The sixth and final Star Wars movie is confusingly tagged Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith and completes the story of how Jedi hero Anakin Skywalker turns to evil to be transformed, finally, into the franchise's classic baddie Darth Vader.

One of the biggest challenges for McGregor, apart from the misery of acting to empty spaces to be filled later with computer-generated effects, was his climactic battle with Christensen.

'Until I saw the trailer the other day, I didn't even know that Hayden and I fight on a volcano,' chuckles McGregor, primed for another rant about his hatred of not being able to see what he's acting with.

'Like I've said before, all the blue-screen work is very, very difficult. I have been vocal about how difficult these films are to make, but I have been very happy to be in them.

'There is a sense of closure to them now. It is satisfying to complete something, especially something that has taken up about eight years of my life.

'What you have now with these films is one big story, the first sets up the second and the second one sets up the third and so on.'

As McGregor comes back down to planet earth following his fun in outer space, he finds himself among the many linked to another blockbuster series - James Bond.

And the actor isn't against swapping his Jedi robes for a tux to replace outgoing 007 Pierce Brosnan.

'Of course I would love to be Bond,' says McGregor with no hint of irony in his voice. 'But if you really want to know the truth... I won't say. I love all these rumours.'

Away from the big screen, McGregor insists he is far from the heroic type that he so often portrays. The married and ferociously private family man says he loves his home life and his free time more than anything Hollywood has to offer.

His love for motorcycles has been well documented, but he is also passionate about golf (he is a member of Crieff Golf Club) and music - to the extent that he once considered giving up acting to try and make it as a rock star.

'I love time alone, and that's why I love motorcycles,' says McGregor of his precious down time between film projects. 'You're on your own and you make your own decisions, unlike with films where everything's decided for you. So on a bike, you decide when to stop, where to stay.

'I don't long for huge wealth, for big cars and so on. As long as I've got a couple of motorbikes in the garage I'll be happy. I'm quite content.'

He may not long for money and cars, but McGregor has both. His 0-million-a-movie paycheques have helped buy him plenty of wheels, including a £200,000 silver Porsche Spyder - the same car James Dean died in.

'It's a replica of that car,' grins McGregor, thinking of his big toy. 'It's a beautiful car.'

To feed his love of motorcycles, back home he has a veritable fleet of two-wheelers. He owns a Suzuki Bandit 1200, a KTM Duke II 660cc off-roader, a Honda Fireblade and a classic MV Agusta.

McGregor's 100mph lifestyle does slow down, just a little, for his other great love - music. 'I've always loved music,' he says. 'At school I played the French horn and I can play guitar and drums. I've been learning to play the banjo a little. I've had a five-string banjo for a couple of years, but never really learned to play.'

McGregor's biggest musical influence is the king of rock 'n' roll himself, Elvis Presley.

'I love Elvis, I really love Elvis,' he enthuses at the mention of his idol. 'I still don't think there's anyone that's touched him. There's no one who has come close. I've got these CDs of the very early Sun Studio recordings and you listen to them and you think this guy is 19 years old and I don't know where he got that from. He sings so softly and beautifully. I can sing, but I really feel that I have to belt it out before I can get anywhere near good.'

And belt it out he does, whenever he gets the chance. 'Oh yes, my famous party piece,' he laughs. 'I do an Elvis impersonation. I have always done that at gatherings of family and friends and, amazingly, they still ask me to do it.

'I don't know if I am good at it, but I like the music and I haven't had any complaints. Mind you, I haven't been offered a job playing Elvis in a film either, so maybe it's not so good after all!

'I would love to have my own rock band like that and make big-selling albums and maybe tour some of the really big concert halls. It must be great to be face to face with tens of thousands of people and have them join in your songs.'

It's not quite rock 'n' roll, but Ewan is fulfilling a little of that ambition with his next project. He is currently rehearsing to play Sky Masterson in the musical Guys And Dolls on the London stage.

But you can bet that when Ewan heads for the stage door each night that there'll be at least one sci-fi nut armed with his Obi Wan action figure and toy lightsaber waiting for an autograph.

'The thing is, I'll never really walk away from Star Wars entirely because everywhere I go I see the wonder in people's eyes. It's the same thing I felt as a kid.

'Kids will come up and say, "Where is the lightsaber? How does it work?" So in that way it will never end for me and that's a real treat.'

© Feats Press 2005