Characters

Played by Ewan McGregor, the young Obi-Wan Kenobi is the most noble, the most headstrong, and *sigh* the most gorgeous Jedi ever. During the movie, he sometimes gets frustrated with his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, because Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are so different. But they still love each other like family.

Having gained his first theatrical experience at the Perth Repertory Theatre, Ewan trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

He left Guildhall in March 1992 to play the leading role of 'Hopper' in Dennis Potter's Lipstick on Your Collar, a six-part serial drama for Channel 4, before travelling to Morocco in October 1992 to film the role of 'Alvarez' in Bill Forsyth's feature, Being Human. He went on to play 'Nick' in Penny Cineiwicz's production of Joe Orton's What the Butler Saw at the Salisbury Playhouse early in 1993.  

He played the lead role of 'Julien Sorel' in Ben Bolt's three-part BBC TV adaptation of Stendahl's classic 19th Century novel, Scarlet and Black, and was 'Jimmy' in Family Style, a short film of a Lloyds Bank Challenge-winning script, directed by Justin Chadwick for Channel 4.

Other television credits include: 'David Armstrong' in the first series of Kavanagh QC (Central TV, directed by Colin Gregg); 'Tom' (opposite Elliott Gould) in Doggin' Around, a Screen One written by Alan Plater, directed by Desmond Davis; Cold War - an episode of Tales from the Crypt - for HBO directed by Andy Morahan; and a guest part in an episode of ER. Ewan plays the lead role of 'Alex' in Shallow Grave, a feature film produced by Andrew MacDonald and directed by Danny Boyle for Figment Films. Shallow Grave was named Best Film at the 1994 Dinard Film Festival. Ewan shared the Best Actor award with co-stars Christopher Ecclestone and Kerry Fox, and it won the BAFTA Alexander Korda Award for The Outstanding British Film of the Year and the BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Feature Film.

Ewan plays the role of 'Dean' in the feature film Blue Juice, directed by Carl Prechezer and produced by Peter Salmi for Skreba Films; 'Jerome' in The Pillow Book directed by Peter Greenaway; 'Mark Renton' in Danny Boyle's and Andrew MacDonald's film of Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting; 'Frank Churchill' in Doug McGrath's film adaptation of Emma for Miramax Pictures; 'Andy' in Brassed Off directed by Mark Herman for Prominent Features; 'Martin' in Nightwatch for director Ole Bornedal for Miramax; 'Chrome' in The Serpent's Kiss for director Phillipe Rousselot and most recently A Life Less Ordinary for director Danny Boyle and producer Andrew MacDonald.

Ewan has just finished playing 'Curt' in the film Velvet Goldmine for director Todd Haynes.  

AND yes! he's going to play Obi-Wan in the next prequel!

Qui-gon Jinn is a very handsome, yet striking Jedi Knight who has a very srtong sympathy for all living things. Portrayed by Liam Neeson (The Haunting, Les Miserables), Qui-Gon is the quiet master of Obi-Wan, and has a very good sense of the Force at the present, although for him, the future is clouded.

The Irish-born actor had originally sought a career as a teacher, attending Queens College, Belfast and majoring in physics, computer science, math and drama. Neeson set teaching aside and in 1976 joined the prestigious Lyric Players Theatre in Belfast ("the best training any actor could have") marking his professional acting debut in Joseph Plunkett's The Risen People.

After two years with the Lyric Players, he joined the famed repertory company of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. Neeson appeared in the Abbey Theatre Festival's production of Brian Friel's Translations and a production of Sean O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars for the Royal Exchange Theater where he received the Best Actor Award.

In 1980, John Boorman spotted him playing Lennie in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men and cast him in his epic saga of the Arturian legend Excalibur. Following his motion picture debut in Excalibur, Neeson has appeared in more than twenty films demonstrating his wide range of characters, including Dino De Laurentis' epic remake of The Bounty, directed by Roger Donaldson and co-starring Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins; the critically-acclaimed Lamb for which he received an Evening Standard Drama Award nomination for his haunting portrayal as a priest tormented by doubts about his faith; Andrei Konchalovsky's Duet For One co-starring Julie Andrews; as a political terrorist in A Prayer for the Dying with Mickey Rourke and Bob Hoskins; and a Jesuit priest in Roland Joffe's The Mission co-starring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons.

Neeson next received critical acclaim, starring opposite Cher as a deaf and mute Vietnam veteran in Peter Yates' courtroom drama Suspect; as the passionate Irish sculptor opposite Diane Keaton in The Good Mother; and as scientist "Peyton Westlake," whose disfiguring accident forces him into hiding in Sam Raimi's fantasy-thriller Darkman.

