To prepare for his role as pilot Poe Dameron, Oscar Isaac sought direction from Star Wars legend Harrison Ford.
Oscar Isaac is enjoying praise for his performance in Marvel’s Moon Knight. The actor delivered a flawless portrayal of a superhero with dissociative identity disorder, and the acclaim is well deserved. But before Isaac entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he played a pivotal role in the Star Wars franchise. To prepare, he sought advice from alum Harrison Ford. But the Han Solo actor was no help at all.
Oscar Isaac has enjoyed a prolific Hollywood career
Isaac’s first role was in the 1996 crime drama Illtown, in which he was credited as simply “Pool Boy.” The next part came almost 10 years later when he briefly appeared in All About the Benjamins in 2002. Isaac followed that with a small part on Law & Order: Criminal Intent in 2006. However, not until he played Saint Joseph in The Nativity Story did the actor gain recognition, IMDb reports.
In 2008, Isaac landed a small part in Che: Part One and garnered acclaim for his role in Balibo in 2009. The role also earned him an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting Actor. That same year, he appeared in Agora, playing the Roman prefect Orestes. And in 2010, Isaac played Prince John in Robin Hood.
But 2011 was his breakthrough year, when he appeared in four movies, Sucker Punch, Drive, W.E., and 10 Years. In the last, he performed his own song.
Two years later came his standout role in Inside Llewyn Davis, in which he played a talented but unsuccessful folk singer in the ’60s. The film earned him a Golden Globe nod and further praise.
In 2015, he appeared in A Most Violent Year alongside Molly’s Game actor Jessica Chastain. Isaac replaced Javier Bardem, who was supposed to play the lead.
Isaac’s 2015 role in the HBO miniseries Show Me a Hero saw him win his first Golden Globe. He also appeared in X-Men: Apocalypse as the title villain. Isaac further landed roles in The Promise, Homecoming, and Suburbicon.
Oscar Isaac got useless advice from Star Wars legend Harrison Ford
In 2015, Isaac appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as the X-wing pilot Poe Dameron. Isaac reprised the role in two later films — Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker — released in 2017 and 2019.
The actor sat down for an interview on Late Night With Seth Meyers, in which he discussed some blunt advice he received from veteran Star Wars alum Harrison Ford.
Isaac said he wanted some piloting tips because Ford’s character is famous for flying the Millennium Falcon, the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy. Plus, the Han Solo actor is a real-life pilot.
“I had never done anything like that before. And I was asking him: ‘So how did you do? What did you do? I know you’re a great pilot.’”
Ford offered a terse answer: “It’s fake, and it’s in space.”
Well, there you have it.
Ford also frowned at Isaac’s fantastic hair
Isaac also recalled another encounter with Ford on the Star Wars set. It’s not unheard of for performers to wear hairpieces for roles. So perhaps that’s why it came as a shock to the Han Solo actor that Isaac wasn’t wearing a wig.
In an interview with Conan O’Brien, Isaac explained that his hair is a curly/wavy combo that can be unruly at times. So hair and makeup tamed his mane for his role as the brave and bold Resistance pilot.
Isaac recalled that Ford came up close to him and confidently declared, “Wig.” When Isaac revealed it was indeed his hair, Ford expressed awe and “disdain.”
