Harrison Ford, the actor best known as the face and heart of some of Hollywood’s most iconic characters, has opened up about his final appearance as Indiana Jones.
In an interview with BBC Radio 1 with his Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny co-star Phoebe Waller-Bridge about their upcoming film, the 80-year-old actor confessed that his time spent as Jones, and the love of his fans all around the world, means everything to him.
Ford has been portraying Jones since 1981, when the series’ first film, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, was released. And while they all might hold a special place in his heart, it’s his fifth and final film – set to release June 2023 – as Jones that has resonated with him.
As he told host Ali Plumb, “I think the thing that I most admire about them is the depth and subtlety of the emotion, and the importance of emotion in these films.
“As this last one concerns age and frailty and [the] changing nature of life, it was especially compelling to me, because I am of that age and I wanted it to feel real for the audience.
“I wanted them to see the complexity of that experience with someone they’ve spent 40 years with.”
Plumb then took the opportunity to tell an emotional Ford that “it’s been such an adventure”, and thanked him on behalf of fans all over for everything he’d put into the character and his various adventures.
“We love you so much,” he added. “I don’t want to make you blush or anything, but you mean the world to us and thank you.”
Ford appeared moved by the sentiment, but gathered himself to offer his own sincere thanks to his supporters, before sharing that “it means the world to me.”
It isn’t the first time that Ford has addressed his final venture in Jones’ hat – though it’s the first not to be directed by Steven Spielberg – or what it means to him, with the star previously having shared with Told Film that he had been “able to deliver amazing films developed by Steven and George [Lucas] over a 40-year period.
“And to end it not with a whimper, but a bang, has been my greatest ambition for this excursion.”
Images: BBC Radio 1 / Youtube
This article first appeared on Over60.