Wait, STAR WARS Stars Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) and Kenny Baker (R2-D2) Hated Each Other!?
I recently just found out something about Star Wars actors Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker that I never knew before. It turns out that these two actors who played the lovable droid characters of C-3PO and R2-D2 hated each other. I’m sure some of you were already privy to this, but for some reason, this is something that I’ve never heard until just recently.
A friend of mine pointed it out to me so I did some digging on the internet and ended up finding details on their story. It’s so strange to me that these two actors didn’t get along! It kind of hurts my soul to learn the details about how they couldn’t stand each other.
According to MsMojo, the tension between Baker and Daniels started at the very beginning of their working relationship on Star Wars: A New Hope. Baker slammed Daniels as being “the rudest man he ever met”; Daniels on the other hand insulted Baker for not being a good performer, saying, “the character of R2-D2 might as well be a bucket.”
The two worked together on this iconic franchise multiple times over the years, and it’s strange to think they were feuding the whole time. When talking about Daniels, Baker told Hollywood.com:
“Anthony doesn’t mix at all — he keeps himself to himself. He never wants to have a drink with any of us. Once when I said hello to him, he just turned his back on me and said, ‘Can’t you see I’m having a conversation?’ I was blazing with rage.
“It was the rudest thing anyone had ever done to me. I was furious. It was unbelievable.”
Baker went on to explain that his communication with Daniels was also hindered by the hours they spent preparing in their droid costumes. He said: “By the time Anthony is in his costume I don’t see him. I turn up five minutes before filming starts and they pop me into the R2-D2 shell. There’s no talking once you’re inside.
Baker then added: “He’s had 30 minutes getting out at the end and by that time I’m away. We never meet socially–we don’t live anywhere near each other.”
So, now I can’t help but think that when C-3PO kicks R2 on Tatooine, Daniels is behind that robot mask with a big smile on his face enjoying the moment.
As for Daniels, after Baker’s death in 2016, he tweeted: “Sad to hear of Kenny’s passing. 1 of the truly original cast, so famed for his iconic role as R2. He’ll always be remembered by so many fans.”
Apparently, at the time a lot of fans believed the tweet was a sly way to reference their feud as it only makes mention of fans’ sadness, rather than any mention of being a friend or showing any emotion on Daniels’ part. I don’t know!
All I know is I hate that these two hated each other in real life.