Essex star Ross Sambridge on film career and playing a Wookie

Standing at 7ft tall, the 43-year-old actor has landed many height-related roles within film and television.

He was cast as a Wookie - a hulking, hair-bound alien race in the sci-fi Star Wars series - in the 2018 film Solo: A Star Wars story, directed by Ron Howard.

Recalling the production, Mr Sambridge said: "I remember when I first put on the costume and it became real, I was in wardrobe and I had this Wookie head on, I could see myself in the mirror and I'm not afraid to admit I did get a bit tearful.

"The experience on set was incredible, having chats with Woody Harrelson and meeting Emilia Clarke. Being directed by Ron Howard was an amazing experience."

Ross with three other Wookies on the set of Solo: A Star Wars Story

Mr Sambridge, who lives in Southend, has held a love for the popular alien race, immortalised by Peter Mayhew's performance as the Wookie Chewbacca, since childhood.

He even seized the chance to meet Mayhew in 2007 at a convention.

"I was asked would I be interested in dressing up as Chewbacca and I, in a millisecond, said yes," he said.

"Even more awesome was Peter then taught me how to walk like a Wookie, how to hold the Bowcaster (his weapon), and even how to roar like Chewbacca.

"That was a masterclass from the man himself."

Mr Sambridge embraced his height from a young age, using the trait to proudly bring characters to life.

"Growing up I've always been a tall person, when I was only ten-years-old I was already 5ft 10in," he said.

"I got some comments, nasty comments, from people and it would probably put you down a bit.

"But I thought do you know what, I am this tall, I can't do anything about it and I actually like my height.

"So if it helps bring a character to life, I don't mind being these monsters, creatures or aliens. To be a Wookie was to have a dream come true for me."

Perhaps the role he is best known for is potraying "the other half" of villain Supreme Leader Snoke, in the 2017 film Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Brought to life through motion capture by the legendary Andy Serkis, Sambridge donned a set of splendid golden robes to portray the character's body.

Mr Sambridge was auditioned for the role when the film's production went by a code name and was still shrouded in secrecy.

"They said 'put these robes on', so I did and the director came in and it was Rian Johnson," he said.

"He said 'You must be our Snoke' and I said 'I guess so'."

He said the size of the set he was working on, an imposing throne room, was largely brought to life without the use of special effects.

"What you see on the screen is 90 per cent of what was there," he said.

"Even though I'm tall, the throne itself made me look quite small."

Describing Andy Serkis as an "incredible, lovely guy", Mr Sambridge said: "He has always said we both share the character of Snoke."

The intricacies of motion capture meant the pair had to work closely on the character.

"He would have to imitate how I would move and he would speak a certain way, so I would move to mirror his voice," he said.

Mr Sambridge later appeared in Serkis' directorial debut, 2017 biographical drama film Breathe.

His recent credits include Disney's 2020 film Artemis Fowl and short film VIA[DOLO], which was shot in Southend.

He is a special guest at Saturday's Invasion Colchester event, in the city centre, and will be on hand to meet fans.

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"The fun in doing these sort of events is meeting fans, talking about the roles they like and roles they've seen you play, or simply just about the films themselves," he said.

"I always love to talk about the films I've appeared in. I think it's great to see people smile and to give this whole new experience to people who have enjoyed the films."

Meeting fans is also a chance to share experiences, reflections and life lessons from inside the industry.

"I've had people come up to me who are also very tall, who say they are getting all the usual stupid comments, some do feel depressed," he said.

"I say you've got something they haven't - don't let these people, who are probably just jealous, put you down. "

"Embrace what you have, use what you have if you want to go down the route of TV or film and, even if you don't, just think 'This is who I am'."