Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Star Wars: Episode III - Die Rache der Sith
Interview with Ian McDiarmid
What an honor! The Lord of Evil has announced his presence in a Hotel in Zurich, Switzerland. The Master of the Dark Side, Darth Sidious himself! Or as we got to know him: Ian McDiarmid
The actor visited Switzerland during his promotion for Star Wars: Episode III - The Revenge of the Sith and of course, OutNow.CH could not let this chance go by without facing the evil man, who turned out to be a very funny, friendly and even nicer man, than we all expected. Naa, not really. We knew, he was cool...
OutNow.CH (ON): Your Excellency, we humble journalists greet you.
Chancellor Palpatine
Ian McDiarmid (ID): Hi to you too. And stand easy.
ON: How are your Stormtroopers doing? Still reorganizing the galaxy?
ID: The last time I saw a Stormtrooper, he was having a glass of wine and a cigarette. [he smiles] They need to relax. They look really uncomfortable in their costume.
ON: But there are still some of them around?
ID: Yes, they're all over the world, as you probably know. They are my henchmen... I am sure it's a lot of fun for them, but I feel sorry for them wearing those heavy costumes. They must be painful to wear.
ON: Let's get a bit more serious. How does it feel for an actor to be kind of reduced to one character all the time? You've done so many other projects in the theatre and movie business.
ID: I don't feel I'm reduced, really. I feel it's just another part and in the theatre I do lots of different things, you know. But in this movie, well, a fair number of people go to see it, don't they. And they go to see me play as good as a part as about ever I can do. I'm the blackest villain of all time. So, who's complaining...
ON: How's life as the most evil man of a movie series and one of the most hated characters in movie history?
ID: Fine... I'm just doing my job, you know.
ON: Aren't there people on the street throwing tomatoes or even worse things?
Evil? No way!
ID: It's interesting. They intend not to. They are a little scared and keep their distance. But some of them come up and ask for my signature, you know. But to be serious, this certainly does not happen in London, where I spend most of my time. But then, sometimes people come up and say "You're not him, are you?" And then I say "No, I'm not". And they go "Ups, sorry to bother you". By the time they have recognized my voice, I'm already disappeared around the corner... [he laughs]
ON: In The Return of the Jedi you play an old emperor. Now, 20 years later, you're returning as the younger version. How strange is that?
ID: Och, all those numbers... Episode 6, Episode 3, 126 years old... I think that's probably unique. To start your life as a character of 120 years when you are in your late thirties, and then go back in time about 20 years later to play the same character who is your own age then, its very complicated, but very interesting. But even more interesting is the fact that the character is actually two people: Chancellor Palpatine and Darth Sidious. Now I can actually say that! I'm free from any restrictions to be able to tell the truth. But Palpatine, of course, is a performance. It's a mask. Although it's my face in front of this terrible monster that is revealed in his horrible glory, as he would see it, in this movie. So I mean, how exciting can it get for an actor?
ON: How long does it take to become Darth Sidious, makeup-wise?
True beauty lies within...
ID: Well, all the years ago, when we did the older film, it took about four hours and we were able to put it down to two and half an hour. This one, because make-up-technology has improved, along with everything else, we started at two and a half and got it down to about one and a half an hour. But in both cases, the people who were putting my face on were extremely charming and very entertaining. So it's never been a painful experience.
ON: If you didn't get the part of the Emperor, what character would you have wanted to play in this epic story?
ID: Well, I got the best part, really [laughs] I really wouldn't want any others. The part that I think is one of the most interesting is of course the one that Hayden Christensen plays. In the last two movies, you could see that it's a bit a Shakespearian part. The fall of a hero. The fall from grace. Of potentially the best person to rule the galaxy to become the worst. That's what both movies are sort of saying to the audience. Sometimes people, if they're not careful, become the thing they fear.
ON: What makes Star Wars: Episode 3 better than the former two?
