Empire Online has posted Part 2 of its interview with Ian McDiarmid who plays Palpatine. Here's an excerpt:

How was it working with one of the greatest screen villains of them all, Christopher Lee?

I think he's a wonderful actor, and I've admired him for ages, because he is that and also because of his great ability to play the darkest of people and make them completely fascinating. So that was a real personal pleasure. I don't have many idols, but I'd happily say that he was one of them.

You can read the rest of the interview by clicking here.