Ian McDiarmid Quotations

But he did say that the character would be on the sidelines in movies One and Two, and move into the middle with number Three, but I didn't realize he would move in with quite such a bang.

To start your life as a character of 120 years when you are in your late thirties, and then go back in time about 20 years later to play the same character who is your own age then, its very complicated, but very interesting.

I suppose it's easy to play a hypocritical politician with a smiling face; it's also quite gratifying to play.

That's the mark of a great storyteller, never to give away secrets in advance.

It was a scene I was really looking forward to, and one that I embraced, and when we were filming it, George got closer and closer and closer with that camera - he was practically up my nose for the final shot. So I knew it was a moment that I had to do my best to get right.

For me it's even more interesting, because my character comes out of the shadow. It's a chance to really act emotionally, because the situation is an extreme one.

If you got the DVD you can see that George Lucas has taken that person out, as well as the voice, and we shot this scene when we arrived in Australia during the actual filming of Episode 3.

And also, it's sort of my job to make you believe things about him that aren't true about me.

Consistency is very important when you're making films.

The part that I think is one of the most interesting is of course the one that Hayden Christensen plays.

There were a number of people who helped me get there, and the one I always mention is Michael Byrne, the great master swordsman and brilliant stunt double.

When George asked me to be the prequels, it was the same kind of meeting - it was very short and to the point. It was nice to see him after a long time, and we met in a hotel room.

Yes I was, and again, I didn't know how evil he was going to be - I knew he was going to be pretty evil - until I got the script.

In this film he's worse than the Devil and certainly worse than Darth Vader, whom I think comes across as more sympathetic than people might imagine.

But in both cases, the people who were putting my face on were extremely charming and very entertaining. So it's never been a painful experience.

At least Satan fell; he has a history, and it's one of revenge.

Im the blackest villain of all time.

If you're any kind of artist, you've got to ... keep opening yourself to new possibilities.

Serious work gets done ... in congenial surroundings, which tend to make you laugh.

I've been trying to find a redeeming feature to Palpatine, and the only one I've got so far is that he's clearly a patron of the arts because he goes to the opera.

I think the greatest thing about being an actor is that you can become other people. ... You have the opportunity to explore ... alternative ways of living for a brief time.