Abstract: A plating apparatus is used for filling a fine interconnect pattern formed in a substrate with metal to form interconnects. The plating apparatus includes a cathode unit having a seal member for hermetically sealing a peripheral portion of a surface, to be plated, of the substrate and a cathode electrode which is brought into contact with the substrate to supply current to the substrate; an electrode head disposed so as to be movable toward and away from the surface to be plated and having an anode and a porous member with water retentivity at upper and lower parts of the electrode head; a pressing mechanism for pressing the porous member against the surface, to be plated, of the substrate under a desired pressure; and a driving mechanism for making a relative motion between the porous member and the substrate while the porous member and the surface, to be plated, of the substrate are brought into contact with each other.