my own tongue.
Question: when you hear him speak, is that you as well? Also, Growing up I LOVED Willow. It wasnt until I was showing it to my fiance a couple years ago that I found out you were only 18!!! You played an amazing role for such a young age. Look forward to all you future work! thanks for the great memories :)
WarwickADavis: Wicket’s voice was actually recorded by a Native American, and I was actually only 17, if that makes me even more amazing.
Question: How long would you have to wear the ewok costumes on set on an average day? Were they overbearingly warm to wear?
WarwickADavis: As an 11 year old I was only allowed to work 4 hours and would spend most of that time in at least half of the costume. The Ewok head was only put on for an actual take, and removed in between. So basically we would sit around and sort of sit in the costume between scenes and take the head off between takes.
Question: Hey Warwick,
Any stories of mischief when in costume as Wicket?
Thanks!
WarwickADavis: All the Ewoks ganged up on the crew when they were in line for lunch on location in the Redwood Forest. We ambushed them from moving vehicles with water bombs. There were about 30-40 Ewoks in various different Jeeps and vehicles that we’d managed to commandeer, and the rest of the crew was lining up for lunch outside, under a canopy tent, and we all drove past and it was a drive by water bombing basically. Trying to avoid the man in the plaid shirt. He did get hit, but I don’t think he made out who threw it.
Question: Hi Warwick, What was your best memory working from in Star Wars movies? What was your first impressions and lasting ones of George Lucas?
WarwickADavis: Meeting my on-screen heros. I didn’t see them for the actors they were, I only saw them as their characters, and being able to chat with them and getting to know them was thrilling for me as an 11 year old Star Wars fan.
I was in awe of George Lucas, but I have to call him a friend, someone who has given me a career as an actor and so many wonderful opportunities.
