Robot wars
THE British actors who play Star Wars robots C-3PO and R2-D2 have been at war for the past 39 years, it has been revealed.
Anthony Daniels — the man in the shiny gold suit in all seven films so far — revealed his long-running feud with movie sidekick Kenny Baker.
It began a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away — in Tunisia on the set of the first Star Wars flick in 1976.
Daniels, now 69, claims Baker called him the “the rudest man I’ve ever met”, and they have barely spoken since.
After decades of private warring, he has now taken a public swipe at his rival’s “credits-only” role in the latest movie Star Wars: the Force Awakens.
Studio bosses say the pair are the only actors to appear in all seven films of the franchise.
But Daniels said in an interview: “He’s not actually on the set. I haven’t seen him for years.
“His name is on the credits as a sort of... I don’t know, a good luck charm, a courtesy. He’s a talisman.”
Friends of Baker, 83, insist he was very much involved in filming.
Baker has previously accused his fellow robot of calling him a “little man” — particularly hurtful as he is only 3ft 8in tall.
Hitting back, Daniels said: “He’s been saying unpleasant things about me. I just don’t comment.”
Former stage actor Daniels, who has made millions from Star Wars despite his initial sniffiness about sci-fi, also made catty remarks about his ageing co-stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill.
The latest film, released on December 17, is set 30 years after 1983’s Return of the Jedi.
Daniels said: “What is funny is C-3PO looks the same — Harrison, Carrie and Mark, not so much.
“Poor Mark. He was a young lovely looking lad when he was first Luke Skywalker and now — well...”
He added: “I thought the first read-through would be a nightmare. But it was gorgeous.
“It was as though we had just walked off the set of Episode VI (Return of the Jedi) and into Episode VII.
“Harrison was just brilliant, he just made me smile — I’m smiling at the memory. He’s 72 but still got the charm, the charisma.
“He’s had some bad times — first his ankle and then the plane. But he’s back on good form.”
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