Elstree Calling

Jeremy Bulloch

Jeremy Bulloch Interview:

Actor Jeremy Bulloch is best known for having played Edwin in the Cliff Richard film Summer Holiday and Boba Fett in the Star Wars films: The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. All of these films included filming work at Elstree Studios.

Recently I was lucky enough to interview Jeremy, whose autobiography, Flying Solo, is now available via his official website, by email. In my interview, Bulloch reveals what it was like to work on the aforementioned films and at Elstree Studios.

Paul: When did you first decide that you wanted to become an actor?

Jeremy: When I was twelve years old and failed an exam to go to a public school.

Paul: Did you train to be an actor at drama school?

Jeremy: Yes I went to a drama school in London called Corona Academy.

Paul: Which theatre, film & TV productions did you work on when you first became an actor?

Jeremy: I did a few commercial as well as several films for the Children's Film Foundation. I was also involved with two series of Billy Bunter.

Paul: How did you get the role of Edwin in the 1962 film, Summer Holiday?

Jeremy: I auditioned for both the director Peter Yates and the choreographer Herbert Ross. I had to some sort of dance for Herb and I was amazed to get past that stage but was more assured when I read for Peter Yates.

Paul: What memories do you have of filming on Summer Holiday?

Jeremy: It was just one long holiday and was so relaxing. I was the youngest in the cast and everyone looked after me. I shall never forget my time out in Greece.

Paul: What recollections do you have of filming scenes for Summer Holiday at Elstree Studios?

Jeremy: I was thrilled to be working at Elstree. Roger Moore, incidentally, was shooting The Saint at the studios as the same time as were filming.

I was lucky enough to meet up with Roger Moore again later when I appeared in three Bond films.

Paul: Did you and the cast and crew of Summer Holiday ever socialise after filming?

Jeremy: We socialised more in Greece than London as we had to be up very early every morning to get to the studios by train; where as we all stayed in a hotel in Athens so it was easy to get together after a days filming.

Paul: I recall watching you in a recent TV documentary about Summer Holiday. Did you enjoy taking a trip down memory lane to discuss working on the film?

Jeremy: Oh yes it was great to go back to talk about something which was one of the most pleasant times in my career.

Paul: What memories do you have of playing Boba Fett in the Star Wars films: The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi? 

Jeremy: It was nice to work at Elstree again and I remember how hot in was in my costume. It was very uncomfortable but enormous fun. I knew so many actors in the Star Wars films, so it was nice to get together and to talk about why we had been chosen to be in this massive trilogy.

Paul: What other productions did you film at Elstree Studios?

Jeremy: After Summer Holiday I filmed a pilot for a TV series called Hornblower. Great memories.

My special thanks go to Jeremy Bulloch for taking part in this interview.

Jeremy Bulloch's Official Website:

To visit Jeremy's Bulloch's official website, please click here.

Jeremy Bulloch's Autobiography:

Jeremy Bulloch's autobiography, Flying Solo, is now available to buy exclusively from his official website. For more information, please click here. 

Jeremy Bulloch's Autograph Service:

For more information about Jeremy Bulloch's autograph service, please click here.

Feature: © Paul Burton 2009

Please do not use any part of this feature without first contacting Paul Burton to request permission.