Fresh Air Best Of: Harrison Ford / Novelist Francis Spufford
Mar 21, 2026
Harrison Ford, veteran actor known for Star Wars and Indiana Jones, discusses playing a therapist with Parkinson's and his career choices. Francis Spufford, British novelist, talks about Nonesuch, wartime London, mythic Blitz themes, and writing a female protagonist navigating politics and time-traveling fascists. Multiple candid conversations explore memory, identity, and creative process.
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Using Physical Symptoms As Character Tools
- Ford treats physical symptoms as character tools, using Parkinson's tremors to inform Paul's behavior rather than just as impairment.
- He focuses first on 'what's in his head' and lets bodily changes offer an extra dimension to performance.
Why Han Solo Says I Know
- Ford improvised the famous Han Solo line 'I know' when Leia says she loves him, replacing the scripted 'I love you too.'
- George Lucas initially resisted but accepted it after hearing the audience reaction during a public preview in San Francisco.
Do Your Own Risky Actions To Keep The Moment Authentic
- Do the risky on-screen actions yourself when they matter to character connection because Ford believes audience engagement requires seeing the actor's face in the moment.
- He chooses physical involvement so viewers feel the decision, anxiety, and blow rather than relying on a stunt double.
