Warwick Davis Opens Up About His Life, Lockdown, and Upcoming Series “Willow”
Warwick Davis is definitely a memorable actor. He portrayed the role of both Professor Filius Flitwick and the goblin Griphook in the Harry Potter films and also starred in the Star Wars franchise as the Ewok named Wicket. Davis recently admitted that he’s doubtful whether he would have been in the film industry if it were not for the condition he was diagnosed with when he was still very young. Davis has spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (a rare form of dwarfism), and medical professionals were convinced that he wouldn’t live to see adulthood. Well, he sure showed them.
Davis, who turned 51 on February 3, recently opened up about his life and work in an interview, saying that he is happier than ever. Not only does he have an amazing acting résumé, but he also has a beautiful family who keeps him grounded. When asked how he came to have the life he’s living now, Davis’s answer is pretty simple:
You must go after every opportunity that comes your way because you never know what’s around the corner. That’s what I’ve done. I’ve taken the most of every moment in my life and made the best of it.
Davis also credits those who were willing to give him a chance to be a part of the entertainment industry, citing George Lucas (Star Wars, Indiana Jones) as his greatest mentor.
Being cast in Return [o]f [t]he Jedi was a life-changing experience that will never happen again. To be part of that franchise was amazing, and to continue to be part of it is amazing. Even when I embark on a new project, they often ask me to be part of it as well, which is lovely.
What Davis seems to enjoy most about the Star Wars franchise is its fanbase. He’s a big fan of the franchise himself and has an amazing collection of memorabilia to prove it. He also did plenty of virtual Star Wars conventions during lockdown, meeting fans of the franchise from all around the world.
Currently, he is the host of the ITV quiz show Tenable, and he’s loving every second. But why is the show so successful? Davis has a few ideas.
If you’re watching at home, you can play along, and you don’t have to be super clever to get a few answers right, which is nice. I think it sets itself apart from other shows because it’s fun and there’s a lot of humour in it. I work closely with the writers to make sure that the show is as funny as it can be.
Davis is also busy with a new project – a series called Willow, which serves as a sequel to the film of the same name in which he starred back in 1988. He is very excited to jump back into the fantasy world of the film once again after all this time.
The director, Ron Howard, has been an amazing influence on me. He’s a good friend and brilliant director, and it’s lovely to be working closely with him again. It really is a dream job for an actor to go back and revisit something, especially now [that] I’more [sic] experienced as a performer.
As for what he’s been up to during lockdown, Davis says that he’s been honing his gardening skills, something Professor Sprout would surely approve of. In addition to that, he’s been working with the British Pantomime Academy, providing youngsters the opportunity to experience the magical world of drama and scriptwriting with online courses. He’s also done his part in helping members of his community who were left in complete isolation during the lockdown.
What we’ve done for them is basically pull up near their front door, open the door of the car, say, ‘Hello’ and leave a little gift package outside, just to keep their spirits up. There are a lot of lonely people out there who haven’t had a hug for a year. It’s been very difficult.
Not only is Davis a great actor, but he also has a heart of gold, and we can’t wait to see him in Willow when it’s released on Disney+. Will you be watching it? Let us know in the comments.
