Richard Armitage as Thorin Review Quote:"arguably best performance in Hobbit Trilogy"(see link) + See Bilbo GuestHost Sat Nite Live(vid clip)

Kudos for RA's Thorin performance from:

http://www.hypable.com/2014/12/19/hobbit-actors-future-projects/

http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?forum=holmes&url=%2Fholmes%2F&path=%2Fholmes%2F&terms=yorkshire&boolean=AND&startnum=1

http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.pennsylvania.counties.northumberland/3092/mb.ashx

http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:3071795&id=I587616185

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/

Richard Armitage:Twitter Delivers Personalized Autographed Hobbit Posters + Cinemax Tweets Link to RA's Strike Back + Thanks to www.richardarmitagecentral.com for Q&A Transcript + Director Peter Jackson--Hollywood Walk of Fame(see photo) + See RA Quote About His Next 2 Projects + Interviewed Prior to Last 4 Performances of The Crucible

HobbitAutograph‏@HobbitAutograph

@armitageblogger Click to download & share …http://vv-php-production-4-hob.elasticbeanstalk.com?userID=14181770206659541production-4-hob.elasticbeanstalk.com/?userID=141817 … for #TheHobbit memories of the cast #OneLastTime
New photo from Sarah Dunn..

If you've never seen John Porter(on right above), here are all the episodes of Strike Back Origins at youtube(that's Spooks, Lucas North on left)..

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_1_vgzQdhafPNpqQ1tSPf2MSbIJnn7M5

http://richardarmitagecentral.co.uk/twitter-qa-9th-december/

Twitter Q&A EXCERPT: Apágamelavela, María ‏@prettyoddsoren
@TheHobbitMovie @RCArmitage #AskThorin what kind of music would Thorin have in a music player, if he had one? Any specific songs or bands?

.@prettyoddsoren @RCArmitage Some heavy rock or Queen’s “Who Wants to Live Forever?” #AskThorin #TheHobbit

Director Peter Jackson was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame..

Sometimes modern technology gets in the way ;) 

NEWS:During an interview in Brazil within past couple days, RA said following:

"I'm producing something of my own, which is based on a true story. It's going to be set and filmed in Ireland in the late 1800s, it's a true story and I'm also going to be doing a thing called Pilgrimage, which is an 11th century story of a crusade to return a holy relic to Rome, and I'll be speaking ancient French. Which I have never spoken before so that'll be fun."

Within the past few days, during an interview,  RA said he believes the digital recording of The Crucible "will be available for download worldwide -  probably in Feb 2015"

Richard Armitage:New Interview When "will produce movie" First Mentioned + Brazil Soccer Selfie + Yesterday's Twitter Interview Provided by www.richardarmitagenet.com(see link/excerpts) + Paris Hobbit 3 Premiere

Proving boys will be boys:) and that's what we love about them - a recent gift of Brazil soccer shirt turned almost instantly into a selfie posted on Twitter:)

Recent interview excerpt:

Q : Who is your favourite fictional character of all time and why ? #AskThorin

 A : Gollum ! One of my teachers imitated him as well as Andy Serkis #Ask

Thorin

*He was also photobombed by Gollum in edition of EW:

Q : I See Fire or The Last Goodbye ? #AskThorin

 A : I see Fire #AskThorin 

Off to The Hobbit:Battle of the Five Armies Worldwide Premieres..

Yesterday's Twitter interview:http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/images/articlescans/WarnerBrosFrance-twitterQandA-4Dec14.pdf

Q : Last played song on your iPod ? #AskThorin

 A : One moment, I’ll check… “Pompeï” by @bastilledan (Bastille) #AskThorin 

Not the same one - it doesn't have a fanvid & this music is powerful:

This isn't the first time Mr A has worn hot pink.....few years ago we saw....

Richard Armitage:Paris Hobbit Premiere(See selfie) + Access Hollywood Interview + The Crucible On Screen Interview(see quote/link) + The Hobbit:Battle of Five Armies London Premiere in Photos

RA fan Mariad Donnici's Thornton Wedding..

