Anthony Daniels, the man behind C-3PO
The Star Wars actor who's played C-3PO for 42 years told Brut about his experience on set — and his lack of fame compared to his co-stars.
In Star Wars, Anthony Daniels has been wearing the C3PO costume for 43 years
Very attached to his character, the actor however did not experience the success of the film in the same way as his colleagues … He tells Brut.
Seduced by the script and the character of C3PO, Anthony Daniels accepted this role very different from anything he has ever played. In 1976, he put on the costume of the legendary character for the first time. "It took over 2 hours to get dressed and it was horrible because the costume was not fitting", remembers the actor. Indeed, it was the first time that this kind of costume was made, so there was no time to have it redone or repaired. When filming in the desert, when C3PO explains to Uncle Owen that he is fluent in six million forms of communication, under the suit, Anthony Daniels suffered martyrdom, "the suit was broken, my foot was getting overwrite", he says. However, as the new episodes arrived, the shooting conditions changed, and the costume evolved well. Printed in 3D, now the mask is removed in two seconds, "I can wipe my face and breathe", rejoices Anthony Daniels.
C3PO has been my alter ego, my friend, my companion for three trilogies now
As nobody expected, the success of Star Wars was planetary from the first episode. However, no one knew that Anthony Daniels was in the suit: “It was a difficult time because I saw the film all over the world and there were Carrie and Mark and Harrison, very well known, and I was sitting at home saying to myself: "I was there too. I would have liked to have been mentioned."
But, with the series of episodes, the public finally wanted to know who is hiding under the costume of C3PO. Anthony Daniels says he is very grateful to the fans who made the first Star Wars known. The fan base appeared quickly and kept growing, making the film go viral. For Anthony Daniels, it is clear: "If there had been no fans, there would have been only the first Star Wars."
Brut.
In Star Wars, Anthony Daniels has been wearing the C3PO costume for 43 years
Very attached to his character, the actor however did not experience the success of the film in the same way as his colleagues … He tells Brut.
Seduced by the script and the character of C3PO, Anthony Daniels accepted this role very different from anything he has ever played. In 1976, he put on the costume of the legendary character for the first time. "It took over 2 hours to get dressed and it was horrible because the costume was not fitting", remembers the actor. Indeed, it was the first time that this kind of costume was made, so there was no time to have it redone or repaired. When filming in the desert, when C3PO explains to Uncle Owen that he is fluent in six million forms of communication, under the suit, Anthony Daniels suffered martyrdom, "the suit was broken, my foot was getting overwrite", he says. However, as the new episodes arrived, the shooting conditions changed, and the costume evolved well. Printed in 3D, now the mask is removed in two seconds, "I can wipe my face and breathe", rejoices Anthony Daniels.
C3PO has been my alter ego, my friend, my companion for three trilogies now
As nobody expected, the success of Star Wars was planetary from the first episode. However, no one knew that Anthony Daniels was in the suit: “It was a difficult time because I saw the film all over the world and there were Carrie and Mark and Harrison, very well known, and I was sitting at home saying to myself: "I was there too. I would have liked to have been mentioned."
But, with the series of episodes, the public finally wanted to know who is hiding under the costume of C3PO. Anthony Daniels says he is very grateful to the fans who made the first Star Wars known. The fan base appeared quickly and kept growing, making the film go viral. For Anthony Daniels, it is clear: "If there had been no fans, there would have been only the first Star Wars."
Brut.