Warwick Davis is often seen as only a Leprachaun and a little guy. Well, he is a little guy, but he's not just an elf trapped in some film...He's an actual person, too! Born February 3rd, 1970, Warwick Davis, of Willow, Ewok, Harry Potter and Leprechaun fame began his career with a role as Wicket in Return of the Jedi. In 1981, he auditioned for the role as an Ewok on a whim, and got the part. He has also had roles in the new Star Wars films as well.

Warwick: "I played 4 different characters in 'Episode 1'. They were; Wald, Weazel, A Street Trader (you have to be quick to spot that one, although you can find his photo in the 'Episode 1' edition of 'Vanity Fair'), and I doubled for the Jedi Master himself, Yoda."

Warwick also had a role in the cult classic Labyrinth with David Bowie. 3' 6" Warwick is now the star of Leprechaun 6, and the upcoming fantasy horror adventure Skinned Deep. Warwick Davis often appears in elaborate makeup and costumes in his roles. As Wicket the Ewok in the third installation of the Star Wars Trilogy 'Return of the Jedi', Warwick was covered from head to toe in a furry costume. The face didn't move, yet he managed to get across emotions and some very subtle acting. When asked about this, Warwick says he used his dog as a model for furry movements and expressions.

Heidi (Monsters at Play): "Was it hard to add those expressions from your dog to the character of Wicket? And, in general, do you find wearing makeup and costumes adds to the ease of portraying a character, or does it hamper your ability to express yourself with subtlety?"

W: "The character suits prevent you from showing expression, except through body language. You can't make facial expressions as an Ewok: you can only rely on your body. Makeup can hamper you, yes, but I have to say that it's just a tool of the trade for me. I am usually transformed into something else, and I use the makeup to help me create the whole character. There is a harmony there. It's not just about me; it's about the FX crew, the director, and the actors all working together to make the character live. And I don't resent it, either. I enjoy it."

H: "Any cool or amusing anecdotes about any films you've worked on that you'd like to share?"

W: "Val Kilmer: I always remind him of this story. One day when we were filming Willow, Val Kilmer and I were on the set waiting to start shooting, and Val was smoking a cigarette, when all of a sudden we heard "ACTION", but without any of the warning we usually got before someone yells "Action". He threw his cigarette away very quickly, in the direction of the trailers. After a few moments, he ran over to an actress on the set, plunged his hands down her shirt, and retrieved the burning cigarette. She probably thought it was her lucky day, but really he was just saving her from the cigarette. I'll bet she tells that story to this day about the time Val Kilmer just put his hand down her shirt one day, and how cute he must have thought she was."

I asked Warwick about his Character Plates, in the upcoming Gabe Bartalos Indie Horror flick Skinned Deep. Warwick plays a character called Plates, so named because of his love of plate throwing, who lives with his deranged family in the hills somewhere. Sound familiar? Well, so far it is. What is totally original is that they square off against some Senior Citizen Bikers nicknamed 'The Ancient Ones' who are threatening their territory and wreaking havoc on their property.

W: "I play a character called Plates, who lives in this mad house with this crazy family and he's just mad about porcelain and plates and he just throws them [around]. It's completely off the wall, but it will certainly appeal to some people".

H: "Geek Question: In Skinned Deep, when Plates is confronted by Shakes, the aging biker of the Ancient Ones, when did he find time to stash the plates in the dirt? Are there plates all over the yard and in various places around the house just in case?

W: "Plates is like a dog, burying his plates in the yard. When we were making the film, I asked Gabe, 'Why are there plates buried in the yard' and he told me to think of Plates like an animal that buries his bones all over the place."

H: "Another Geek Question: What is Plates personal philosophy about plates?

W: "The character of Plates is alot like a plate himself. His mind is fragile, like porcelain, hence his erratic behavior. He worships the plates. He is an obsessive person, and very very fragile. Imagine a guy who has just drunk about 28 cups of coffee: That's Plates."

H: "Gabe Bartalos said that you and he became friends after working on your makeup for the Leprechaun films for long hours. After playing so many roles that require makeup and prosthetics, have you found that you befriend and bond with many of the make-up artists you've worked with?"

W: "You can't help but bond with the make-up artist. You have to get on with the movie, so If you didn't get along with this person who was sitting near you and working with you for 6 hours a day, it would be very difficult. Gabe and I were the only two people who stuck through the whole Leprechaun series, so we actually do get along very well cause we've shared so much. For the Harry Potter movies I had the same make-up artist. We put on movies, talk about whatever comes up... sometimes I'd fall asleep and then I would wake up with a whole new forehead or something."

