Before I go any further with this post, I want to comment on the other FanstRAvaganza bloggers. They have some wonderful and just downright fun pieces. Hope you take a look!
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I had a debate with myself about this post, and I love it when I do that because no matter the decision, I win. So hang on. :D
Early on in my knowledge of Richard Armitage I read an interview with him where he mentioned auditioning for a part requiring an American accent:
[Richard’s] been to a Los Angeles audition for a role as a CIA agent in a television pilot. Armitage tells a story about his casting session that just about sums up this man’s pleasing blend of confidence and modesty. “I’d practised my American accent really hard so I could get the part just right. When I finished reading, the casting people said, ‘Wow! That was great… Now would you mind doing it again with an American accent?'”
These were the days of my fan odyssey when I still thought Richard almost walked on water. That pleasing blend of confidence and modesty is indeed powerful. Sigh. …………………………………………………………………………….. Oh, Pardon me. What was I saying? Oh yes, I was really having a hard time believing he couldn’t nail an American accent. “The god known as Richard Armitage” not being able to pull American?! It wasn’t happening. Of course I was curious to hear him do it and heard it all sorts of ways in my head. Fast forward almost three years, and I finally heard him one night on BBC Radio 3. It sounded nothing like I had imagined:
My first thought was Nooooooooo! where has my RA gone?! I think I said to someone at the time that I would be fine with him never doing an American accent! Thankfully, it’s been a while since I listened to that snippet, and I find it doesn’t have quite the jarring effect it did the first time around. Yes, I’ve always appreciated his attempt, but it was hard not to dissect it. In fact, there was quite a discussion here amongst several of us. I think most Americans liked it, but it seems we all had pointers about how he could do it differently. Certainly, for the reading of Dos Passos, a New York accent was necessary, but I’m adamant about how his first foray into American should have gone. LOL!
Dear Richard:
I guess you know that many American women are fairly smitten with men who speak in English accents. Oh, you thought that bit in “Love Actually” was a joke? I would love to say it is, but a significant number of us are really that entranced by the voices of English men. So I have to admit that I already had a bias against you speaking American although I really wanted to hear what it would sound like.
I prefer you English. No need to sink to our level with an American accent. No, really, I mean that. But if you’re so inclined, some of us have a request of you:
Oh, you would definitely be charmed by it all. The part I love most is how outrageous we’re allowed to be by comparison to other parts of the country. ;-)
So I was thinking maybe a reading of Harper Lee, Walker Percy, or Flanner O’Connor next time.
Sincerely,
One of your crazy fans whose love of a Southern Gentleman is only surpassed by love of an Englishman. :D
P.S. The South really does have the best food (ducks).
Apologies to my “Yankee” friends. I couldn’t resist. Seriously, I don’t care what accent he uses. Whomever he chooses to play and however he chooses to play it I’m sure will be lovely. I’m sure he will craft it well. If he can do Maori, I’m sure he can do American. But my control freak just had to get a plug in for something that would be like a dream to me — RA playing Southern Gentleman ala Atticus Finch. However, I stand by my food comment. LOL! And thanks to Angie for lending her talents again. She may have found a new profession. :D
Continuing on with FanstRAvaganza. Hope you hang with me. There’s another surprise if you do. :D
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I assume almost everyone who reads my blog is a fan of Richard Armitage, the actor, but occasionally people who are serious about politics land here looking for some bit of information on the guy who supposedly outed Valerie Plame. I’m sure other RA bloggers have experienced something similar. One visitor in particular, whom I’ll call Tory, was looking for an article about the U.S. State Department official and clicked on the ‘Who the Hell is Richard Armitage?’ post. Her first instinct was to back out, but curiosity got the better of her, and she ended up listening to clips from ‘North and South’ but never made it past those as she was so anxious to load it up on YouTube to watch the whole thing. She is now a fan. LOL! Eventually she sent me a note to share what happened to her, and several weeks ago I asked her to record something for me. She declined as she really is in politics and doesn’t want to make her fascination known. But she gave me permission to share some of her words:
I was just curious enough to press play on the first clip, and then he uttered, “I will be home to dress…” That was the moment I became fascinated. I viewed the entire clip but kept going back to the conversation with his mother. I have never been mad about someone’s voice, but I’m in love with his voice. I’m in love with him! When I knew I was ‘in the bag’ as you say, was listening to the radio play, ‘Clarissa.’ I cannot stomach the book. I cannot stand Lovelace, and I think I despise Clarissa more. Despite this loathing, I willingly sat through a four hour adaptation in hopes of hearing Richard’s Lovelace.
