SlashFilm.com look back at Ahmed Best’s breakout performance in 1999’s Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and discuss what co-star Liam Neeson had to say in a 2020 interview about the actor.
In a 2020 interview with NME, even Liam Neeson, who plays the stoic Jedi sage Qui-Gon Jinn in the film, admitted that not only was Jar Jar funny, but that Best had a booming career ahead of him. Best, Neeson felt, gave off a good deal of comedic energy similar to that of Eddie Murphy.
Indeed, Neeson had no critical words about his co-star, and he wanted to redress the many grievances aimed at the character. Jar Jar, he seemingly felt, made for a fine balance for the otherwise po-faced characters that pepper “The Phantom Menace.” He was certainly the funniest character in the film, a quality Neeson admired. The “Taken” star believed, and I think many agree, that Best received far, far too much vitriol:
“He came into a lot of criticism, I mean to the point where it really hurt his career. And I have to say when I was making that film… he was probably one of the funniest guys and talented guys I have ever worked with. I remember calling my old agent, and I said ‘Listen, I think I’ve just worked with the new Eddie Murphy.’ And I still believe that … he had all of us in stitches laughing. Including George Lucas.”
Watch Liam Neeson in the Obi-Wan Kenobi limited series on Disney+ now.