ID: The story really has to lock in, in order to link with the first movie. And that immediately makes it potentially more interesting. It's also the darkest of them. It has to be. I mean, people get killed. The Jedis are to be wiped out. So there are more hooks to hang on than there were on the previous movies, which had to be building up things. For me it's even more interesting, because my character comes out of the shadow. It's a chance to really act emotionally, because the situation is an extreme one. Obi-Wan Kenobi witnesses a destruction of a great friendship. Padme sees her husband turn to a monster before her eyes and he himself goes through terrible emotional turmoils and surrender to this person who finally is uncovered.
Another one out of the shadow
ON: What kind emotion surrounded the set, since everybody basically knew each other and also knew that this was going to be the last Star Wars movie for them?
ID: We went nostalgic, you know. But the atmosphere was very good, because, as you said, we knew each other. Making a movie like that is, and people raise their eyebrows when I say this, is like making a small independent movie. George Lucas has always made small independent movies...With ambition, you know. He packs all new and exciting into it. And then they became international world hits and everyone was surprised and pleased. Why not. But there was a great moment of course, when Darth Vader re-arrived on the set. And knowing, that it was indeed Hayden Christensen inside that big machine was quite a moving moment. And the filming sort of stopped as everyone took it in, even George Lucas had to sit down. I actually never thought we were going to shoot the scene, but we finally did, as you can see.
ON: Where you satisfied with the performance of the Emperor in The Empire strikes back, since that one was not you?
ID: No, it is now. If you got the DVD you can see that George Lucas has taken that person out, as well as the voice, and we shot this scene when we arrived in Australia during the actual filming of Episode 3. So anyone who is going to see this old film, will see me in that hologram. There's a slight change in dialogue that we did as well. It's very satisfying for me and I haven't met the other actor. So I couldn't be mad. But it was odd for me to watch anyone else playing this. So, Kenny Baker and Anthony Daniels have the record being in all six of the movies. But I'm close behind.
ON: You are very active and successful in running a theatre in Islington. What makes a big movie production different from a play on stage?
You for sure wouldn't want to be his enemy!
ID: In terms of atmosphere these two things are not very different. And going around with George Lucas and Hayden Christensen or any other people who are able to join us, as we go from city to city, it reminds me of the theatre. A group of people, enthusiastic about their work and hoping that the people are going to like what they see. I wouldn't say that it's like a bunch of kids, but it has a certain feeling of a gang, you know. When we went to London recently, we of course attended the big premier [for Episode 3] on Leicester Square. At the same time, a cinema called "The Empire" is next to the other one and people where in there to see all six of the movies. Since 8 o'clock in the morning or something like that. These poor de-hydrated souls... And their bonus was to see Star Wars: Episode 3 at the same time as the invited audience. They were very excited, booked tickets very early, got them on EBay, you know. What they didn't know was that we were going to turn on stage before the movie and say "hello". Well, in Scotland there's a great football pitch called "Hampton". And there is something called the "Hampton Roar", which is the most impressive thing you can hear from a crowd. The response in London was about the same when we walked into that cinema. People couldn't believe it. Well, we said a few words and waved and hoped that they enjoy the movie. And then we where supposed to go back to the other premier to our seats, but we stayed a bit and it was fantastic. I mean, people cheered for the good guys, pisst me furiously, laughed and all other emotions were there. And George Lucas said: "that's how it should be". So when I came last night to the station [Swiss premiere in the train station of Zurich], the atmosphere was similar. It's a bit like the Olympics, you know. We are just a bunch of lucky kids, I guess. Doing what they like best.
ON: To close this interview, I have a couple of pop-up questions for you.
ON: Bald women, like Natalie Portman
ID: Beauty
ON: Internet
ID: I use it, but I won't let it ruin my life.
ON: Favourite author
ID: William Shakespeare
ON: Sleepy Hollow
ID: Tim Burton
ID: [laughs] Martin Shaw
ON: Best Star Wars-Episode
ID: The Revenge of the Sith, strangely enough. But I'm the last person to be objective, but I do think so. It's up there with The Empire strikes back
ON: Samuel L. Jackson
ID: Brilliant swordsman, great guy.
ON: OutNow.CH
ID: A good time
ON: Thank you very much, Mister Imperator, Sir, for taking the time to answer our unworthy questions.
ID: No Problem. It was fun. Thank you.