Phew! He does that whisper in his voice to perfection.
For those who have not read nor are familiar with Clarissa, it’s considered to be one of the first novels. Some say it was the first, but I don’t think that’s quite the case. I could be wrong about that. Perhaps one of our resident teachers/librarians will weigh in. Despite its standing in classical literature, I also hate that book! Clarissa is so put upon and silly that it’s hard to really root for her, and this goes on for around 1000 pages. Sheer torture. But as Tory put it, “The best part of the play is hearing Richard Armitage sing!”
When I first heard he was musical and involved professionally in musical theater and before ‘Clarissa’ was produced in 2010, I had been wondering if he could sing, and love or hate Clarissa, it was so worth finally knowing he could. One of the real benefits is that I became a rabid Radio 4 listener. I’m so sorry I did not have the pleasure before. More on this here.
Whether RA could sing or not, from my first introduction to him in early 2008, I wondered what quality it was in his voice that so fascinated me. It took me over a year to pinpoint. Thankfully, in 2009 I decided to stop writing all of my journal entries and record some of them. This helped me capture the thoughts that eluded me when I finally had a pencil in hand. I also quickly obtained some voice to text software so I wouldn’t have to hear myself while transcribing. LOL! Here’s an entry from August of that year:
It’s a wonderful thing about voices…. I was just listening to Sylvester, and I don’t even like those kinds of books….they’re boring, syrupy and talk about Mary Sue?….they’re replete with it. But you know (chuckle), I just love listening to it because of the range Richard Armitage has….It’s finally dawned on me what I really love about his voice. It’s the same thing I love about [SO’s] voice and my son’s voice……there’s a melody in their voices, a song, a possibility. They always seem on the verge of breaking into a song or making a joke……or something. SO can’t sing and my son can’t sing, and I’m not sure if Richard Armitage can sing, but they all share that song in their voices. I don’t mean they sound sing songy but rather the modulation of their voices gives an expectation. And…it’s usually hopeful. I love that.
Yes, I was a bit harsh about Sylvester, but my friends, that’s how I felt. That aside, it’s the expectation in his voice that makes me come back over and over again to hear him. If it were just the deep timbre of his voice, I really could get that from Alan Rickman and so many others. But it’s something way beyond his vocal register, and it was so interesting to hear RA’s take on how he thinks of music and the voice and how he actually used music and in particular singing to help him craft his characters for the audio books! From his interview for The Convenient Marriage:
I always love hearing him talking about his preparation! I also have a soundtrack in my head. Almost everything in life is put to music; it’s a rare day when I don’t put everything to a rhythm. I wonder if this happens naturally with everyone. I really don’t know, but I do know that sometimes this is a curse for me. I wonder if that happens to RA.
If you’re enjoying this, don’t forget to enter the Heyer audio book giveaway. Details here.
Oh, and Tory hasn’t heard that interview clip, and I don’t think she’s seen the picture either. So I’m sure I’ll be hearing from her later. LOL!!
And she and I have come to realize that we not only agree about Clarissa and our fascination for RA but have quite a few things in common including some people we know. It’s been such a treat to get to know her, and she’s far from the only person with whom I’ve been developing friendships due to RA. So many of you I’ve had such pleasure coming to know! One in particular is always so pleasant and encouraging, and her joy is contagious. I wonder sometimes if she realizes what a delight she is. Iz4blue (aka Sinjoor):
Yeah, this is totally cool, and it really is all about the love. So well put.
Iz originally hails from Antwerp, Belgium; we’ve just had the privilege of her being part of the U.S. for the last several years.