INTERVIEW Quote: "Any plans for more theatre?"

‘Yes, now that I’ve broken the taboo of not being on stage for 12 years. Yaël and I will definitely work together again, because we both got such a kick out of each other. It might be 2016, but it certainly won’t be too long."

http://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/richard-armitage-interview-i-just-wanted-to-curl-up-in-a-ball-and-cry

RA started the day's events by posting this selfie on Twitter..

Dec 1 - the official start of Christmas season 2014..

Richard Armitage:Link to Warner Bros BOTFA Countdown Clock + Ireland Radio Interview + New BOTFA Promotion Photos + The Times Interview(excerpt) + Best Leading Actor Award for The Crucible + Hobbit Press Tour Begins..one last time + Happy Thanksgiving USA +RA Nails Thorin Says whatculture.com Website

This is the photo Warner Bros is using as background for the Countdown Clock (link below)Dec 1, London premiere of The Hobbit:Battle of the Five Armies

https://www.warnerbros.co.uk/insider/articles/2014/november/watch-the-world-premiere-of-the-hobbit-the-battle-of-the-five-armies-live-from-the-green-carpet

November 28 2014 EXCERPT from The Times:

At 43, Richard Armitage thinks he’s too old to be a pin-up. Fans who have seen his brooding John Proctor on stage and his handsome Thorin in The Hobbit might disagree, says Ed Potton

What do Adolf Hitler, Alex Salmond, Richard III and Iron Maiden have in common? No, they’re not guests at Piers Morgan’s fantasy dinner party. They are all inspirations for Richard Armitage’s portrayal of Thorin Oakenshield, the exiled dwarf king in Peter Jackson’s blockbusting Hobbit trilogy.

We already knew that Armitage was an intense, visceral actor, with a strong scent of The Method about him, a gutton for authenticity....
...the 43-year-old Armitage is also a practitioner of a technique that you might call “mixtape method acting”. Before he plays a role he compiles a selection of music that helps him get into character. So what was on the Thorin playlist? “Philip Glass, some Iron Maiden, Arvo Pärt, Kings of Leon,” he says. A combination of melancholic, fierce and hairy — sounds about right.

Armitage is more affable than Oakenshield, less fierce and hairy and, at 6ft 3in, considerably taller. His height, he says, often surprises those expecting someone of dwarven dimensions. Many of the people who saw his much-praised performance in The Crucible “were shocked that I was about a foot taller than the rest of the cast. They thought were going to see a little person toddling around the stage.” roadway World Website - West End Awards:

The Crucible Awards: Best Direction of a New production of a Play - Yael Farber - The Crucible

Best Featured Actor in a New Production of a Play - Adrian Schiller - The Crucible

Best Featured Actress in a New Production of a Play - Samantha Colley - The Crucible

Best Leading Actor in A New Production of a Play - Richard Armitage - The Crucible

Best Leading Actress in a New Production of a Play - Anna Madeley - The Crucible and Gillian Anderson - A Streetcar Named Desire - The Young Vic http://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/BWWUK-Awards-2014-MISS-SAIGON-Sweeps-The-Board-20141127

Thorin Oakenshield – Richard Armitage

New Line Cinema

Thorin is the most important dwarf character in Middle Earth. Gimli may have been a key member of the fellowship but it is Thorin who leads the quest to reclaim Erebor, a quest that enlists Bilbo Baggins, who in turn discovers the one ring. The rest is history. The film adaptations needed an actor who captures his nobility, commanding presence and arrogance and Richard Armitage certainly met those requirements.

Thorin’s ability to lead the Fellowship, to stand head to head with Elrond and demand the respect of Gandalf is unquestionable. In the films he comes across as a dwarf with the weight of the world on his shoulders; in fact the guilt and despair over the destruction of Erebor is perhaps more keenly felt in Armitage’s Thorin than it is in the books. There is also a dangerous and selfish edge to him too; he carries the arrogance of his forefathers and his obsession to find the Arkenstone and restore his kingdom should make for an interesting final act in next month’s film.

