From Newsgroup: alt.fan.starwars

Alec Guinness, the legendary actor who played Obi-Wan Kenobi, had a complicated relationship with Star Wars. A classically trained performer known for his work in Shakespearean theater and Oscar-winning films, he initially saw Star Wars as "fairy-tale nonsense" and didn't take the project seriously. In letters to friends, he admitted he found the dialogue clunky and the story overly simplistic, even expressing frustration with fans who saw him only as Obi-Wan rather than recognizing his more serious acting work.

Despite his skepticism, Guinness was no fool when it came to business. Instead of taking a flat salary for the role, he negotiated a deal for 2% of the movie's box office profits, a decision that turned out to be one of the smartest financial moves in Hollywood history. When Star Wars became an unexpected global phenomenon, that small percentage earned him tens of millions of dollars over the years, far more than a regular paycheck would have.
Even though he wasn't a huge fan of the franchise, Guinness played along and even returned for The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, where he filmed his scenes quickly for another hefty payday. Later in life, he admitted he was grateful for the financial security Star Wars gave him, though he famously asked one young fan to never watch the movies again. Love it or hate it, Star Wars made Alec Guinness a fortune and cemented his place in pop culture history.


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