Warwick Davis’ Favorite Role Is Sci-Fi But Not Star Wars
Warwick Davis, known for his roles in the Star Wars and Harry Potter film franchises, says his favorite role was in a different sci-fi series. Speaking to The Independent, the actor said appearing in Doctor Who was his greatest role. “I played this character Porridge [in the penultimate episode of the seventh series], and I felt there was so much going on with that role in terms of who he really was.”
Warwick Davis says his greatest role wasn’t as Willow, Wicket the Ewok, the Leprechaun, or even himself in Life’s Too Short — it was as the Emperor of the Universe in a single episode of Doctor Who.
“He’s a guy that’s the emperor of the universe. And, like me, he’d had a lot of success but was trying to be a real person even though the pressure of his job was huge. That resonated with me, and it touched a lot of people. That will definitely go on my showreel,” Warwick Davis said of his role in the Doctor Who episode titled “Nightmare in Silver.”
“Nightmare in Silver,” the twelfth and penultimate episode of the seventh series of the revived Doctor Who, originally aired on May 11, 2013. Warwick Davis plays Porridge, a character with a mysterious connection to the amusement park planet Hedgewick’s World of Wonders. The Doctor (Matt Smith) and his companion Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman), visit the park, only to find it closed and eerily deserted.
They soon discover that the park is infested with Cybermen, one of the Doctor’s most formidable foes.
Warwick Davis’s portrayal of Porridge brought a mix of humor, intelligence, and bravery to the episode. The character is a charming and resourceful individual who plays a crucial role in helping the Doctor and Clara in their battle against the Cybermen.
In the Star Wars universe, Warwick Davis is best known for portraying the Ewok named Wicket W. Warrick in 1983’s Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi. He also made a cameo appearance in 1999’ Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace as a street performer named Wald.
“He’s a guy that’s the emperor of the universe. And, like me, he’d had a lot of success but was trying to be a real person even though the pressure of his job was huge. That resonated with me, and it touched a lot of people. That will definitely go on my showreel.”
-Warwick Davis on playing Porridge in “Nightmare in Silver”
The actor also provided the walk-in shots for Master Yoda. He also played various characters in the prequel trilogy, as well as in Rogue One and Solo.
Warwick Davis had two significant roles in the Harry Potter film series. He portrayed the charms master and head of Ravenclaw House, Professor Filius Flitwick. The actor also played the role of Griphook, the goblin, in 2010’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in 2011.
The Reduced Height Theatre Company
Despite the career boost from those movie roles, Warwick Davis seeks to explore characters that are not solely defined by their height. That’s why he created The Reduced Height Theatre Company, scheduled to launch in 2024. The company aims to showcase exclusively short actors performing in plays on a specially designed, reduced-height set.
The inaugural production will be the classic farce See How They Run by Philip King, providing an opportunity for short actors to demonstrate their talent in a diverse range of roles. However, Warwick Davis says he would love to eventually delve into the works of JB Priestley and take on more challenging characters, further highlighting the capabilities of the actors involved in the company.
Warwick Davis most recently reprised his role as Willow Ufgood in the Disney+ fantasy adventure television series Willow which served as a sequel to the 1988 film of the same name. Unfortunately, Val Kilmer, who played Madmartigan in the movie, couldn’t return due to various challenges, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and issues related to throat cancer affecting his voice.
In March 2023, the series faced cancellation after just one season.
