The Phantom Phenomenon with a wee Scottish lad in its midst

Scottish actor Ewan McGregor is about to get a universe worth of exposure when the hugely anticipated Star Wars prequel, Episode 1: Phantom Menace, opens in North America less than two days from now. McGregor, who made a name for himself mainly in indie movies, plays the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in a film that has already achieved legend status.

As a schoolboy in Crieff, Scotland, McGregor played with a toy light saber. His interest in the Star Wars films was more personal than that of the average child, however; McGregor's uncle, actor Denis Lawson, was an X-wing fighter pilot in all three Star Wars movies. Now, the twenty-eight year old actor cites getting to play with a real light saber as one of the major perks of his latest role.

In an E! Online interview, Ewan said, "I'm fiercely proud to be Scottish. I don't live there anymore. I chose to live in London, and I love it there. But I'm Scottish through and through. It's a great place, a beautiful land and a beautiful people."

McGregor and his uncle are not the only Scottish connections to the Star Wars dynasty. Dundee-born actor Ian McDiarmid played Emperor Palpatine in Return of the Jedi will also appear in Phantom Menace as Senator Palpatine, a.k.a. Darth Sidious.

We heard Star Wars fans might camp out in ticket line-ups before the movie's release, but did we really believe it? Now, just two days to the North American premiere, and some people have been in line for weeks already. Despite some critical pans of early Phantom Menace screenings, the Force does not seem dampened; the Star Wars grip on pop culture is firmly established.

It is probably safe to assume that whatever McGregor does with the rest of his career here on earth, his place in the imaginations of children is assured.

--MRB