By the way, she really does know how to ferret out some of the best videos and fan fiction, and there are so many that it’s good to have a guide. She has worked with Eva over at Wattpad to create an Armitage Fan Club, and it’s a great place to find fan fiction. The best thing about it is how easily it can be accessed from a phone, and for those of us on the go (whether we want to be or not), it’s a boon. Iz has also started a blog where she can bring all of the other good vibrations to our attention easily. With the publication of Sexy Back 3, maybe a top ten of RA montage videos? :D
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I started to call this post “A Little Hair of the Dog,” but I suppose for me this is “Day 3 FanstRAvaganza?” Yes, I’m behind on FanstRA, but do any of you care? I didn’t think so. LOL! Plus, there is so much to read on the blogs that I doubt anyone processed it all in one week. So I’m continuing on despite my interruption.
What I’m finding interesting about this last week is it’s becoming clear to me I’m at a place in my life where my ability to roll with the punches is imperative. This blog is certainly a reflection of it. Almost every post I had planned has now been turned on its head. Part of me hates this, but part of me gets a thrill from seeing how well I can bounce back. Now if I can figure out how to channel my zest in a way that’s not chaotic and doesn’t make some of you want to tear your hair out, I will, but I’m promising nothing. This is a significant statement from me as my life is filled with promises that I invariably keep or almost die trying. That’s as closely as I’m going to come to speaking of events this past week which temporarily scrambled my mind. Okay, enough of that. Onto more interesting matters.
As some of you know, I’m doing a series of posts about Richard Armitage’s voice work. Last week I started with The Voice. Hope you hang with me as I continue on with the subject.
Obviously, the deep tone of his voice is wonderful and many of us get a shiver listening to it. I’ve heard some say they could even listen to him reading the phone book. Not quite sure I would get much out of that. Maybe. Depends on how he would read it. There are plenty of other actors with deep, rich sounding voices that are pleasing to the ear. Alan Rickman is great, and Timothy Dalton has a beautiful voice, and oh so many others I could name, and I’m sure that Richard Armitage would do very well with just his natural voice. But the natural quality of the voice is simply not all there is to this fascination. In fact, if I had heard him only speaking as he does normally in interviews, I doubt I would have been this ensnared by it. No, this is something more. It is the way he intentionally uses it that’s so mesmerizing, and I don’t like to toss around words like mesmerizing unless I mean them.
Recently, I saw a picture of him where his luscious beard is gone, but contrary to what some think, that was never the significant wow factor in the Hobbit press conference. Granted, the beard was pretty overwhelming — almost with a life of its own. :D But it was not more compelling than his demeanor, which was mostly effected by his voice. He pulled a Harry! “I’m playing Thorin.” LOL! I think his voice dropped almost an octave when he said Thorin, and then he does it again when he says, “Would you like to be a little bit more specific?” I wish I could have seen the reporter’s face when he whipped that on her! It was like a snake charmer with his flute trying to cast a spell over something that might bite him.
This wasn’t the first time it occurred to me that he uses his voice as an instrument. In my initial watching of Robin Hood, I had the distinct feeling of his voice being played. There was something about the way he varied his pitch that almost had a musical quality and was certainly effective in manipulating me to emotions I never thought I could feel for the bad guy. I’m not one of those women who likes bad boys, so it was quite a shock when I was actually rooting for the evil henchman. LOL! When I first had this thought, I laughed to myself at being that far gone about a then very obscure British actor. Thankfully, I began to be vindicated as I listened to his first audio books for Robin Hood Series 1. (For more on Guy of Gisborne, see note below)
His mimicry in these books is great. I love how he conveys one character with a guttural tone and then turns around and gives another character a tinny, almost flat resonance, and every variation in between for a host of other characters. This did much to paint the picture of them with little or no dialogue or description. But I also had some idea of characters from watching the show and was never quite sure how much that affected the picture in my mind. It was listening to his reading of a Georgette Heyer novel, Sylvester, that I realized how very talented he is, and that’s saying something as I was never a fan of Regency Romance books. I tried to read them as a teen, but the potential sugar shock was too much. So it was with great reluctance that I listened to Sylvester. I’m so glad I did! His verbal rendering of the characters had me completely forgetting the book is Mary Sue on steroids. When I finished the first hearing of it, I had a grin on my face I couldn’t wipe away. For five hours I had been immersed in Regency England where I thoroughly fell in love with the characters and literally had to shake my head to bring myself back to the present. Of course I loved Sylvester and Phoebe, but it was the supporting cast that really made the piece for me. Tom was my favorite with Keighley and some others close behind.