While some of the dwarves remain somewhat forgettable in the large mix of characters, Thorin stands out as the key that holds everything together.

http://whatculture.com/film/11-characters-the-hobbit-trilogy-nailed.php/8
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201412

Richard Armitage:RA Wins Audible's Voice Crush Competition + New Crucible Pic from Digital Theatre + Time to Vote--See Link + New Interview Courtesy of www.richardarmitagenet.com

RichardArmitageCtral‏@RA_Central

New behind-the-scenes pic of #RichardArmitage in #TheCrucible from @DigitalTheatre email newsletter.

                                     (above--becoming Thorin)
TIME to VOTE: As of today, RA has 25% for best actor in a play and Yael has 22%, best director:
http://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/vote2014region.cfm
                                                  ~~~~~~~~
http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/images/articlescans/IntotheStorm/Episodi-Sept2014.pdf

FROM DWARF TO HUMAN 
In addtion to Into the Storm and The Hobbit, Richard Armitage has acted in Captain 
America and even in one of the Star Wars films. He is not deliberately looking for effect 
movies, though. 
- I like to work without visual effects. I like filming where there is a feel of reality. The water 
and wind machines in Into the Storm created realism. It fascinated me that the movie dealt 
with something as topical but as commonplace as the weather, of which we are constantly 
talking about and trying to document. The news on TV about the climate are largely made 
up of material that people have filmed with their mobile phones. 
He also wanted to distance himself from his previous project. 
- I was finishing The Hobbit and looking for the next project. After playing a dwarf I wanted 
to have a normal-sized role. After a fantasy, I longed for something more realistic and 
closer to today. Warner Bros introduced various movies to me, and this movie was so 
different from The Hobbit. That made me decide on this movie, Armitage says. 
- I flew to Detroit right away, after finishing with The Hobbit. I had about 12 hours to get 
used to being human again. 
Putting one's soul into a fantasy creature or into a human demands different kind of 
background work. 
- In fantasy movies, especially in one like The Hobbit where I play a character that really 
doesn't exist, you can only rely on your imagination. Luckily, I was an avid reader as a 
child and I have a very vivid imagination. In movies where I play a character in the 
contemporary world, like in this movie an American teacher, I look for someone real to use 
as a starting point. I was remembering one of my own teachers when I was young and 
updating the character to the situation here and now. 
One of Armitage's routines is to create a backstory to his characters. 
- In the case of Gary Morris, the most important thing was his family history, what had 
happened to his family. His wife is dead, which has its effects in the relationships between 
the father and the sons. It means it wasn't a heroic backstory. I made him an ordinary man 
with a middle-class upbringing. There really isn't anything special about him until the storm 
hits his hometown. He takes his responsibilities seriously, which has created distance 
between him and his children. When he has to step into the hero's boots, hopefully the 
background work makes the action seem believable. 
A WET JOB 
The storms in the movie were created by computer, but the actors could still experience 
the force of tornadoes. 
- Every second of filming was wet and windy, it became a real endurance test. But it was 
good to do things that way because it really felt like a huge storm was just around the 
corner. The filming crew did their utmost to make the takes realistic. They were throwing in 
trees from windows and tearing down ceilings above our heads, a crane was dropping 
cars in front of me and items around me were yanked up in the air with cables. Steve was 
concentrating on real stunts at least as much as on digital effects. 
Quale had computer-genarated models of what storms would look like. However, he 
wanted the actors to think of the storms as monsters chasing them rather than as realistic tornadoes. At times he intentionally kept the actors a bit in the dark in order for them to be 
realistically surprised by a new turn of events when the storm arrived. 
While shooting the movie, the actors didn't get the chance to enjoy the impressiveness of 
the sound, though. 
- We mostly heard the sound of the wind machine, but when the sirens started wailing 
there was something in their sound that made your heart beat and set your mood towards 
disaster, Armitage says. 
For Armitage, the most difficult moment in the shooting wasn't about storms as such. 
- Technically and emotionally, the hardest part to shoot was one and the same scene. In 
that scene, Gary has to dive in a water pool to save his son. First, I was upside down in a 
very narrow space under water. When we tried to revive the boy, we did the scene in real 
time. We went over what was done in reviving a person and how long each phase would 
take. It felt real and it was a very emotional scene. 
SERIOUS BUT FUNNY 
Gary Morris is practically the only adult in the movie who behaves correctly. 
- I deliberately made him perhaps a little bit boring and serious, and when I was trying to 
find out reasons for him to smile, the storm hit. But we did have a lot of fun when we were 
shooting, Armitage says. 
The actor is obviously not interested in comedy. Even in entertaining movies, such as The 
Hobbit and Into the Storm, he is playing the most serious character. 
- It's more about what's being offered to me, Armitage defends himself. 
I have done a couple of episodes in the famaous British TV series The Vicar of Dibley. 
That was fun and new to me. It would be nice to do something more like that. 
- Often, when an actor does a role, he is being offered more of the same kind. Although I 
haven't done comedy, my friends tell me I'm a really funny guy. But nobody wants to film it! 
The Hobbit success hasn't made it any easier. 
- You always have to fight for your roles. It's a myth that you could choose your roles after 
you've had success. Even the biggest names have to fight for the roles they want. People 
are expecting to see something they've seen before, and when I go to auditions, the 
directors are surprised to see that I'm almost 6'3'' and not 4'11''. At least at the moment 
they are. 
However he knows what he would do if he could choose any project. 
- Maybe I could try to do some comedy, some romantic comedy perhaps. Something 
where I could, in stead of getting wet, stand on a sunny beach in shorts and t-shirt, with a 
drink in my hand. 

