Between 1999 and 2009 Lightsabre.co.uk brought news, fanfic, podcasts and much, much more to the masses. Our forty-first guest was in Willy Wonka Flash Gordon, UFO and Star Wars – Rusty Goffe.
Lightsabre – Rusty, welcome to Lightsabre.
RG – It’s good to be here. It’s good to be anywhere!
Lightsabre – You’ve had an amazingly wide and varied career over the past few decades, appearing in such diverse shows as The League of Gentlemen and Chucklevision. But it’s Star Wars you are best remembered for. How do you feel about that?
RG – It’s quite amazing really, because way back in 1976, no one, I mean no one knew what a big hit the movie was going to be. And when you think that no one ever sees my face…..even more amazing!
Lightsabre – Which of the six films stands out as your personal favourite, and why?
RG – It has to be A New Hope. What a title when you think about it. My favourite, because it was the first one that was filmed and as I said no one how big it was going to be. The script was sheer adventure! Any little boys (or girls) dream!
Lightsabre – Tell us something of your career. How did you begin in entertainment and what led you to today?
RG – I started in showbiz soon as I left school around 15 years old. I was a musician in a band show along the south coast of England. My first movie was Willy Wonka and things really snowballed from there.
Lightsabre – In 1977 Star Wars fever took over the States, and soon the world. What was it like to be part of that?
RG – It was cool!
Lightsabre – You play 44 different instruments, and have performed at two Royal Variety Performances. Which instrument is your favourite?
RG – It has to be the Bagpipes!!!!!!!!
Lightsabre – You’ve managed to land yourself in another genre franchise favourite, that of the Harry Potter films. How do you feel about your part in that, and equally importantly, how do your kids feel about it?
RG – Harry Potter was cool! Although we had to be in make-up at 3am!!! And sit there for 5 hours while they turned you into a Gringott Goblin complete with (black) contact lenses and goblin teeth! Then at the ‘wrap’ 2 hours to remove it all!!!!! We spent around 10 days filming the Gringott Bank sequence. My kids loved it!
Lightsabre – The Jawas soon became fan favourites, appearing later in Return of the Jedi and the prequel movies. What do you think it was about them that endeared them to Star Wars fans?
RG – They are sooooooo ‘lovable’ and ‘cuddly’!!!!!!
Lightsabre – What would you change about your Star Wars experiences if you could go back and do it again?
RG – Nothing at all! It was at the right time and the right place and you cannot change that!
Lightsabre – You’ve been part of other great movies over the years – Willy Wonka, Willow, and the Oscar nominated Mrs Henderson Presents. Which of those roles gave you the most satisfaction?
RG – The Oompa Loompa!!
Lightsabre – There’s talk of a Star Wars TV series. Would you be interested in a role?
RG – I await the phone call…. email…….letter……..telegram…….semaphore……..morse code………..hello?
Lightsabre – What do you foresee in the future for yourself outside of the Star Wars universe?
RG – I am still acting in television and movies which is good!
Lightsabre – A quick question about our site. Any comments?
RG – Your site is cool! I am sure all your visitors love it. A true Star Wars site!
Lightsabre – It’s been a great interview, and thanks for being our guest. Just one final question. Your Jawa, Ming the Merciless’ guard and Oompa Loompa are stuck on a roundabout that is spinning out of control and won’t stop. Which one invents the cleverest means to escape the spinning wheel of doom?
RG – The Jawa! He stands on the shoulders of Ming’s Guard who in turn is on the shoulders of the Oompa Loompa and makes his escape with a clever contraption made from all the rubbish he has collected!!!!! UTINNNNNIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This interview was originally posted on lightsabre.co.uk on 9th April 2006.
