Domhnall Gleeson Reveals What Fueled His Star Wars Scowl

Domhnall Gleeson has an unpleasant memory of making Star Wars: The Last Jedi: bedbugs.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the actor told Drew Barrymore he was bitten at his hotel before his first shooting day. Looking at a photo of General Hux, he joked, “I was probably really itchy that day.” That might explain the glare.

Read More : Demi Moore Striptease Salary: Why Hollywood Turned on Her

General Hux had plenty of reasons to be furious

The joke fits a character who seems permanently one insult away from losing his composure. But Gleeson’s earlier explanation of Hux offers a fuller picture of the performance.

During an interview around The Last Jedi, Gleeson described the general as desperate to have his importance recognized. Hux wants people to obey him and believe he deserves his position. Underneath that demand for respect is the knowledge that Kylo Ren could overpower him almost immediately.

Gleeson also explained that Hux begins the film in a weaker position than before, making him more uncomfortable and increasingly desperate for control. His authority is something he has to keep insisting on.

That tension is what makes the character entertaining to watch. Hux can command a room, yet still look as though he suspects everyone in it is laughing at him.

Why the scowl works so well in The Last Jedi

The film knows exactly how to puncture that self-importance. Even Poe Dameron’s “General Hugs” jab is deliberate: StarWars.com’s coverage of The Last Jedi — The Visual Dictionary confirms that Poe uses the name to infuriate him.

For a man so invested in rank and obedience, being casually mocked is a particularly effective insult. Gleeson gives those moments enough indignation to make Hux funny without making his hunger for power disappear.

When to catch Gleeson on Drew Barrymore

The show’s official listing places Gleeson’s appearance on Wednesday, October 7. It also advertises conversations about season two of The Paper and his movie The Incomer.

There is something endearing about hearing an actor discuss a grand, intimidating screen presence in such ordinary terms. From the audience’s seat, the uniform and expression do their job. The person wearing them may remember a very different day at work.