The most wonderful part of listening to the book was afterward I could see Richard Armitage as a little boy with his ears cocked to listen to those around him and then using it to entertain his friends and family with storytelling. It brought such a warm feeling to think of it, and all at once I sensed a great kinship with and fondness for him. I couldn’t help it. I grew up with a mother who’s a performer and has a wonderful gift for it. I, on the other hand, never did, but I still adored storytelling and role playing and ended up with SO who has been storytelling and doing voices to entertain friends and family since he was very young. His children are just like him! My oldest child cannot be around someone for any length of time without picking up his/her speech patterns, and it’s eerie how truly she can nail someone’s speech. Her ear is so attuned to how someone speaks that she sometimes has to restrain herself from mimicking them. My other children do this as well, and I have been the recipient of many hours of entertainment because of it. It’s almost as if they have to express the things their ears are recording to get some relief. All of this ran through my head as I sat there basking in what I’d just heard, and I realized that I didn’t merely appreciate Richard Armitage as a great actor but as a wonderfully sensitive person –much more than I had originally thought. How else to account for someone who could so cleverly convey the feelings and thoughts of his characters with little or no speech, and now he had done it with only his voice?! Amazing.
As for his training, I don’t know if his ear for voices manifested as a child, but I suspect someone who has that keen an ear did not just develop it when he was grown. I also know that being a musician does not necessarily make someone a natural for voices. I am a musician, and I did not come naturally to an ear for spoken voices. Conversely, SO is not a musician, and he certainly has a keen ear for them. Maybe one day RA will tell us his experience, and if he already has and I missed it, well, I’m sure someone will let me know. LOL! Thankfully, some of my curiosity about his preparation was satisfied when I heard the interview for his second Heyer book, Venetia, about a year later:
I love that interview. It is one of my favorites. I was already anxious to listen to Venetia, but after listening to that, I could barely wait. Venetia is probably my favorite Heyer heroine of the three books RA read, and Damerel is wonderfully male. I was so glad I wasn’t driving when I got to chapters 12 and 13. :D I have also listened to The Convenient Marriage, and until recently, all three books were on my iPod as beloved traveling companions.
And whatever is the case with his training, the joy he takes in entertaining is evident and infectious.
Look at that face!
This puts a smile on mine every time I see it. I think it might now be my favorite picture of him.
If you have never had the pleasure of listening to any of RA’s Heyer audio books, or any of his audio books for that matter, or if you would just like to have your own copy of one of the books, I might be able to help. Until next Wednesday, March 30th, anyone who comments on this blog entry will be entered to win one of the Heyer audio books — your choice if you win. I plan to announce the winner on Friday, April 1st. I’ve never done a giveaway, so I hope this is a pleasant experience for all of us, but I do have a few rules. Don’t you love it! :D
Note: Guy of Gisborne is such an enigma that I’m refraining from much discussion of him in my series as he would completely take me off topic. Thankfully, other bloggers have chosen to write about him. Avalon at Avalon’s Medieval is covering a myriad of topics from the audio books to fan videos to fan fiction. Two other bloggers are actually fan fiction authors: Prue Batten at Mesmered’s Blog has written Gisborne and Sarah Pawley at From the Quill Tip has written The Tempest and My Lady Gisborne. Both share their stories on blog and Sarah also highlights some other fan fiction authors. I have read both Prue’s and Sarah’s works, and if you’re a Guy fan, you will not be disappointed. Even if you’re not a Guy fan, you probably won’t be disappointed. There are also some North and South fictions featured on Sarah’s blog.
Then there’s Judi at Confessions of a Watcher:
Judi is a fairly new fan and should be forgiven for not knowing every jot and tittle of fandom minutiae. We’ll give her a test later. :D I honestly didn’t snap to on the award for Robin Hood until right before I posted this, and I’ve been through hell trying to post, so I wasn’t going to wait, and I absolutely love her recording. But heck, I think the show should have won an award. If nothing else, RA should have won for making such a compelling character from that cardboard cut out baddie. But take pity on Judi as she’s still trying to work out her fascination for Guy of Gisborne. LOL! You can take the journey with her beginning here.
