Star Wars: Anthony Daniels almost didn’t audition for C-3PO

The iconic role of C-3PO in Star Wars could have looked very different if actor Anthony Daniels had never auditioned for the part in what he thought was just another “low budget, science-fiction film.”

While promoting his new book I Am C-3PO to CNET, Daniels recalled those early days, saying that he received an invitation to audition for C-3PO after studying in drama school for three years. Following a bit of persuasion from his agent, he rolled up to 20th Century offices in London, where his journey began. Daniels says he still didn’t have an interest in the role at that point.

"It wasn’t far away, to the 20th Century offices in London. And there was George [Lucas]. He wasn’t this Hollywood mogul with a cigar. He was tiny. He was shy. He was really nice. Really, really nice. And he was very tired because he was seeing so many actors. He’d had people walking in doing robot acting [moves arms stiffly]. He was trying to tell them ‘No, no, no, no. it’s not that kind of robot.’ And so we talked and I wasn’t really that interested, but I was polite."

It sounds like the turning point for Daniels came when he saw some concept art for the golden droid. “I saw a very small rendition of a painting on the wall [of C-3PO] that changed my life,” he said. “It was Ralph McQuarrie’s concept of how C-3PO might look in the film. I fell in love with the painting. It’s as simple as that. ”

"I fell in love with the face — fell in love is an easy, but not quite the right word. I was entranced by the face. He had a forlorn quality. It was as though he was lost. He wanted to come and take my hand. There was something there that clicked."

After falling in love with the character’s design, Daniels became fascinated with the character itself, which is where his passion for the Star Wars universe began, although reading through the script was tricky. “Boy, was that a tough read,” he remembered. “I’d never actually read a script before. The one thing I really got was that this metal man was different. He was unique. I loved what George had written. I just read it, [Switching to C-3PO’s voice]: I had a very good feeling about this.”

I can’t begin to imagine how hot and claustrophobic it must get while filming in that costume, never mind how difficult it would be to wear it every day on set. Apparently it took the design team a long while to get it just right. “I had six months at Elstree Studios with the team making the costume — I would go three or four or five times a week to try on a piece of this or that. They were making it up as they went along, making molds. The plaster shop was really, really very clever.”

And now, after decades of hard work playing our favorite golden droid, you really can’t imagine another actor playing this character! I find it so lovely and endearing that Daniels has such a deep relationship with C-3PO, who’s been a cinematic icon ever since A New Hope released in 1977. And Daniels is the only actor to appear in all nine movies in what is now known as the Skywalker Saga.

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