Michael Sheard ("Admiral Ozzel"): 09.06.01 Subj: Re: Emperor's Hammer Interview Questions  Date: 9/6/01 9:36:46 AM Eastern Daylight Time  From: msheard@michaelsheard.com (michael sheard) To: KeiranIdanian@aol.com Hi - here are my replies. I trust you find them OK. Greetings Mr. Sheard (AD Ozzel),    My apologizes on the delay, with school and trying to get everything together the week can start to fly by really quick! :)  I would like to say that I really appreciate you doing this!  Here are the questions:  These questions are from some members of the Emperor's Hammer (3, 5), but most are from me. :)  1.) What are you're hobbies? With three volumes of my memoirs already completed and a fourth having just been commissioned, writing is certainly my main relaxation. But I also enjoy walking with our dog, I play golf - not very well! - I fish and I enjoy watching sport - on TV! I don't mean I like being crushed in crowds! Come to think of it I enjoy television a lot. There are still good programmes being made and I love the old movies. 2.) When you saw Star Wars: A New Hope, did you ever think you'd be in the next one? Oh dear! I don't think saw it before I made 'Empire'. I'd heard about it of course, but when my agent rang and said they were making a sequel to the first (forth) one, neither of us knew what the films were called. If I remember correctly my agent called them 'Star - something or other' and said there was a part in the new one which fitted nicely in between the movie I'd just finished and a TV series I was due to start in a month's time. She said that it wasn't much of a part but there was a rather nice death! 3.) How do you feel about being known as the guy who Vader strangled (Even though many others died the same way)? As I've just said, the part fitted in between those other two engagements. If it had been any longer I'd not have been free to do it. So, yes, I guess I liked the fact that Vader got rid of me! 4.) Did you enjoy being the character of AD Ozzel and why? Please don't think me flippant, but I have done over 800 TV productions and 44 feature films. Ozzel was a part that I was offered, I played it to the best of my ability - as I always do - and then I went on to the next engagement. I enjoyed my death, which I did in one take, and I very much enjoy all the great folk I'm now meeting at conventions. These gatherings are hugely enjoyable.  5.) Do you think that if Lucas had granted you Force Powers, you could've kicked Vader's ass?  I should think so, don't you?! 6.) Out of the forty movies you've been in, which one did you enjoy the most and why? This is always a difficult question for me, because I've been very fortunate and found something good in every part I've played - except one and you'll have to read my first book to find the answer! But the movie with a wonderful location (Greece), great cast (Roger Moore, who did the foreword to my first book, David Niven, Stephanie Powers, Elliott Gould et al, good script, great part for me, was called 'Escape to Athena'. 7.) Out of the forty movies you've been in, which one did you least enjoy, and why? 'Holiday on the Buses' because I'd enjoyed doing the TV series on which it was based and I'd have liked to do more in the movie. It was, however, very early on in my career. 8.) How do you feel about the Star Wars films (should they have been a little different, in your opinion)? I think number one took a wrong turning - I did a radio discussion recently about 'The Phantom Edit'. This guy - nobody knows who he is - has re-edited the film and cut over 20 minutes, including as much as possible of J. J. Binks! My favourite and George's as it happens is 'Empire' and not only because it includes the best screen death ever! 9.) What was it like to work with Lucas and members of the Star Wars cast? George did not of course direct 'Empire', but he was around all the time. A very nice, shy man. As for the rest of the cast, we're still working very happily together at conventions and loving it. We're all great friends. 10.) What made you want to become an actor and how did you go about doing it? You know, I'm going to be a bit cheeky and recommend you to my wonderful first book, 'Yes, Mr. Bronson'! It's a great read, by the way. Suffice it to say here that I was born in Aberdeen in Scotland, my Father was a Minister and put on little plays for the children of his parish, and I trained at RADA - The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. 11.) Did someone inspire you to become an actor? If so, who and why? It's all in the book! But I did see a movie called 'The Wooden Horse' 20 times in the same week when I was six! 12.) What is your favourite movie and why?  'The Wooden Horse' of course! To this day it remains everything for me. Perhaps it's because I still see it with six year old eyes, I don't know, but I think it's perfect. 13.) Who is your favourite actor or actress and why? Heck - I confess, time is getting a bit tight, so forgive me if I step quickly over these last few. Alistair Sim, Michael Hordern, Peter Finch, David Niven, Roger Moore - whatever he says, he's a very good film actor - and Judi Dench. 14.) What is your favourite book, and why?  Apart from mine you mean?! Winnie the Pooh - honestly! 15.) How do you feel about being an Honorary Member of the Emperor's Hammer?  Great - we must get together again soon. Why not come and see me at the Frankfurt Book Fair (10th -12th October) or join us for the Dark Side Con in Muenster? I'll be selling copies of my books there, too!  Again, thanks so much! Have a great day!  My pleasure - see Ya and Yours Aye, Michael.