Screencaps and audio clips courtesy of my stash, but I have to give credit to RichardArmitageNet.Com and RichardArmitageCentral for being such great suppliers of the raw materials. :D
I am so digging Richard Armitage in a beard. But then I love beards on men. SO has a beard, and I’ve never gotten tired of it. It took me a few years to convince him to grow one, but after he did, his reaction was, “Wow, you really like my beard!! What happened to that other woman? … Yeah, maybe I’ll keep the beard. LOL!” Of course not all women like facial hair on men, and some are actually turned off by it, but c’mon, doesn’t RA in a beard challenge that notion for some of you? It’s hard to believe that some who have hated beards aren’t now saying, “Yowza!” and some, “Ocheemama!”
I know I want to touch it, and this is coming from someone who has yet to have a dream or fantasy about RA. This might change things. LOL! No, it probably won’t. I’m just that much of a control freak and head over heels in love with SO to the point I can’t even bring myself to fantasize about another man, but Richard’s beard is a strong temptation. I’m sure everything in its vicinity is feeling the same. :D
Honestly, I’m hoping he wears his own hair for the Hobbit. Somehow I doubt that’s going to happen, but he may be more into method acting than I think he is. The only downside for him is he really would not be able to hide behind his beard in public. But then can this guy hide? Oh, maybe he’s been able to do so up ’til now, but it’s going to get harder and harder, and if I know anything about the American public, he really won’t be able to do it if he spends much time here. We’re just absurd that way. Plus, women here have an absolute love affair with the English accent from a man, and when it’s someone like RA, oh man, Colin Firth is going to be a pup compared to this guy. Even Gerard Butler, who I have to admit is mighty fine and has a wonderful Scottish accent, will not be able to hold RA a candle if the women of the American public ever catch onto him.
Earlier I said to someone that he is a sexy beast in this press conference, and I’m sticking by those words. None of that negates the sensitive artist. I just see it as another facet of the same wonderfully complex person. If he were just the artist with the sensitive mouth, frankly, I would become bored. Just as if he were nothing but a sexy beast in a beard. Too much of any of it is BORING. Thankfully, RA is both and so much more. And of course my current infatuation is not just about the beard because I have no inclination to touch Aidan Turner’s! :D
Candid shot courtesy of Richard Armitage’s Beard blog. [Note: alas, the original tumblr is gone. Thankfully, I had the good sense to archive it the day after this post. Enjoy!]
Sheez I’m gone for one day and an epidemic occurs from this Hobbit Press Conference. But who can blame anyone for being afflicted with Celebrity Worship when the object of our adoration easily makes us break out in a sweat. Even some of the Tolkien fans, who seem to be above that sort of thing, were affected:
Richard Armitage (Thorin) spoke surprisingly little, but when he did he had a notably deep voice, exactly right for Thorin, and real gravitas. He walked into the conference with a kind of testosterone charged lope. I don’t think he’ll have any trouble holding the audience’s attention.
Uh huh, his “testosterone charged lope,” among other things ;-), is going to hold some attention, and he’s just getting started. LOL! Yeah, I was right — won’t know what hit ’em, and some of these people are just getting a little taste of what’s coming.
All of that aside, I love that he’s just a guy here:
The “guy” almost jumps out of the video and grabs me. Loving this. Yet it seems this “guy” has been hiding. Before when Richard has been interviewed, we’ve mostly seen the sensitive artist, whose tacit message to women was, “I’m a little boy in a man’s body and my inner child hears you and understands.” :D But now he’s revealed a man for all of us to rhapsodize over! ………………………………………………………………. Excuse me I had to put myself back in my chair. All I know is I was fairly smitten by what I saw, and I’ve become rather jaded about these things. I thought. I take heart in the fact that no woman in her right mind could withstand that!
Seriously, it was evident the little boy was almost completely submerged by the man when even the talk about his first time on stage as an elf could not conjure it. The man was firmly in place. However, I wonder if the boy isn’t sensing the new tidal wave of affection that’s coming and shrinks from it. What else am I to make of this picture? LOL!
I feel a letter coming on. Oh, hell yes, this demands a fake fan letter.
Dear Richard:
You’re in my prayers, my friend. You think this Army thing is overwhelming? Get ready. That’s going to seem like a walk in the park. You keep coupling that stare with eyelids at half mast and deep voice with your “testosterone charged lope,” you will not have a moment’s peace.
