| USA Today, 14 December 2001 |
| Articles & Interviews - 2001 | |||
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More profiles from the land of Tolkien To prepare for the journey to Mordor, USA TODAY's Susan Wloszczyna, with assists from Stephen Schaefer and Claudia Puig, introduces the players who populate Middle-earth in Tolkien's legendary work (to read the rest of the profiles, click here): 12/14/2001 - Updated 07:47 AM ET Dominic Monaghan Meriadoc Brandybuck, also known as Merry and a member of the fellowship Behind the hobbit: Monaghan, 25, German-born actor best known for the British TV series Hetty Wainthrop Investigates. Describe Merry. "He's the sharpest thinker of the hobbits, he reads situations very well and is quite intuitive. He is destined for good things." When did you read the books? "I was about 15. My dad gave it to me and gave me a year to read it, and I did in three months. He was quite impressed." Those surfing PR photos of all four of you in magazines. Is that macho image repair? "I think possibly. There is a common misperception we're these small, furry Yoda-like things, and we were giving the impression of four young men of normal height and not necessarily hairy feet." Does being the tallest hobbit have its advantages? "I think it allows me to meet more ladies." You have a knack for impersonations? Can you do any of the cast? "I did Pete Jackson, Orlando, Elijah, Viggo, Billy, Ian McKellen. But the best one I did is Karin Shah, Elijah's size double. I impersonated his voice and called the producers pretending to be him, and Pete loved it." Favorite Rings character: "I love Merry, and I'll possess him for the rest of my life. But Gollum is so fascinating. You never know what he's doing next. He desires the ring and will do anything to get it back." Billy Boyd Peregrin Took, better known as Pippin, a member of the fellowship Behind the hobbit: Boyd, 33, a Glasgow-born newcomer who has made a handful of films and appeared on the Scottish TV series Taggart. Describe Pippin, who seems a bit clumsy. "He's the youngest, most immature and naive. He has to grow up quickly. He famously knocks the skeleton down the well in the Mines of Moria when they are trying not to alert the Orcs that they're there. He doesn't think of the repercussions." Do you relate to him since you are the oldest actor playing a hobbit? "Strangely enough, the first time I tried to read the book I was on holiday in Florida. I dropped it in the pool my first day there. If that's not a Pippin thing to do, I don't know what is." Are hobbit feet and ears a good look for you? "I think the ears are a strange look for me. Quite big. But I loved the hair down to my shoulders. It felt right. I'm thinking of letting my hair go." Had you seen any of Elijah and Sean's previous movies? "I loved The Goonies, and The Ice Storm for Elijah. One time coming back to New Zealand from England, I was in a hotel and jet-lagged and forgot I'd asked Sean to get me a copy of Rudy because I never saw it. And I was in tears at 4 in the morning! I called him Rudy for months after that." You and fellow hobbit Dominic Monaghan are writing a script. What's it about? "Two guys from Britain who end up in the Florida Keys and run a diving school by mistake. They lie their way through. As Dom says, it's funnier than a penguin playing a banjo." Favorite Rings character: "After Pippin, I have to say Legolas. I love his understanding of nature and the world." http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/rings/2001-12-14-more-lotr-profiles.htm
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