Bernard Hill - Théoden
Norney, Surrey, August 2003
What are your memories of
first getting the role of Théoden ?
I've found out recently that I'm allowed to say I [was asked to] put myself on
tape for a different role. But the idea of going over to New Zealand for 20
months and uprooting family to play Gandalf didn't really appeal. It shows how
mistaken people can be - now there is not the tiniest fraction of a second of
regret in being involved as [Théoden]. I was directing a play and they said,
"Would you like to put yourself on tape for Théoden ?" I got to
realise what a mistake I had made not even attempting to go for Gandalf.
What is your character's
defining moment ?
In the third film, just a fraction of time before we take the final ride to the
Pelennor Fields, Aragorn goes off, and basically Gamling (Bruce Hopkins)
says, "Oh, he's gone, we're fucked." And Théoden, because of the kind
of arc of progress, says, "He has gone off, yeah, and I regret it."
And Théoden turns and says, "No, we can't, but we will meet them in battle
nonetheless." Whatever else he feels, that's his finest moment.
Describe Peter Jackson in
three words.
Short. Rotund. Genius.
Are your Rings colleagues
going to be friends for life ?
I would think so. Not everybody, obviously, because I didn't get to know
everybody at the same level. Certainly everybody who was in the C-Bago (Hill
shared a make-up Winnebago with Viggo Mortensen and Orlando Bloom - they
christened themselves the Cunty-Bago Club). There's a C-Bago web site, which
is in development : c-bago.com.
Which of the other roles
would you like to have played ?
Well, obviously Gandalf. And I do wish I'd been handsome enough, fit
enough and young enough to have played Aragorn.
How does it feel to say
goodbye ?
Leaving the first time was such a huge wrench. Especially because of the C-Bago,
it was like our club. Fortunately we managed to get it back for the Return Of
The King reshoots, so The Return Of The King was The Return Of The C-Bago. We
actually drove it out onto the streets for Viggo's farewell. Viggo didn't know
we were going to do it, and when it started moving, you should have seen his
face. I kept shouting, "Cunty libre ! Cunty libre !" And the bus
starting leaving - we were breaking free.