THE VAMPIRE STRIKES BACK
Star Wars actor MARK HAMILL plays an ancient bloodsucker who’s out for revenge…
What We Do in the Shadows Thursday, BBC2 HD, 10pm & 10.20pm
MARK HAMILL SWAPS
his lightsaber for a set of fangs and a cape this week when the Star Wars actor makes a memorable guest appearance in vampire comedy
What We Do in the Shadows.
Last seen as a ghostly version of Jedi knight Luke Skywalker in 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise
of Skywalker, the Californiaborn star plays an ancient and vengeful vampire, Jim, who has a score to settle with fellow bloodsucker Laszlo (Matt Berry).
We talked to Hamill, 68, to learn more…
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH THE SHOW?
My son suggested we watch the original movie one night and I became a huge fan. I tweeted about the first season of the TV series a lot, trying to get my followers to watch. Apparently that’s what put me on the producers’ radar and the next thing
I know, they asked me to come on the show.
DID THEY TELL YOU WHO YOU’D BE PLAYING?
I thought I’d be playing someone reading the gas meter or a next-door neighbour. When I found out that they wanted me to play a vampire, I just flipped out. I couldn’t wait.
TELL US MORE ABOUT JIM…
Well, like the rest of the show, he’s a combination of the magnificent and the mundane. You have this exotic vampire with great gravitas – with the robes and the flowing hair and all that – and his name is Jim!
DID YOU HAVE ANY INPUT INTO JIM’S APPEARANCE?
They had already decided on my wardrobe but the hair was up for grabs. At first I thought it should be slicked back, Bela Lugosi-style, but then I tried on the blond wig and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, it adds to the gravitas of the character.’
WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH MATT BERRY?
One of the real challenges was trying to keep a straight face when he would improvise. Each line he said was more obscene and profane. It was hilarious. I had to work really hard to try to stay in character.
HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED A VAMPIRE ON SCREEN BEFORE?
The only time was in a cartoon called Mina and the Count.
I played the Count. I remember watching Bela Lugosi, the first Dracula I ever saw, when I was a kid. I was fascinated. I’d never heard anyone with that accent before.
AFTER The Rise of Skywalker, WILL WE EVER SEE YOU IN ANOTHER STAR WARS FILM?
Oh, I can’t imagine that, no. Luke had a beginning, middle and end. I certainly have affection for George Lucas and the character he created. I’m full of gratitude for what it has given me, but I don’t want to be greedy. There are still so many more stories to tell and so many great actors to tell them. They don’t need me.
HAVE YOU WATCHED The Mandalorian?
I think it’s excellent. It gets back to the basics of George Lucas envisioning Star Wars as a western in space. I’m impressed.