Ray Winstone was out a little too late the night before his “Star Wars” audition.
During a recent conversation with Far Out, the “Black Widow” star said he showed up to his audition for the role of Padmé Amidala’s father drunk, or “pissed,” as he put it. As a result, the casting “didn’t go well.”
“Had words and that was that,” Winstone said. “I’ve worked for George since, and he was fine. He didn’t remember. Or if he did, he didn’t take it to heart.”
Winstone recalled that he was “out all night” the evening prior, and as soon as he walked into the audition, he knew he was “wrong for the part.” Instead of telling him outright, Winstone said George Lucas “relayed the message to me through someone else,” which he “took umbrage” at.
Winstone remembered Lucas yawning through his entire casting, presumably because of “jet lag.” After the try-out was over, the “Star Wars” mastermind was dead silent, prompting Winstone to tell him, “Why don’t we both have a 15-minute sleep and then I’ll fuck off?”
Despite missing out on the role, Winstone has no regrets. He said that “Star Wars” is “that sort of film would bore the arse off me, all that bluescreen work.”
The role of Padmé’s father, Ruwee Naberrie, ultimately went to Graeme Blundell, who appeared in the role in “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.”
Three years after the 2005 release of “Revenge of the Sith,” Winstone reunited with Lucas on “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” Lucas was a writer and executive producer on the film, while Winstone played antagonist George “Mac” Michale.
Winstone’s more recent credits include “Damsel,” “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and “The Gentlemen” TV series.
