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ArtsEast: The Paranoid Android Revealed |
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| From Harry Potter's Professor Flitwick to a paranoid android, Warwick Davis has played some of the most exciting fantasy characters on film. Before the opening of the latest Potter movie, he spoke to Daniel Meldrum about his remarkable career. |
What do we expect when we go to the cinema to see a science fiction or fantasy film? Funny names and faces, weird languages, actors of different shapes and sizes perhaps. And there's a good chance, then, that one of these actors may be Warwick Davis, a stalwart of the genre with a 25-year career. Just as many of us have grown up with films like Star Wars and its sequels and Willow, we have also grown up with Warwick Davis, a short charismatic actor from Peterborough who has had major roles in these blockbusters. His diverse and marvellously realized characters enhance the magic, quirkiness and the inventiveness of fantasy and sci-fi cinema.
Warwick bursts onto the big screen this month as Professor Flitwick in JK Rowling's latest smash - the much-hyped Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, released simultaneously around the world on November 18th. While it is one of his smaller roles, he has appeared in every one of the fantastically popular Potter films, and believes the next instalment will be just as thrilling. 'I'm always very excited about the release of a Harry Potter movie,' he tells me. 'As an actor it's a special event. I like all the different types of Potter film. In three and four especially, there's a lot of flair. The first two were great - they had a really Christmassy quality. Mike Newell (director of Goblet of Fire)was fantastic,' Warwick adds. 'He took on many of my suggestions for making the film. The whole atmosphere was great. I remember thinking 'wow' when I saw Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon and all the others on set. It was wonderful to work with people like that. It's good when they recognise you,' he smiles.
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| Warwick plays the part of Marvin in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. |
Warwick's rise to fame, as a 17-year-old, in the title role in the 1988 film Willow was remarkable. Seven years earlier, the then 2ft 11 in actor only got into films by chance after his grandmother told him about auditions for extras in Return of the Jedi. And during filming George Lucas quickly felt his acting style would make him ideal for the role of Wicket, the head 'Ewok' in the film. Only a few years later, Lucas rewarded Warwick with a starring role created specifically for him - Willow - the hero who works alongside Val Kilmer to protect a magical child from the clutches of an evil witch. Modestly, Warwick says of Willow's appeal: 'It has lasted amazingly long. Lord of the Rings helped because lots of people then saw it again. It's still a huge part of my life - it's been a big help in my career and is not a bad thing on my CV.'
The film's huge success boosted Warwick's profile and made him a
recognisable and marketable face in cinema. He soon appeared on the BBC's
The Chronicles of Narnia, and then went on to become the star of the cult horror
film series Leprechaun,as well as later appearing in another hit TV series,
Gulliver's Travels. And because of his popularity among fans, he even formed
his own website. In recent years, Warwick's work rate has increased,
with the 35-year-old actor appearing in projects like the Oscar-nominated /Ray
and his most recent film - this year's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The part
of Marvin the paranoid android in Hitchhiker's, was a considerable mental
and physical challenge for the 3ft 6in actor, who had to squeeze into a metal
robot outfit. 'Being inside the suit was a whole different thing. I had to get into
the mind of the character and carry that across in his movements. I rehearsed for two weeks
on the emotions but there were so many things to overcome. There were two cameras in the
suit and I had an earpiece. The crew did a running commentary and had to tell me lots of
stuff, so it was quite difficult,' he explains.
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| Professor Flitwick played by Warwick in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. |
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| 17-year-old Warwick as Willow. |
Warwick's height has limited his opportunities over the years, but he has striven to make the most of it and change the way the film industry sees short actors: 'There are still a lot of roles conceived for someone short. I strive to be a good actor who just happens to be short. I like producers to be open about it.' He has worked to bring more opportunities for small actors, having established an agency for such people in 1995, called Willow Personal Management. 'I'd like to see a small person in a soap opera-serious or comic - who will address prejudices. It could be very interesting and would be good social education,' Warwick adds.
During our interview in Cambridge, Warwick's very generous side comes out as he breaks off to sign several autographs, even agreeing to visit sick children at Addenbrooke's Hospital. The actor, who is married to Samantha and has two children Annabelle and Harrison, has been fundraising for the Peterborough Special Baby Unit, explaining: 'It's about provision for babies and parents. I'll help however I can but I realise I can't do everything.'
Warwick has many ambitions and projects on the go including directing films, producing his own chat show, entitled Small Talk, and writing and starring in a cherished movie project, Agent 1/2, alongside his good friend, Val Kilmer. As one might expect, this is a "James Bond with small people", and will hopefully be released in 2007 after a long gestation period. Warwick says: 'If you see your ideal role you have to create it... and the idea happened. A friend, David Steinberg (who played the character of Migos in Willow) asked me during filming "Wouldn't you like to be James Bond?" and the seed was hatched. But it's very hard to actually make a movie - people will vouch for that. It's great that Val Kilmer has agreed to do it and will be one of the producers. He likes the script and I have high hopes for it." It seems the universe has no bounds for Warwick Davis.
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