Playcenter
1999


Unheralded actor steps into webby feet as Jar Jar Binks, the
computer animated star of The Phantom Menace

Ahmed Best was an actor-dancer-musician when he was plucked
from a West Coast company of Stomp to play Jar Jar Binks, a
completely computer-generated character, a bumbling, babbling
amphibian Gungan who aids the heroes of Star Wars: Episode I,
The Phantom Menace. Amazon.com contributor Marshall Fine
talked to the very real Ahmed Best about his experience in
making the movie.

Amazon.com: How did you come up with the accent you use in
the film? It sounds Jamaican or, at least, Caribbean.

Ahmed Best: It wasn't an intentional accent. That was all
invented by George Lucas and was written out phonetically in
the script. I just read the lines. Although, occasionally, I
had to say to George, "I don't understand what this means."

Amazon.com: What did you enjoy about working on the film?

Ahmed Best: That I could be funny and everyone else had to
be serious. I was always making jokes and getting them to
laugh. Liam Neeson was particularly easy.

Amazon.com: Does it bother you that, in spite of being the
star of the film, your face is never seen because your
character is digitally created?

Ahmed Best: I've come to terms with that. It's a great
character, a great role, and a great movie. My face isn't in
it, but it will be in something else. You guys are going to
get sick of my face. And I'll corner the market on reptile
roles. And I hope to turn Jar Jar into a Saturday morning
cartoon.

Amazon.com: What was it like having Star Wars as your first
movie?

Ahmed Best: I loved this experience so much. I think I was
the only one who cried when it was over.


Ahmed Best Filmography

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) ... Jar Jar
Binks