Jennifer Aniston Was Terrified of Warwick Davis as the Leprechaun? Actor Reveals 'Intense' On-Set Dynamic
Before she was everyone's favorite Friend, Jennifer Aniston starred in a horror film that might have given her a serious case of the jitters. Warwick Davis, who played the titular leprechaun in the 1993 cult classic Leprechaun, recently revealed that Aniston was genuinely frightened of him while in costume.
In a recent interview, Davis shared fond memories of working with Aniston, who was on the cusp of superstardom thanks to the then-burgeoning popularity of Friends. However, he also playfully recounted the palpable tension on set caused by his leprechaun persona.
“It was pretty intense, actually,” Davis chuckled. “She was very sweet, but she was definitely a little scared of me when I was in the costume. I don’t think she remembers it, but I do!”
The Leprechaun film, a surprisingly successful horror-comedy, launched Aniston’s career into the stratosphere. Davis, a veteran actor known for his roles in Willow and Harry Potter, noted that Aniston was a professional and delightful to work with despite her initial apprehension.
“She was lovely to work with, really lovely,” Davis emphasized. “She was very kind and generous, and just a really sweet person. But the costume was quite frightening, I think, so it’s understandable that she was a little nervous.”
The leprechaun costume itself was a complex creation, featuring elaborate makeup, prosthetics, and a green suit. Davis admitted that even he sometimes found the costume intimidating, which likely contributed to Aniston’s fear. The combination of Davis’s acting and the unsettling costume created a genuinely creepy character, and it seems Aniston felt the full effect.
This behind-the-scenes anecdote offers a fascinating glimpse into Aniston’s early career and highlights the challenges even established actors face when working in the horror genre. It also serves as a humorous reminder of the power of makeup and costume design to transform an actor and evoke genuine fear in their scene partners.
Davis's comments have sparked renewed interest in Leprechaun, a film that continues to entertain audiences with its blend of horror and humor. And it’s a story that adds another layer of intrigue to the career of one of Hollywood’s most beloved actresses.