I’ve long thought that if you catch on in America, you are going to go off the charts, but with ‘The Hobbit’ appealing to a worldwide audience, Ohmygosh! just thinking about this is… I can’t process it.
Back to my prayers for you and especially strong ones when I think that you will not be able to hide behind a beard as some actors are wont to do.
Signed,
One of Your Crazy Fans Who is Almost Fearful for You :D
Most who read this blog know how much I like fan videos. There’s no question I’m addicted to them. Probably only a few other fans are more obsessed (at least that I know about :D ). Certainly, when fan videos concerning Richard Armitage pop up on YouTube, I check them out. Imagine my surprise when I saw a fan video with a fan literally singing to him. The song was clever and funny. My grin was huge, and I chuckled at the end when the singer giggled.
But watching her video was never going to be enough. I’m infernally curious about everything and people are chief among my interests. I think I’ve said that a time or two. But I’m not curious for the sake of it. People are not specimens to me. They are living and breathing and have feelings and desires, and despite my snark, I always believe everyone has something to contribute. This is what edifies.
Allison of the video had already had a bit of an edifying effect on me. Her seemingly carefree nature throwing caution to the wind with her willingness to drop the mask so many of us wear made something bubble up in me and had me nodding my head and wanting to shout, “You go, Girl!” I immediately sent her a note asking if I could have an interview. That’s one of the cool things about having a blog — it’s media, my friends, so anyone writing a blog can become a reporter and probably have access to people in a way they never could otherwise. If I haven’t learned anything else about reading blogs for the last several years, I’ve learned that! Oh, the possibilities are endless, and I am loving it! I’ve got plans to interview all sorts of people now that I’m a journalist. ;-)
While I was waiting for Allison to respond, I started reading her blog. I read it off and on for a couple of days until I finished it, and some parts I read several times. She is intensely interesting, and sadly, this little blog entry is not going to do her justice. But I have to try.
A little mood music before I begin:
When I loaded up her blog, Al’s Adventure!, I realized she was on her way out of town, literally heading off for an adventure by means of couchsurfing, and it was not the ubiquitous diary of someone’s daily routine. No, this was something more, and I was immediately drawn into her life and Richard Armitage was forgotten. But I’m just jaded enough that if this had been mere blog entries to herald the advent of her vacation pictures, I would have probably stopped reading.
So I went to Ireland with Al where she met up with a guy named Marty Kelly, whom she had never met before, and now I feel like I’ve met and maybe will say hey to if I’m ever in his hometown. No, I probably wouldn’t do that, but it’s fun to think about it. I found myself thinking about all sorts of things as Al was on her adventure. The sense of wonder at discovering new people and things was infectious like her video. Often I could see the twinkle in her eye while I was reading about her pursuits, and her sunny disposition almost had me reaching for my sunglasses.
Al also made it to England, Wales and Scotland, and then was back home in Seattle, but not for long. Several weeks later she returned to Ireland to live and work for three months. This gave her plenty of time to find out the craic.
And when you’re in the land of bards, the craic inevitably includes waxing poetic. My eyes were moist with something :D as I read her “elegy” to Marty Kelly’s dryer on the verge of departing:
Ode To A Tumble Dryer, With The Help Of Marty Kelly
Tumble Dryer you broke my heart
For years you spun my garments dry
One time I left you on too long and the heat was intense
I was chafed for days
And I cried silently with the washing machine
The toaster laughed and mocked me
English muffins never tasted the same again, not even with gooseberry jam
Especially with gooseberry jam
But now you lay cold and untumbling
There is something inside of you that I can’t fix
I cleaned out your lint trap
I changed the fuses
And still you remain silent, sullen
I called the repairman for help
But your parts are too old, unavailable
Tumble Dryer believe me I tried my hardest to fix you
Thank you for the years of toasty clothes
But the garbage truck is rumbling down the street
And it’s time
It’s time
But Al was not content to ruminate over the appliances with Marty and was soon off on a side trip to Yugoslavia of the former kind. I loved seeing Split in Croatia. Her pictures are clean and inviting. Certainly fitting for a travel brochure beckoning people to lay down some serious cash to come see for themselves.
But I was also moved by the stark reminder of the devastation that occurs from even a wary foot, and how we are so insulated from it in America.
