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Can you believe it’s been 30 years since the classic family movie Free Willy first hit cinemas?
The well-received box office hit followed 11-year-old orphan Jesse as he’s forced to work at a water park where he befriends a young Orca separated from its family.
The movie spawned a franchise with child star Jason James Richter reprising his role in two sequels.
And now as the original film celebrates its 30th anniversary, the 43-year-old has spoken in a new interview to mark the milestone
Appearing on Australian TV, the former child star was unrecognisable three decades on.
Speaking on Nine’s Today Extra while sporting a brown moustache, Jason said how excited he’d been to secure the role of Jesse.
The Free Willy star said: “I was just about 11 years old. I ran through the neighbourhood to brag to all my friends.
“Nobody believed me until I left to go make the movie.”
The lucky 11-year-old beat over 4000 auditionees to the role of Jesse in the 1993 classic.
Jason, a native of Oregon, also admitted to being frightened when shooting scenes with the killer whale Keiko.
Today he’s still an actor having most recently had a part in 2021 comedy-drama Last Call.
