An Inside Look at Playing C-3PO in Star Wars: A Q&A with Anthony Daniels

Summary

Anthony Daniels, the actor behind the beloved character C-3PO in the Star Wars franchise, talks about his experience playing the character and the challenges he faced while wearing the iconic costume. He discusses working with the team behind the design and maintenance of the costume, adjustments made to the costume, including a silicone corset, and the use of special paint to reduce the shine. Additionally, he shares his initial resistance to the idea of working with J.J. Abrams and discusses his appreciation for the work done by stunt performers.

The design and maintenance of the C-3PO costume
Adjusting the costume for filming
Working with J.J. Abrams and the red arm incident
The importance of stunt performers
Gratitude for being a part of the Star Wars franchise

Introduction

The Star Wars franchise has captured the hearts and minds of generations and one character that has become a staple in the films is C-3PO. The actor who plays C-3PO, Anthony Daniels, has worn the iconic costume for several movies and has become synonymous with the role. In this Q&A, he discusses his experience playing the character, the challenges he faced while wearing the costume, and his appreciation for the team behind its design and maintenance.

The design and maintenance of the C-3PO costume

Question: Can you talk a little bit about the process of how the C-3PO costume was designed?

Answer: The costume was designed by a team of people, and it was really a collaboration between a sculptor, a painting team, and the guy who designed the head. The body was really quite simple, but the head was an extraordinary piece of work. It was a combination of vacuum-forming plastic, then spraying it with a mix of car paint and just a hint of gold. The eyes were really the killer of the costume, and they were totally made by hand. It was a very difficult thing to achieve.

Question: How was the costume maintained during filming?

Answer: The costume was maintained by a team of people who were always on hand to help out. There was the guy who looked after the body, and there was the guy who looked after the head. There was a wardrobe person who looked after things like the wiring and the lighting that was required in the head. And then there were the assistants, who helped me get into and out of the costume. It was a big team effort, and one that I was very grateful for.

Adjusting the costume for filming

Question: Were there any adjustments made to the costume to make it more comfortable or easier to move in?

Answer: One of the most significant adjustments was the addition of a silicone corset that I had to wear. This was done to help support the head, which was very heavy. Another problem we had was that the hands were basically just gloves, and I couldn’t really manipulate anything. So eventually, they had to wire a gun into my hands so that I could hold it. It was quite an awkward set-up, but it worked quite well in the end.

Question: What about the glossy shine of the costume? Did you have to adjust that for filming?

Answer: Yes, we did have to make some adjustments to the shine of the costume. It was quite reflective, which didn’t always work well with the lighting. So, they put a special paint on it to take the shine off. It was a coat of something that made it a little bit more matte, so that it didn’t reflect the light as much. It was a small change, but it made a big difference on camera.

Working with J.J. Abrams and the red arm incident

Question: In The Force Awakens, C-3PO was given a red arm. Can you talk about what that was like for you, and how you felt about it?

Answer: (Laughs) I had some initial resistance to it, to be honest. I thought, ‘What’s this about? This is C-3PO, he’s always been the same.’ But then J.J. Abrams told me his reasons. He wanted to give the impression that things had happened to C-3PO in the time between the end of Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. And so, that was the reason for the red arm. It was just one of those things that I had to get over, and eventually, I did. And it turned out to be a good thing, because it became a sort of joke between me and J.J. throughout the filming process.

The importance of stunt performers

Question: What is your opinion of stunt performers in film, and how important do you think they are to the process?

Answer: Stunt performers are incredibly important, and I have a lot of respect for what they do. Even though my role didn’t involve a lot of stunts, I could see how much work they put in. They do things that actors just can’t do, and they make it look effortless on screen. I think sometimes they don’t get the recognition that they deserve, but they are an essential part of the filmmaking process.

Gratitude for being a part of the Star Wars franchise

Question: Can you talk about what it’s been like to be a part of the Star Wars franchise?

Answer: It’s been an incredible experience, from start to finish. I never imagined that I would be a part of something so big and so beloved. The fans have been amazing, and the team behind the films have been fantastic to work with. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to play C-3PO and to be a part of something that has brought so much joy to so many people.

Conclusion

Playing a beloved character like C-3PO in the Star Wars franchise is no easy feat, and Anthony Daniels rose to the challenge. From adjusting to the weight of the headpiece, to being wired up with a gun to hold, Daniels talks about his experience wearing the iconic costume. He also shares his appreciation for the team of people who helped design and maintain the costume during filming, as well as his respect for the stunt performers who make action scenes look effortless on screen. Overall, Daniels expresses gratitude for his role in the Star Wars franchise and being a part of something that has brought joy to so many people.