Then Al returns to Ireland and is back home not too long afterward, and I figured the journal would come to an end when the traveling did. There was indeed a respite for over a year, and before I could begin reading the rest, Allison responded to my note. Her honest humility and sweetness at my request was evident — even to my somewhat hardened self. She told me she was surprised by the interest and assumed anyone who commented on her video would tell her what rubbish it is. I did realize she was new to playing the guitar, so I wasn’t thinking it was the best guitar piece I’d ever heard, but her honesty and sweetness even when she was being bawdy came through. That’s what made me so curious.
I finished the blog and learned about her mother passing away during the blog’s silence. She had mentioned her several times, and I felt like I was coming to know her, so it was a bit of a shock. I read about her pets, and for the first time in my life might have had feelings for a rat. I also read about her recent stay with her sister in the Dominican Republic. The imagery of that visit is very well done. I could see and sense so many things — the ominous looking “Watchmen” walking through the yard, Al locking herself out of the house, the food, and the stray dog, Reckless Clive. It was as if I was there just as I’d been in Ireland and Croatia, and she had hardly said a thing.
I wrote my questions as I was reading, and frankly, I had to work hard to come up with one about Richard Armitage. Allison is very interesting in her own right. Thankfully, I didn’t have to come up with those questions although I did ask a couple. Nat sent me a note that she had also asked for an interview, so we decided that she would give most of the 411 on that, and I would be free to ask and write what I wanted.
My questions/comments to Al:
There are so many blogs, as you know, but what I like about yours is that while it’s honest, it doesn’t have a bite. It really does have a genuine sweetness. That’s hard to fake.
Coolness! That’s good to hear. It’s absolutely how I try to live my life. Several of my friends have dubbed me the most non-judgmental person they know. I’m just happy to be me and I’m a hedonist in the true sense – I do things that will result in my happiness. The good news for me is that I’m VERY easy to make happy. I’ve noticed throughout my life that I have a marvelous capability to infect others with my good moods. I also have a deep dark side that I think helps to temper the sweetness. I’m not cutesy with pretty, pretty locks and sunshine and lollipops, I’m sweet with short spunky hair, tattoos and pet rats!
No question your good moods are contagious. I’m still smiling from watching you sing.
And you just sound creative as hell.
My mother would kiss you for that!
LOL!
I would love to read your poetry. I did read that you write it, and it wasn’t just Ode To A Tumble Dryer? Or did I dream that? Do you write anything else outside the blog? Would love to read it. Your imagery is good. I could see everything in the blog and how it fit in the bigger picture of your life. Well done, and I know some of that was not easy to write.
Holy cow my mother would really kiss you for this. My sister would probably join in too!! They both have encouraged me to write all my life. I do like writing, just not enough to really apply myself. And especially not long things. I think that’s why the blog posts, poems and songs work so well. I do have a good number of poems that I’ve written throughout the years, and personally I think they are spectacular, but I never assume anyone wants to read them. Plus, I lack the motivation to get them published anywhere! I know I could put them on the blog, but it’s always a little weird to put something so personal out there and have no one respond to it – I always just figure I’m boring people. I’ll send you some though, if ya like!
Oh, I don’t think you’re going to bore anyone, and I’ve very much enjoyed the poetry. If I hadn’t, this part of the interview wouldn’t be here.
I also love your pictures. You do good photo. I especially love the ones of Croatia.
Seeing Sarajevo and Croatia was beautiful and intense. As a privileged American I’ve never seen what war does to a place first-hand. I had never seen buildings pock-marked with bullet holes and signs by the side of the road warning of land-mines. My Couchsurfing host took me to a memorial site where practically a whole town had been massacred. It was pretty intense. Thanks so much about the photos!!! I’d say it was a bit of a hobby of mine. It’s by no means a serious hobby, I only have the one small camera – but I’ve had people amazed at some of the photos I’m able to take with it. There are just a lot of tricks that I’ve picked up over the years.
Of course there is your guitar playing and songwriting. The Richard Armitage ditty aside, how are you liking the guitar? After the fingers develop callouses, it can be a lot of fun. LOL! Considering how good your ear is with words, I have a feeling you can hear beats and tones well. This is a big plus for you.
