Connie's Warwick Davis Fanpage and Leprechaun Center

Willow Press Kit: Warwick Davis

Willow Press Kit
Warwick Davis Biography
 

The title character of Willow is portrayed by 3'4" WARWICK DAVIS, 18, who was discovered by Lucas a few years ago and cast as Wicket, one of the Ewoks in "Return of the Jedi." Davis was just 11 years old at the time. He has since been seen in the "Caravan of Courage" and "Battle for Endor" TV specials and in the feature film "Labyrinth."

Born and raised in Surrey, where he still lives with his parents and younger sister, Davis was first approached about "Willow" nearly two years ago.

"I was on holiday with a friend when my mother rang to say that George Lucas wanted to see me about a new film," recalls Davis. "When I returned home, I went to the studio to meet with Mr. Lucas and with Ron Howard. They had a few doubts at the beginning because of my age. They saw Willow as being a lot older. But when they decided to bring everyone else's ages down, it all worked out very well. But I still play the character a little older than my real age. After all, I have a wife and two young children in the story."

Besides acting, Davis is also interested in working behind the camera. Shortly after filming "Return of the Jedi," he bought his first video camera and began making short, 5-minute films. Barely 12 years old, he submitted one of them in competition at the Surrey Film Festival, where it received second prize.

The following year, Davis entered the same competition with a new film, and again won second prize. The next year, using a new and more sophisticated camera, he won the Festival with a short film called "Nightmare," which went on to win several international awards when it was later entered at the London film Festival.

Davis is currently taking a 2-year course in Media Communications at East Surrey College, near his home.