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When you think about divisive characters in Star Wars, one of the first that probably comes to mind is Jar Jar Binks. While we’ve learned to appreciate Ahmed Best’s performance over the years, the character’s voice felt jarring when we first heard it in The Phantom Menace. However, there is a reason that Best used that particular voice and why George Lucas had him use it in the final film – because it made young Anakin’s actor laugh.

“I was just hired to be the motion capture for Jar Jar,” Ahmed Best told a packed crowd at Star Wars Celebration 2025. “And so I told George [Lucas] before I flew to London to start shooting. I was like, you know I do voices, right? And he was like ‘Oh? Send me some, then.’”

So Best put together a collection of six voices on a tape and sent it to George Lucas, one of which was the voice he often used to entertain kids. A goofy, silly voice that he used to make his little cousins laugh. And of course that was the voice that George Lucas liked the best for Jar Jar.

Case closed, right? Well, not quite. Because even though he was then invited to the table read for The Phantom Menace, Best didn’t know if he was actually going to be the voice of Jar Jar. He was still only hired to be the motion capture, remember? So he’s sitting there at the table read and in walks all these well-established actors. Natalie Portman. Ewan McGregor. Liam Neason. People who Best deeply admired even before working with them. Heck, even Jake Lloyd had more film experience than Best at this point. Ahmed Best says that he suddenly had the worst case of imposter syndrome.

As Jar Jar’s first line started coming up, anxiety hit Best like a truck. “I’m really debating. Should I just use my voice or should I use this voice that George likes and I was like, ‘Should I do it? Should I not do it? And then finally Jar Jar’s first words happen and I’m just like, do it.”

That first line is what won Ahmed the job as the voice of Jar Jar. Not just because he impressed George Lucas but because he impressed the most important member of the cast. “Here’s how I knew it was gonna work. Because I do that voice. and little Jake starts laughing. I’m like, boom. Got it. I’m good.”

Get to know, understand, and love the Star Wars franchise more with our Star Wars watch order, guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies & TV shows, and all the Star Wars movies and Star Wars TV shows ranked.