Sir Alec Guinness

A Tribute

As Obi-Wan

Born: 2nd April, 1914
Country: UK
Died: 5th August, 2000
Occupation: Actor, Writer

"I'm just happy to be an actor. If I tried to swan around, I wouldn't know how to behave. If I tried to be a superstar, I'd be a laughing stock!"

Mention 'Star Wars'® to me and the first thoughts that come into my head are memories of standing in the queue to see it at the cinema, gasping at that famous opening shot and people shouting at the screen asking Darth Vader if he'd lost his asthma inhaler! So, as someone who was lucky enough to experience that phenonomen first time round, you might think Sir Alec Guinness is forever associated in my mind as Obi-Wan Kenobi (as he undoubtably is with movie fans the world over). However the tableau that played out in my mind's eye on hearing of his passing did not feature "Old Ben". Instead the characters that made him a British acting great played in my memory - from his first role as Herbert Pocket in 'Great Expectations' to his many Ealing Comedy guises. From Fagin in 'Oliver Twist' to George Smiley in the BBC television adaptation of John Le Carre's 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'.

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Alec Guinness said he never enjoyed playing parts that were too much like himself. However he truly brought something of his special genius to the wide and varied roles he chose throughout his career. As a young man he focused on the stage. Apart from being an extra in the 1936 movie 'Evensong' he did not turn to film until 1946 when he was aged 32. However he was lucky to be of the generation when the British film industry was at it's peak and soon made his mark on screen as he had on stage. His chameleon like talent for assuming such varied characters still surprises new viewers of those movies today. There on screen is a man who should not be remembered merely as part of a "galaxy far, far away" but as truly one of the greats.

His dislike for all the hoopla surrounding 'Star Wars'® is legendary. He could not understand how such movies could lead to such fanatacism and why fans seemed to worship his character. Of course the fact is that it was his performance that made Obi-Wan the calm at the centre of the storm, someone people would implicity trust. However if it is to the 'Force' you find yourself turning to remember Alec Guinness please don't forget there was so much more to his big screen career... [Movie Picks]

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