How are you like the character you play on the screen, and why do you think he resonates with so many people?ĪD: I think C-3PO resonates with many people because he does have overt human qualities, which are not normally attributed to a machine. Maybe I haven't played Hamlet or a King Lear, but I have had extraordinary experiences of being on 'The Muppet Show,' 'Sesame Street,' 'The Donny and Marie Osmond Show,' 'The Academy Awards,' and other strange events that have cheered me on the way.ĭS: C-3PO is a robot but displays human qualities. But meeting such a remarkable man, seeing such a remarkable piece of two-dimensional art, reading a remarkable script in which George had written a remarkable character, how could I say no? That choice of saying yes has taken me around the planet many times, given me friends that I have never met and hope to gradually meet - the fans over the years to come. But, in this case, I jumped on a bandwagon without quite knowing where it was going. You'll never know where your life is going to go otherwise. I was encouraged forcibly to meet George Lucas and that meeting changed my life. What changed my mind was Ralph McQuarrie's concept painting that showed us a character that possibly had more human emotion written in his face than some of the human actors.

I thought it was beneath me in my stupidity - and in my naivety - to take a role where I would be completely invisible as a human being, pretending to be a machine. In the below conversation, Anthony Daniels talks about why he dropped out of law school to pursue a career as an actor, what he learned from meeting George Lucas, why C-3PO has resonated with audiences, the hardest moment he's had to overcome, and his best career advice.ĭan Schawbel: Why did you decide to make this career switch, especially when lawyers on average have more job security and higher pay than entertainers?ĪD: Having spent three years at drama school, learning to be pretty much a stage actor and so on, I felt it was not appropriate.

His Star Wars journey spans 40 years and his perspectives, insights, and stories are captured in his new book, ' I Am C-3PO.' Daniels got the part of C-3PO and has played the character in more Star Wars movies than any other actor. During his time there, he was invited to meet George Lucas, who was casting for Star Wars. Upon graduating in 1974, he worked at BBC Radio and for the National Theatre of Great Britain. With the release of 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,' I couldn't help but speak to C-3PO star Anthony Daniels.ĭaniels originally studied law for two years before dropping out to pursue amateur dramatics at Rose Bruford College. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders.

I am c 3po