This report is from Wil Harris
Published on October 16, 2001

Wil Harris Meets Ewan McGregor
at the Oxford Union

Hi there! My name is Wil Harris, I was at the Oxford Union today (Oxford University, England) to see Ewan McGregor and Baz Lurhman give a talk about their film Moulin Rouge. Just a little news report really that you might like :)

Ewan came across as a really nice guy, and was completely relaxed, and also a little prone to expletives :D

One of the questions put to him was to ask if it was true that he had to re-shoot scenes from Ep1 because he was making the lightsaber noises. Standing up and mock-waving it around, he said "I defy anyone to have a REAL lightsaber and not do it!"

He also said that one of the best bits about being in Star Wars was having kids run up to him and say "Did you really cut Darth Maul in half?" or "How do you turn your lightsaber on?" He also then said it was less amusing if adults did it!

He then went on to tell a story of how he had just finished a night doing a play, and he was signing autographs for the crowds at the exit, when a guy shouted to him "Hey, Obi-Wan!" His thoughts were along the lines of "O ****, here we go again..." He said he tried to ignore him, but this guy shouted to him again "Obi-Wan!" Ewan looked up and yelled "What?!" and the guy said "Have you got any advice for a Jedi Trainee?" to which Ewan replied "Yeah, **** off!"

When asked what he thought of Jar Jar, he said he didn't really have an opinion but said that he thought the guy that played him, Ahmed Best, was a fantastic guy who was great fun on set.

In a feat of extreme blagging, I managed to get to the backstage area when the talk was over and actually got to meet Ewan. I had my photo taken with him (pic is attached) and I also got him to sign the cover of my Episode 1 DVD, so I think I have probably the only Ep1 DVD in the world signed by Ewan!!!

Overall, Ewan was a top guy, and was really friendly to all the fans who were talking to him.

 

Feedback welcome