R2-D2 actor Jimmy Vee said being part of the Star Wars 40th birthday celebrations has felt like a “turning point” in his career.
The 57-year-old from Harthill, Lanarkshire, has played the part of the bleeping robot since The Force Awakens in 2015.
He also appeared in last year’s outing Rogue One and will star in Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, which will be released on December 15.
However, he said taking part in the birthday celebrations in Orlando, Florida, with George Lucas, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford among others made him feel he’d truly arrived. He said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be out in Orlando with the rest of the guys. It’s a big deal to be out here in the States with the Star Wars team and this is me really being thrown in at the deep end now.
“This week feels like a real turning point. It has been officially announced that I’m the new R2-D2 but some people might not believe it until they actually see it with their own eyes.”
Along with the rest of the cast Jimmy paid tribute to late R2-D2 actor Kenny Baker and said it was an honour to continue “such an iconic role”.
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