Throughout his long tenure as a Star Wars actor, Ewan McGregor has stood out among the rest with a variety of show-stopping moments. In fact, McGregor’s performance in this role is so strong that it stands up to the legendary Alec Guinness, who was the first to play Kenobi. His acting really turns him into the character of Obi-Wan and has always been relatable, grounded, and above all, exhibiting an impressive range of emotion.
First appearing as the character of Obi-Wan in 1999, Ewan McGregor has recently reappeared in the role for the aptly titled series Obi-Wan Kenobi. With such a reappearance, it is possible that there may be more moments of his to come. Until then, these are some of his very best moments as Obi-Wan.
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10 “Hello There!”
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Despite the relative simplicity of this moment, the first time Ewan McGregor says “hello there” is a callback to the original trilogy. Alec Guinness was the first to say this line as the character, and it is even repeated later on in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series. This specific instance spread like wildfire across the internet, becoming a popular meme after the release of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith in 2005.
9 Obi-Wan’s Fight With Jango Fett
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
When Obi-Wan goes to investigate the hidden water planet of Kamino, his visit dredges up more questions than answers. After all, it only makes sense that one would be stunned after finding a secret cloning facility on the outer fringes of the galaxy. This trip to Kamino culminates in a fight between Obi-Wan and the clones’ original blueprint, the bounty hunter Jango Fett. Not only does this fight have the two of them dueling in the rain, which is already a difficult thing to pull off well in film, but the fight really shows a different spectrum of McGregor’s abilities as an actor.
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8 The Match Between Obi-Wan And General Grievous
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Filming a fight scene against a character that is primarily CGI cannot be easy. There is a great deal of imagination involved with such a thing, and despite this McGregor puts on an incredible performance nonetheless in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. He is equal parts snarky and refined as he takes down the would-be Sith apprentice, showing off just how powerful of a Jedi Obi-Wan is.
7 The First Time Obi-Wan Meets Anakin Skywalker
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Not only is this fateful meeting important from an acting standpoint, but it is incredibly important to the series as a whole. The relationship between Obi-Wan and Anakin is the foundation upon which the entire prequel trilogy is built, one that becomes tragic and theatrical. The first meeting in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is a poignant moment, with an almost shy, younger Obi-Wan, who seems much happier to defer to Qui-Gon than speak his mind. It shows the range that McGregor has as an actor, even when playing a single character.
6 Obi-Wan’s Duel With Count Dooku
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Another spectacular fight scene, Obi-Wan’s fight with Count Dooku in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith brings out a completely different side of the character. Despite his strength in the Force and synergy when fighting alongside Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan is on the back foot throughout the fight and is even knocked out cold. It is amazing that Ewan McGregor can do so much through Obi-Wan’s fight scenes, bringing characterization to him even in scenes that are short and less dialogue focused.
5 Breaking Into Fortress Inquisitorious
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Throughout the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, Obi-Wan shows that there is nothing he wouldn’t do in order to keep Leia safe. This includes breaking into the headquarters of the Imperial Inquisitors to rescue her. There is a determination during these scenes that is a step further than any exhibited in the prequel series, something that McGregor pulls off well, showing just how dire the situation really is.
4 Saving Leia Organa Using the Force
Obi-Wan Kenobi
At the beginning of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, Obi-Wan is not shown using his Force powers. In fact, it is implied that it has been years since he has connected to the Force or exercised these muscles at all in an attempt to keep himself and by extension, Luke Skywalker hidden from the Empire and the Inquisitors. He is quick to respond when Leia is in danger of falling to her death, however, and McGregor’s portrayal emphasizes the struggle Obi-Wan goes through to recall these powers.
3 The Death of Qui-Gon Jinn
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
One of the most important turning points of the prequel series happens at the very end of the first film, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. When Qui-Gon dies at the hands of Darth Maul, Obi-Wan’s entire world begins to crumble. He has to grapple with the death of his master all while a Sith apprentice threatens to kill him, managing dangerous emotions like rage and sorrow in the meantime. This is one of McGregor’s best performances, showing a young Obi-Wan struggling to keep a lid on his emotions.
2 Obi-Wan’s Second Rematch with Vader
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Things don’t go well for Obi-Wan during his first clash with Darth Vader in the Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ TV show. He essentially loses the fight, not prepared after years of keeping his powers hidden. Obi-Wan is back to full power for their rematch, however, and this allows the dynamic to flourish. Obi-Wan receives the closure that he deserves when Darth Vader insists that he was the one to kill Anakin rather than Obi-Wan, something that McGregor runs with, giving us some of the most powerful facial expressions of any character in the franchise.
1 The Battle Of Heroes On Mustafar
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
The battle between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker on Mustafar is one of the most iconic moments in all of Star Wars. It has everything a viewer could want. Betrayal, emotion, iconic lines, and most importantly the best performances from two of the series’ best actors. Both Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen pull out all the stops during this battle sequence, fighting with their lightsabers and with their words as their entire friendship begins to fall apart.
