Hayden Christensen Still Stands By Anakin Skywalker's Feelings About Sand
Anakin Skywalker's disdain for sand may be the stuff of internet meme legend, but in an amusing way, it suits the character perfectly. The infamous line, of course, comes from a scene in 2002's "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones." Anakin (Hayden Christensen) and Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) are surveying a lake on Naboo where Padmé used to swim on school retreats when she was growing up. It's a perfectly romantic, sun-spotted moment, too, with John Williams' intimate score further helping to set the mood. At least, until Anakin blurts out, "I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating, and it gets everywhere."
Again, though, Anakin firmly putting his foot in his mouth in this scene is kind of perfect? It's exactly the type of ill-advised approach a dweeby, hormonal Jedi Padawan who's spent the last 10 years bottling up his emotions would take to hitting on the person he's been crushing on since they were kids. Even better, it works on Padmé, who's no doubt used to Anakin being an awkward weirdo by now after he asked if she was a literal angel the very first time they met.
If nothing else, it's good to know Christensen can have a hearty laugh about this scene 20 years later.
'But, you know, he's Anakin'
With Hayden Christensen reprising his role as Anakin/Darth Vader for the "Obi-Wan Kenobi" series, The Hollywood Reporter had a chance to ask him about the legacy of Anakin's "sand" line. Far from being annoyed or irritated, the actor seems highly amused at how much people have latched on to this specific line from a movie full of dialogue that's "different from what you're maybe expecting" (as he wryly put it):
"(Laughs.) You know, I think it's funny people have taken such an interest in that line. Some of the dialogue is ... different from what you're maybe expecting. But, I never had any issue with that line. (Laughs.) I understood Anakin's feelings toward sand, but maybe it was a bit of an odd time to bring it up, as he's flirting with this girl who he has so much affection for. But, you know, he's Anakin."
That's an excellent way of summing up a "Star Wars" character who's just about the furthest thing possible from a suave, smooth-talking playboy along the lines of Lando Calrissian or even a cocky scoundrel like Han Solo. Besides, there are a lot of not-so-great traits that seem to be genetic among the men in the Skywalker family, including a habit of being extra and bumbling in their efforts to woo the objects of their affection. At least Anakin didn't try to Force-interrogate the person he had romantic feelings for the first time they met, which is more than one can say for his grandson Ben/Kylo Ren.
New episodes of "Obi-Wan Kenobi" drop on Wednesdays on Disney+.