As I sat in right in front of Harrison Ford listening to his every word, I could not believe that I was actually interviewing Harrison Ford for his revived role as Han Solo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Not only was I interviewing “the” Harrison Ford but I was doing it for Star Wars…Star Wars! If I didn’t like the feeling of pain so much, I would have pinched myself to be sure I wasn’t dreaming.

Leanette Fernandez interviewing Harrison Ford

Although I love his role as Han Solo (how could you not?), my appreciation for his work extends beyond that role and even that of Indiana Jones because he has been a part of some really great films. One of my personal favorites is his role as Henry Turner in Regarding Henry. There was just something about the story and his character that really captured me and made me a lifelong fan. No matter what movie made you fall in love with Harrison Ford, I am sure that we can all agree that he is a Hollywood legend.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from an interview with Harrison Ford and as I reflect back on our time together, I am still not sure how to put the experience into words. Here’s what I can say, he is funny without even trying to be and that while I don’t believe that he is attached to anyone role/character emotionally, I do believe that he recognizes the fact that without his fans, especially Star Wars fans, he wouldn’t be where he is today.

“If it were not for the fact that these Films have been passed on by parents to their children at an appropriate juncture in their lives and that the Generations have thus been introduced to me, I probably would have a much different career.”

Enough about my thoughts on Harrison Ford, because I can go on and on.

Here’s what Harrison Ford had to say about Star Wars: The Force Awakens and other Tidbits of information…

Star Wars The Force Awakens Interview with Harrison Ford

What it was like to come back into the Star Wars Legacy thirty years later

“It was familiar. Same thing only different. I was there in service of a of a script that I thought was very good. A sort of road map for the Character that I thought was worth coming back to with a Director whose work I admired and who I knew from a previous film twenty five years ago. All together an attractive prospect.”

On recognizing the legacy Star Wars would become after reading the first Star Wars script

“No, No. You’d be locked up if you came to that conclusion. But in that, in the context of making that first film, I did recognize both the utility of my Character to the telling of the story and … that there might be some really strong elements that people would relate to…I recognized that there is a kind of Fairy Tale structure in the Characters and in the story. I’d seen Grimm Fairy Tales that have lasted for the last 400 years, so there was a strength that I recognized.

…when you have a beautiful Princess, a callow Youth and a wise old Warrior and then me, it was easy to figure out my place in that structure.”

If getting back into the mindset of his role difficult after so many years

“No, you put on those clothes. You turn around and see that guy in the Chewbacca Suit. You know what the drill is. I have walked more than a mile in those shoes and it was a familiar path. I was happy to be back.”

Thoughts on his character development in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

“If we were trying to do exactly the same thing…if I died my hair and pretended that 30 years had not gone by, I would be much less comfortable. But this acknowledges the reality of the passage of time. It deals with the question of what happened while I was off stage for 30 years.”

Significance of his Han Solo character to him

“I’m very grateful for the fact that these were Family Films that been passed on as though there were some nugget of useful information or at least Entertainment in them and recognizing their value to the Audience gives them significance to me.”

On reconnecting with some of the original Star Wars cast and crew members

“…it was great to be back with Mark and Carrie. I spent a little time with them and Peter Mayou and a lot of the crew…some of the older members of the crew, who worked on the earlier films but more often than, there were Sons and Daughters of the people who worked on the original Film…back to work with us.”

What he wants the new Generation to take away from Star Wars

“Their choice.”

Thoughts on his profession

“…this is service occupation. Story telling is a service occupation much like being a Waiter. You deliver the food. You don’t bang it on the table in front of them. You wait til the right moment, you slip it down. You keep your eyes scanning the diners. And you are there when you see them beginning to look for you….It’s a public service job, you know. So,it’s not about me. I’m not the Customer but I love working here.”

Leanette Fernandez with Harrison Ford

I still can’t believe I interviewed Harrison Ford!!!!

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS arrives in theaters everywhere on December 18th!

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*Thank you for the images Mom Start!