Neeson then starred in David Leland's gritty contemporary drama Crossing the Line, based on William McIlvanney's acclaimed novel The Big Man about an unemployed Scottish miner desperate for money who is thrust into the high-stakes world of bare-knuckle boxing.

In 1992 he starred as both a Nazi engineer in David Seltzer's adaptation of Susan Isaac's best-selling novel, Shining Through opposite Michael Douglas; and as a disgraced policeman accused of murder in the erotic thriller Under Suspicion.

Neeson then continued to star in a succession of acclaimed films, most notably playing the sensitive art historian vying for the affections of Mia Farrow and Judy Davis in Woody Allen's controversial Husbands and Wives.

Other recent credits include: Paramount's Leap of Faith with Steve Martin, starring opposite Jodie Foster and Natasha Richardson in Michael Apted's Nell, Before and After with Meryl Streep, and the title role in Michael Canton-Jones' Rob Roy co-starring Jessica Lange. Neeson made his Broadway debut in 1993 in the Roundabout Theater's revival of Eugene O'Neill's 1921 drama Anna Christie. Co-starring Natasha Richardson and playing to sold out audiences nightly, the run was extended and garnered him a Tony Award nomination. Neeson's passion for the classics was once again rewarded critically in the American Playhouse production of Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome. Neeson starred in this tragic love story of three lonely people trapped by circumstance and repression in turn of the century New England.

In 1993, Neeson was nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA Award in the Best Actor categories for portraying Oskar Schindler in Stephen Spielberg's highly acclaimed Schindler's List.

His latest movie is the Haunting.

Anikan Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) is a dirty but humble slave boy of nine who lived on Tatooine, in the desert trading town of Mos Espa, with his mom, Shmi Skywalker. He works for the gabling Watto in his junk yard and parts shop, where he meets Padme Naberrie (little does he know she's Queen Amidala), and instantly falls in love with her. The annoying but cute little Annie is the only human fast enough to pod race. Almost imediately, Qui-Gon recongnizes his powers and Jedi reflexes.

Young actor Jake Lloyd was at a loss for words when he met his co-star Arnold Schwarzenegger for the 20th Century Fox feature Jingle All the Way. "He looks like me!" exclaimed Schwarzenegger. Lloyd's reply: "Aaaah...Hi." "It was the first time I ever really saw Jake nervous," explains Lloyd's mother Lisa.

Last summer Lloyd travelled to Minneapolis, Minnesota to film Jingle All the Way. This comical holiday tale is about a father (Schwarzenegger) who procrastinates until Christmas Eve to shop for his son Jamie's Christmas gift. To his dismay, he finds them to be sold out (a situation most find all too familiar). Both Schwarzenegger and Lloyd discover themselves in the middle of some wacky adventures. "I got to do many of my own stunts," explains an excited Lloyd.

  Lloyd's first feature debut came to the big screen with the release of director Nick Cassavetes Unhook the Stars starring Marisa Tomei and Gena Rowlands. Lloyd portrayed the son of Tomei who lives across the street from Rowlands. Lloyd's character, J.J., feeds refreshing youth and new life into Rowlands, who is ailing from personal dilemma. "It was fun. I like to 'live' on the set," explains Lloyd, "Marisa would play dinosaurs with me."

Lloyd's theatrical talents have also landed him a recurring role on the hit NBC television drama E.R. Lloyd's character, Jimmy, periodically visits the hospital because his mother is ill with cancer. Lloyd has also guest starred in the series The Pretender for NBC and has appeared in the feature Apollo II for the Family Channel. In addition to E.R. and The Pretender, Lloyd can be seen in numerous national television commercials.

Does this young eight year-old actor find time to be a kid? "When I'm not working, I ride my bike and play video games. I go rollerblading and spend my time walking my dog J.J. [named after his character in Unhook the Stars]," explains Lloyd. Lloyd is also an outfielder for his Little League Baseball Team. "As long as he is having fun [working] then it's okay, but it's important that he has time to just be a kid," explains Lloyd's mother.

Lloyd's parents credit his discovery to Cindy Osbrink of Cindy Osbrink Talent Agency. "She understands kids," explains Lloyd's mother,"but, his career is going so well, it was time for management." Such comes to play with the strategic planning of the management team overseen by Beverly Strong and Richard C. Berman of Moongate Management. For Lloyd, their management strategy has, thus far, paid off with a three picture deal with 20th Century Fox.

Lloyd is in second grade and lives with his mother Lisa -- a Theatrical Agent in training -- and his father Bill -- an E.M.T. Set Medic. His five year-old younger sister Madison is a promising ballerina who excels at all sports. The Lloyd's reside in Southern California.