The iconic fantasy film that catapulted a 17-year-old Warwick Davis to fame: ... trends now
It was, as Warwick Davis described it in his autobiography, 'the biggest casting call for little people in movie history'.
Willow, the brainchild of Star Wars creator George Lucas and Ron Howard, helped propel Davis to the status of a respected actor who could cope with leading roles.
Then aged just 17, Davis portrayed sorcerer Willow Ufgood alongside Hollywood superstar Val Kilmer as mercenary swordsman Madmartigan.
The resulting 1988 film, which told the story of Ufgood's battle to protect a baby princess against villainous queen Bavmorda, was a huge hit with movie goers.
It was while working on the film that Davis met his future wife and 'soul mate' Samantha, who had a small role in the production.
The star, who announced yesterday that his wife has died aged 53, later recalled how they had gelled at a dinner held to mark the film's release - before they kissed for the first time when both were starring in a theatre production of Snow White.
It was, as Warwick Davis described it in his autobiography, 'the biggest casting call for little people in movie history'. Above: Warwick Davis with his co-stars Julie Peters, Mark Vandebrake and Dawn Downing. The trio portrayed his wife and children
Willow, the brainchild of Star Wars creator George Lucas and Ron Howard, helped propel Davis to the status of a respected actor who could cope with leading roles
Willow's creator George Lucas had met Davis after he was cast as Wicket the Ewok in his Star Wars film Return of the Jedi.
Davis then appeared in two spin-off TV movies, Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor.
In a foreword to Davis' book, Lucas wrote: 'When Ron Howard and I decided to do Willow, it was really the experience of working with Warwick that gave me the confidence that we could do a film with not just a few dozen little people, but with a few hundred.
'I told Ron that Warwick was a very talented actor who could actually play the lead role in a movie. After Ron talked to him and did a few screen tests, he agreed.'
Howard had initially been reluctant to cast Davis because he thought he was too young to portray Ufgood, a married father-of-two.
However, Davis persisted with auditions and was eventually sent to Hollywood for further grillings.
Then aged just 17, Davis portrayed sorcerer Willow Ufgood alongside Hollywood superstar Val Kilmer as mercenary swordsman Madmartigan
It was while working on the film that Davis met his future wife Samantha, who had a small role in the production. Above: The couple on their wedding day in 1991
He was paired up with a 'sunburned' Kilmer who he did not initially recognise.
'I didn't realise that stood before me was one of the most famous men in the world at that time: Val Kilmer, a.k.a "Iceman" from Top Gun,' Davis wrote.
The pair had an 'immediate spark' and convinced Howard with their audition that they were the best fits for their respective roles.
Davis admitted that he felt there was 'some resentment' towards him during the film's production, but said he could understand it because he had a leading part.
