After a couple of months worth of emails and phone calls, finally Zam Wesell (aka Leeanna Walsman) and my schedules align so that she can sign items for Wattographs!

Chris Walsh: Hi, Leeanna. Thanks for coming over.
Leeanna Walsman: Not a problem.

CW: (Sitting down) So, I’ve seen you’ve been to a few cons and such around the world, do you enjoy it?
LW: Yeah, it’s ok. Don’t get me wrong, most of the fans are great, but for me, I have to fit it into my work schedule. I’d pick any work (acting) over a convention any day.
CW: Understandably. What have you been working on lately?
LW: I’ve just finished a play called Saturn’s Return here in Sydney.
CW: Excellent. So theatre is where you’re focused at the moment?
LW: It was a job, but I really enjoyed it.

CW: What’s on the horizon for you work-wise?
LW: I’m off the Maldives for a month…
CW: Gee, that’ll be a tough assignment!
LW: … yeah I leave on the weekend so I’m glad we got a chance to do this before I went away. I can’t afford to go to the Maldives for a month unless I’m working there.

CW: In terms of time on screen for Australian actors, you had a large role in the Star Wars world.
LW: Yep.
CW: How long were you on set?
LW: About 10 days.
CW: Anything exciting behind the scenes to reveal?
LW: Unfortunately not. It was all very professional and I had a great time.
CW: Did you get to interact with Ewan or Hayden off camera?
LW: Briefly, little bits here and there. They were both very nice and professional. I got to go The (Skywalker) Ranch afterwards, so that was cool.
CW: Another perk of the job. Was it for post-audio work?
LW: Yep.

CW: Given your role gave you good exposure globally, have you tried to crack ‘the big time’ in the US?
LW: I went there briefly to give it a go, but wasn’t too successful. You know, Star Wars (Attack of the Clones) was filmed and released over six years ago now, so you can only use that to open doors for so long.
CW: Yep…
LW: I can’t keep riding on the coat-tails of that forever.

CW: Were you always a Star Wars fan, or was this just another gig for you?
LW: I didn’t even know what a bounty hunter was (laughing) in the Star Wars sense of the word. I had heard of the movies, but that was it.
CW: It’s funny, other people I’ve met who were huge fans had substantially smaller roles than you...whereas yourself, not a huge fan, landing a bigger role.
LW: Yeah, it’s weird how it works out!

CW: Did you get to sneak away with any parts of your costume or props?
LW: Nope, security was pretty tight. I’d be surprised if anyone got away with anything like that.

CW: I have to ask you, especially since George has been seen in town (Sydney) the last few weeks: If you got invited back to act on the TV series, would you go back? If they offered you a different role or somehow re-incarnated your character?
LW: Yeah, definitely. It’s work, I know how they all work with the films. I’d be happy to go back for sure.
CW: Have you heard anything from your agent or anything in your circles?
LW: Not yet, I’ll have to keep my ear out. Have they announced anyone yet?
CW: One of the strong rumours is that Daniel Logan will be involved, assumedly as Boba Fett.
LW: Daniel is a really nice guy. I’m sure he’d go back. I haven’t seen him do much since he did Star Wars, so I’m sure he’d jump at the chance.

CW: (pulling the action figures over) Is it a bit weird seeing your likeness on a toy?
LW: Yeah a little bit, I’ve seen quite a few different versions of my character.
CW: Do you own any of them?
LW: Nope, not yet.

CW: Do you get stopped on the street at all with people recognizing you?
LW: Yeah, sometimes. Sometimes for my Star Wars work and sometimes from my other work on TV and theatre.

CW: You did a show with Matt Doran (Elan Sleazebaggano)?
LW: Yeah, Love Is a Four Letter Word. He’s a lovely guy, really down to Earth.
CW: I’ve enjoyed his company when we did the signing, as well as at Supanova and a gig we did down in Geelong for Gifts For the Geek last month.

CW: (Finishing up) That’s it Leeanna…
LW: Really? That was easy …
CW: That’s it, easy for everyone.
LW: For sure.

CW: Thanks again for coming out and spending sometime with me to sign the fan’s items and sharing a few tales.
LW: Not a problem, thanks for inviting me into your house.

We pose for a few more photographs and in just over an hour, my experience with a very polite and quietly-spoken bounty hunter is complete.