For the time being, Armitage is content with acting. But he has some plans brewing up at 
the back of his mind that he would like to produce one day. 
- Before that, however, I'll have to make sure that my acting career is going on strong 
enough to make it possible to produce other things. Maybe I could include that in my next 
Five- or Ten-Year-Plan. 
Maybe you could produce your own romantic comedy? 
- I'm more likely to be going on slightly gloomier paths, but you never know! Armitage laughs
                                              Becoming Jamie Fraser...

The CW channel's 'Reign' season2 has returned....

Hilarious ep 1 review:

http://www.tv.com/shows/reign-2013/community/post/reign-season-2-episode-1-the-plague-review-141226773934/ Another reign review--EXCERPT:

All in all, Mary 2.0 is a bit of a badass, and the plague gave her so much to work with. In fact, the entire show thrives under the constant threat of horrible death. ..and despite the absence of the wonderful Henry,Reign's evolution feels a lot like Mary's: What started as an innocent show that always had potential has now grown into its own as a sexy, powerful woman. In other words, Henry would now want to have sex with Reign. Have I gone too far?

http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/reign-season-2-premiere/2/

http://outlanderviewingroom.forumotion.net/

Richard Armitage:The Crucible Will Be Digitally Recorded and Available Online(see link) + Link to An Audience Member's Impression of A Conversation with Richard Armitage

The Crucible Trailer..

Upcoming recorded The Crucible will be available through

http://www.digitaltheatre.com/

Sincere thank you for the following, which is a link to the impressions of 'A Conversation with Richard Armitage' audience member:
 http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/raconvo.html
An excerpt:

MW: Question from someone who sent an email. Is there a particular part of the play that you enjoy or you really dread?

RA: He mentions lines that are difficult to say although this may have been earlier. There is a part that I enjoy. After act 1, which is the overture, just like in an opera, setting the themes that will reoccur throughout the play. Then there is the quiet of the beginning of act 2. Two people coming to terms with a fractured relationship, the quiet of that moment, it's like the start of something building and I enjoy that quiet moment as they try and work out their relationship.

In one matinee, a piece of carrot was stuck in my throat and I had to try and choke my way through the rest of that scene.

MW: How has this part changed you?

RA: I'm sorry this answer is going to be very disappointing answer to this question but I honestly don't know how it's going to affect me. But I'm not afraid anymore.

This ending was quite simply put and generated spontaneous applause.

Thank you Richard for this interview. It was a privilege to be there.

Starz #Outlander series is dynamic in every way possible, as you can see..