IAN McDIARMID

Ian McDiarmid - He played the Emperor in the first film. Above, right, Ian McDiarmid stands on the stage of Ivanov at the Almedia Theater where he acts and is Artistic Director.

1/30/98 - IAN MCDIARMID REPORT

We got this report from Jamie Wire:
This was in scottish newspaper, the Daily Record today

Scot Ian Is A Monster Star
Scots actor Ian McDiarmid reckons it was his looks that landed him a major part in the latest Star Wars blockbuster. He is just the right side of ugliness to once again play the part of Emperor Palpatine. Ian, 53, came to a sitcky end as the evil emperor at the hands of Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi - the third film in the hugely successful Star Wars series.

The actor said, "I am 30 years younger in the new version so I'll be more recognisable. Anyway, I think they nly cast me because of my long pointed nose. I have played alot of grotesques because I suppose I look like one."

Return Of The Jedi was part of a nine part series planned by director George Lucas. The new movie is the first of the 150 million pounds Star Wars trilogy. Ewan McGregor takes over from Alec Guinness to play a younger Obi Wan Kenobi - the jedi knight who has the force with him. The movie, due fro release early next year was filmed at Leavesden studios near Watford. It also stars Liam Neeson, Terence Stamp and Brian Blessed.

Ian said,"Filming lasted three months, much of it against bluescreens. George Lucas blends live action footage with computer generated imagery at his California studios. I was too exited to be intimidated. You always have to hit your mark but George creates a very relaxed atmosphere, despite the fact that everybody on set is an expert. The first time around I wore so much make up - complicated plastics - it was all I could do to open my mouth. Like wearing a mask. When I was at the Citizens theatre in Glasgow in the 70s, I used to wonder why I was there because I wasn't beautiful and I was older than anyone else. I have never been young. I have always been old."

Born in Carnoustie, Ian grew up in Dundee, went to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama - where he won the gold medal in 1968 - "by doing all the boring jobs you have to do when you are young to eke out an existence."

After a decade in repertory, particularly at the Citizens and in Manchester, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company.

12/02/97 - McDIARMID IN LONDON TIMES

There was an article in today's edition of London's Times featuring Ian McDiarmid. McDiarmid, of course, is joint artistic director of the Almeida Theatre in Islington, with which Oliver Ford Davies also works. Here are the paragraphs which made reference to Star Wars. If you wish to read the entire article, T'Bone has posted it in the Holonet section.

Strange business, asking Darth Vader's boss about the finer points of subsidized theatre. As an actor, his face hidden beneath four hours of make-up, Ian McDiarmid was Return of the Jedi's demonic Emperor Palatine, a role to which he returns in the forthcoming Star Wars prequel.

He is not at liberty to reveal whether Palpatine (100 years old in Return of the Jedi, closer to McDiarmid's own 50 in the prequel) will add to his gallery of villains. Draconian confidentiality clauses mean he can say only that filming with George Lucas at Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire over the summer was "extraordinary". And he offers a striking observation.

"There was a wonderful concentration of purpose on set: Lucas runs a relatively small operation, with everyone utterly determined to get everything right. Financially it's nothing like the Almeida, but those principles are not unlike ours." Star Wars in Leavesden, star draws in Islington. You could say the Force is with him.

Thanks to Steve Head for sending us this article.

9/17/97 - We have received confirmation that Ian McDiarmid WILL be playing the Emperor in Episode 1. You're all saying 'Duh!', but it is nice to have it confirmed. The Emperor apparently has very little make up in Episode 1 and simply wears black robes. I guess he enjoys a little draft up his skirts every once in a while!

6/8/97 - Responding to our plea for help, Teri V. saved the day by finding pictures of both Oliver Ford Davies and Ian McDiarmid. As it turns out, the place to look was obvious. Both McDiarmid and Davies work for the Almeida Theater in London, and they had pictures of both of them. The McDiarmid picture is above. Thanks for helping us out, Teri!