Ben Mendelsohn’s ‘Star Wars’ Dream Came True

Ben Mendelsohn admits his childhood dream came true when he was cast in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

The 47-year-old thespian plays villain Director Orson Krennic in the space opera – directed by Gareth Edwards – and he admits no other moment in his professional career as an actor can compare to when he was given the job to appear alongside Darth Vader in Disney’s new spin-off movie.

In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, he said: “It was like Ben Mendelsohn’s Star Wars dream came true the seven-year-old me’s dream come true, 1977, ‘Star Wars’. From the ages of six to about 12, you’ll find that’s the peak age range where these movies go straight in – zoom! It hit me at an elemental level, and, for that kid I was then, I’m very glad.”

Mendelsohn, like all actors, has been on a long journey to movie stardom and he wishes he could have known he was going to be a key player in a galaxy far, far away when he was struggling.

He added: “I often quip that there were many times in my life when I wish I’d been able to tell myself, ‘Don’t worry about it, one day you’ll be in a ‘Star Wars’ movie.’ Alas, you can’t do it. And yet … here we are.”

Mendelsohn famously appeared in Australian soap Neighbours at the same time as Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan and has appeared in several critically acclaimed films including Killing Them Softly, The Place Beyond the Pines, Black Sea and Exodus: Gods and Kings.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is out in theaters today!