Five questions with C-3PO

Anthony Daniels, who's voicing C-3PO for the upcoming animated movie "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (out Aug. 15), reflects on playing a sci-fi icon:

Q What was it like when you first put on the costume?

A It was a blisteringly hot day out in the desert, and I got very badly sunburned on the one piece of me that wasn't covered up -- my right hand, from memory, where I was holding onto the vehicle. The rest of me was pretty much in the costume, of which I was cooking inside.

Q Did you ever worry that you'd be replaced by computer animation?

A Oh, there were some bits that were CGI, the really dangerous bits like falling off of high places. There's not a chance in any system of planets that I would do that. It's actually quite dangerous if you fall over because of all the metal and stuff. I've fallen over a few times, and it is not pleasant.

Q Do you get recognized by your voice?

A Yes, indeed, particularly if I've been playing 3PO a lot over a series of weeks, you can get into the habit of forgetting not to be him.

Q What was your most unusual experience as C-3PO?

A A few years ago, I actually did an appearance for M&Ms on Broadway -- and when I say "on Broadway," I don't mean in a theater, but in the square. We did a thing where C-3PO and R2-D2 brought dark M&Ms to the world, and then, of course, Darth Vader arrived and tried to steal them. ... That was huge fun and totally silly.

Q What has been the best thing about playing C-3PO?

A Occasionally, kids will come up with their parents, and the parent is trying to convince them that I'm C-3PO. And they just don't believe it; there's just this old guy with gray hair, looking totally sort of average. Then I do the voice for them, and you see the wheels going around in their head, and eventually a smile comes out, which is just so charming. That's one of the big treats of what I do.

RANDY A. SALAS