Star Wars' Anthony Daniels was initially 'insulted' to be offered the part of C-3PO

Anthony Daniels is best known as iconic humanoid robot C-3PO in the Star Wars franchise, but you may be shocked to learn the actor was initially “insulted” to be offered the part.

The 73-year-old has been a permanent fixture in the long-running franchise, appearing in the original movie, Star Wars, in 1977, and pretty much everything else related to the franchise, excluding Solo: A Star Wars Story. But he almost didn’t appear at all.

Speaking to Digital Spy, the star said: "It's very odd because I didn't want the interview with George Lucas. I was insulted to be offered the part, or to discuss the part of a robot in a low budget science fiction film.

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"My agent made me go, and here I am today. I am now a heritage player. It's Harrison [Ford], Mark Hamill, Billy [Dee Williams] and I – and more.

"So there you go. It is odd to be the observer, against my will originally, but now with amazement."

Despite his now obvious delight at deciding to take the role, Daniels had admitted he felt his character in the recent movies has been overlooked.

He told Good Morning America in April: "3PO has sort of remained the same. He depends very much on the circumstances he's placed in, because he's not a proactive character. He sort of reacts to all the stuff that's going on, generally with horror and so on.

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"But he has to be part of the main action to really function, and maybe that is something that you'll see in the next movie.

"In previous ones he's been slightly sidelined, people haven't quite known how to write him as the originals were written.

The conclusion of the Star Wars franchise is just around the corner, with the final instalment Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, due to be released in December of this year.