Forget Darth Vader and his family sitcoms, they paled alongside the barbs, sinister attacks and attacks between two actors. When The Express sat down with C-3PO star Anthony Daniels to discuss his new book, he shared his grief over a feud that lasted until the death in 2016 of R2-D2 actor Kenny Baker. The diminutive star said Daniel looked down on him like a “piece of shock,” and called the 3-foot-8 actor “the little guy” and turned down his work. Baker called Daniels “the rudest man I’ve ever met.” Publicly, Daniels once sniffed it was like ‘working with a bucket’ but didn’t directly address Baker’s personal slurs, until recently.
Daniels’ brilliant book I Am C-3PO provides extraordinary insight into the joy and pain of filming each Star Wars movie – an achievement unparalleled by any other actor.
When I asked about Baker, it’s clear that Daniels is still hurting after all these years: “Kenny decided he wanted to say unpleasant, unpleasant, rude, hurtful things. It got worse and worse. Instead it’s like Mr. Trump, if you say so. Often enough, people will believe you.”
For their work, Daniels gives his candid opinion on the differences in their roles and performances. The subtext is that Daniels clearly thinks no one else can take his place in the Golden Suit, but he might not think the same about R2-D2.
He once said of later films, Baker’s name was only on the credits as a “mantra.”
“The truth is, we didn’t really show up or interact with each other. He was in a box he couldn’t do anything to. He couldn’t hear me. He didn’t make any sound. I had to work, frankly, so hard to believe that this thing (as he taps the glass of water on the table) was my best friend.
“R2-D2 never spoke to me, but I had to believe it was real. I created all of his dialogue in my head so C-3PO had something to respond to, to revive our conversations.”
Daniels reenacts the scene, delightfully giving Artau his sassy East End accent.
He is momentarily animated, before adding, “I think everyone took it for granted and didn’t realize what she made.
These days, they have a bassist on the BB8 group and I think the script has its dialogue in English. It is much better to work against it. I wish it was in the early days.”
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Another source of tension over the decades has been Baker’s desire to tap into fan love for the relationship between their characters.
“He really wanted to go on tour and conference together. He kept asking and I said, ‘No, I don’t want to. He didn’t take it well.'”
Baker claimed that Daniels looked at the conventions, but the actor speaks warmly of the fan events and the joy it brings him: “I remember happily what it was like to meet fans at the first Star Wars celebration.”
Daniels has remained closely involved in Star Wars events as well as hosting concerts and special presentations. Obviously, the problem wasn’t conventions.
Decades later, a huge problem arose when a large portion of the fans rebelled against the final trilogy, especially Episode 8, The Last Jedi.
Daniels told us, “I understand why the fans are upset… It speaks to their dedication that they care so much if someone messes with it. I understand that people criticize the movies.”
He’s remained fairly silent thus far, while stars like Mark Hamill have been dropping uploaded comments online and in interviews.
Daniels added, “I know it’s been particularly difficult for him (Hammill) lately because the new films haven’t given him much to do. I definitely understand that and can relate to it.”
“In these new films, I felt like a table decoration. And it’s hard because I realize this character (C-3PO) deserves so much more. But I understand that it’s a whole movie, not a feature about C-3PO.”
“This is just my personal disappointment. I get paid whether he does anything or not but it would be nice if he had a purpose.”
I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story by Anthony Daniels Published by DK (£18.99). Also on the sound.
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens on Channel 4 at 8.45 PM tonight
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