H: "How long did your make-up for 'Harry Potter' take?"

W: "The prosthetic make-up for 'Professor Flitwick' took two make-up artists about four hours to apply. It is made up of five 'silicone' face pieces, and five hairpieces. The 'Goblin Bank Teller' make-up also took about four hours. For this character I also wore very large contact lenses and dentures."

H: "The Leprechaun films evolved from a simple horror tale that featured you as the title character, to films that pretty much existed so that people could see you kill people and make jokes dressed as the leprechaun. How does it feel to know you carried the entire series, from the beginning, while everyone else in the films, have been forgotten for their performances? Except maybe Jennifer Aniston, who is only remembered as an anomaly for being in a horror flick."

W: "That's really nice to know. I enjoy the character very much. Each move I've done in the films is based on how fun it is to play something so extreme. It's just good to know that fans appreciate me."

H: "You and the directors and writers have tried different things with the Leprechaun movies: Horror, humor, Sci-fi, dark, brooding, funny...and people seem to enjoy the light-hearted, gory, funny and mischievous leprechaun the best. Which one is your favorite?"

W: "Number one had the best lines. We were playing it really Irish then. Number three was the funniest and best, in my opinion, the one in Vegas. Number 6 is good, I do quite like it. It's funny. There is a lot of physical brutality."

H: "What was it like working on Leprechaun 6?"

W: "Grueling! 9 hours of makeup...working from 3 in the afternoon to 8 in the morning for night shots. This was the toughest shoot of all the Leprechaun movies. It was also so physical. There were so many fight sequences; often I went back to my hotel with bruises. But it's worth it. This is the result. Movie business always appears so glamorous. The glamour is the premiere, the glitter...I imagine working in a coalmine is more glamorous than actually making a film."

H: "Do you enjoy playing evil and demented characters too much, like Plates and Leprechaun?"

Up until that point in his career, Warwick had always been cast as a good guy. On reading the script for Leprechaun, he was thrilled to learn that this Leprechaun was in fact bad.

W: "It is every actors dream to play an evil character, a part to really get your thespian teeth into. Willow was great. But I was afraid of being typecast as a good guy. That's what is so great about Leprechaun and why it appealed to me. It has truly balanced my career. I didn't want to get pigeonholed. Truly, I do tend to make Sci-Fi fantasy and horror, but that doesn't really bother me, I'm getting regular work."

H: "Horror Fan?"

W: "I grew up with Halloween, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, all the classics and I loved them. But now I have kids, and that sort of changes what you can watch. Also, with so many sequels out there, it's really difficult to find a sequel that is anywhere near as good as the original...er, ...I mean... except for Leprechaun 6, which is fantastic!"

Warwick Davis established Willow Personal Management in 1995 to specialize in the representation of short actors in the U.K. We look after over 70 artists, who range in height from 3ft to 5ft.

H: "Did you create Willow Personal Management because you found it difficult to get decent representation in your own career due to your size?"

W: "Not really, I always had good management. My father in law is an actor as well, and little as well. He felt that they should have better representation in the acting world. The people who sign with Willow Personal Management are marketed for their individual abilities, rather than just for being small. I think it's the biggest agency for small people in the world. Production companies have even thanked us for making their jobs easier, so they have this resource for small actors."

H: "Have you ever watched Willow with your kids?"

W: "My daughter saw it for about 4-minutes but wasn't interested. No, she likes some of my other more tame stuff like The Unlucky Leprechaun (a movie that stars Warwick as a leprechaun, but is totally kid-oriented and has nothing to do with the Leprechaun horror movie series), the White Pony, Pinocchio...for kids."

'Wicket the Ewok Appeal', started by Warwick, is a non-profit organization that raises money for Britain's Peterborough's Special Care Baby Unit. The money will provide the Neo-Natal unit with one additional incubator, plus all the monitoring equipment necessary for the care of premature and sick infants. Warwick's daughter, Annabelle was transferred into the unit at birth with respiratory difficulties. The wonderful nurses there cared her for for 2 months. Due to their skill, dedication and professionalism, Annabelle is now a healthy 4-year-old.

H: "You seem to be heavily involved in charity work because of your daughter. Have you always felt that you would use your success to help others?"

W: "I am so glad you asked me that, not many people touch on that. I have the ability to promote a cause. They gave me so much, my little girl and my son were both helped by them, and it boosted her enthusiasm. he Government funds health care in England, so it's not quite the same as it is in the United States. When places run out of beds, families have to be transferred, and there is such a great demand for equipment and doctors. They gave me my son and daughter - both are healthy now."