Warwick Davis Shares Prince William's Reaction to His OBE Honour
British actor Warwick Davis has disclosed that Prince William was "really surprised" he had not previously received an OBE, during the ceremony where Davis was honoured on Wednesday. The 56-year-old star, celebrated for his roles in Star Wars and Harry Potter, was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to drama and charity.
A Royal Conversation at Kensington Palace
In a video interview conducted at Kensington Palace, Davis recounted his exchange with the Prince of Wales. "The Prince of Wales said to me today, 'have you got one of these already?' I said, 'no, no.' I was worried if I said yes, 'well you're not having this one,'" Davis explained. He added, "He said, 'I'm really surprised, I thought you had one already,' which is really nice." This moment highlighted the prince's recognition of Davis's longstanding impact in the entertainment industry and philanthropic efforts.
Family Support and Personal Journey
Davis was accompanied by his daughter Annabelle, 28, and son Harrison, 23, as he accepted the OBE. Reflecting on his early life, he shared how his grandmother played a pivotal role in his career. "As a little person, you don't want to get forgotten about in the playground," Davis said. "I'd be a lot louder, a lot funnier than all my friends. I think that kind of trained me really for performance. I didn't really want to be an actor, I kind of came into it through my grandmother." At age 11, his grandmother alerted him to a Lucasfilm casting call for short people for a new Star Wars movie, launching his journey into acting.
Charity Work with Little People UK
Beyond his acting career, Davis co-founded Little People UK with his late wife Samantha in 2012, an organisation dedicated to supporting individuals with dwarfism. "It's a wonderful thing to see people come together who only have one thing in common; share stories, share worries, share woes and share happiness," he remarked. Davis emphasised, "Someone with dwarfism is the exact same as everyone else except they're in a smaller body. They have the same dreams, same goals, same desire for love and happiness." Samantha passed away in 2024 due to complications from surgery, making this honour a poignant moment for Davis and his family.
Mystery Woman 'Sponge' in Attendance
Alongside his children, Davis was supported by a mystery woman during the OBE ceremony, whom he has previously referred to as "Sponge." Last year, in a BAFTA Fellowship acceptance speech, he thanked her for "showing me that life can still have meaning and for helping me to laugh and to love again." When asked about her identity on The Jonathan Ross Show, Davis playfully compared her to a character from the comedy series This Country, stating, "Sponge very much reminds me of Kerry. Some of the things she says and her accent." Her presence added a personal touch to the celebratory event, underscoring Davis's resilience and new beginnings.