I’m loving playing my guitar (her name is Charlene) I can’t remember if I mentioned this, but guitar came into my life at a time when I really needed a therapeutic outlet, and it continues to be. I love creating music. I was never a very confidant singer, but I find that I can sing much better when I play guitar. I can’t “hear the notes” to sing (as a lot of people have tried to coach me to do) but I can hear the notes within the chords of the guitar, so as a result I’ve become a much better and more confidant singer! It is a little weird to lose most of the feeling in the fingers of my left hand! But for me it’s a source of pride, I’m really impressed with myself that I stuck with it long enough to get the calluses.
I’m sure you and Charlene have a lot more coming. :D
I noticed on the blog that you like the Fratellis. What other music do you like?
Oh the Fratellis are GREAT! Their music is so high energy, and I love the way they borrow from so many genres. So many bands have a lot of talent but all their songs sound the same, so I love the way that the Fratellis mix it up. I’m very into roots music, folk, bluegrass, roots country, and I love hearing how music in America evolved, as the roots stuff began to morph into rockabilly, which then gave rise to punk. So you can listen to Hank Williams and hear so much influence in a lot of more modern stuff. I love vintage soul music, Otis Redding and Sam Cooke, it’s just all so good. It’s where we all came from. Going back even further, I love to listen to world music and hear all the similarities. One of my greatest loves is fusion music done right, when artists can successfully combine “different” forms of music into one fluid sound that works and all of it’s levels. Gogol Bordello and Flogging Molly are two of my all time favorite bands, and for an absolutely brilliant example of a fusion that blew my mind is The Dharohar Project from Mumford and Sons and Laura Marling. They went to India and created music and it’s just amazing. Right now I’m listening to Gillan Welch, I just love her too. Lordy, I could write about music all day.
I understand. LOL!
And before I forget, I have to ask you about the couchsurfing thing?! I know what couchsurfing is, but I’m wondering about this organization. Sounds wonderful! I would love to hear more of your thoughts about it. Now that the dust has settled a bit from your last trip, what would you say is the best thing you’ve taken away from the experience?
If it were up to me, Couchsurfing would win the Nobel Peace Prize. The experiences I had and the people I met through this site re-affirmed my belief in the goodness of human-kind. Some of them completely astounded me with their hospitality. There is not enough gratitude in the world for me to feel towards these folks. A few of them even helped to teach me some of the most important life lessons I’ve learned. I had a small few whom I just didn’t really click with, but I never had an outright negative experience. The best thing I’ve taken away from my travel experiences (aside from all the brilliant things I’ve gotten to do and the people I’ve gotten to meet) is the ability to appreciate almost any situation I find myself in. If I’m somewhere and I’m cold or wet or covered in sweat, I know that it’s only momentary, that eventually I’ll get warm and dry, or cool down – and then I’ll be really grateful that I’m cozy again because I’ve known what it’s like to be uncomfortable. Also, if the shit is hitting the fan and everything is going wrong – I try to picture myself one day telling the terrible story and laughing about it. I used to think in terms of “if only…” like, if I were somewhere nice but rainy, I’d think, “oh, if only it were sunny, then it would be perfect.” or “if only I had decided to splurge and stay at that nice hotel then things would be so much better.” or “if only I had packed the silver bullets I could defend us against this werewolf, but I didn’t want to lug them around the whole time…” You know, that sort of thing ;)
I’m finally learning that sort of thing. :D
When I was reading about your Irish Adventure, I couldn’t help but wonder about Marty Kelly. I figure there’s more to that story, but maybe I’m reading into it. By the way, he’s cute! But maybe he wasn’t your type?
Marty is one of the most amazing people I have ever known. He’s like a soul brother to me and when it comes down to it, I have a fantasy that when we’re 60 years old and have led whole separate lives of stories and adventures we’ll finally settle down together and own goats and rats.
Do you have any other travel goals?
I don’t have any other travel goals, but I never really did. All the traveling I’ve done has kind of just popped up in my life. The opportunity comes along, and I take it.
I have to tell you that I got misty eyed when I read your mom had passed away since I felt like I had gotten to know her some. Many condolences on that. We’re never prepared for it! I sense there is plenty more to write about Mom. It was obvious you have a lot more to say.
My mom was by far the best and closest friend I ever had. She encouraged me in all of my odd and artistic endeavors. She gave me just enough wiggle room to explore and be free, but never let me doubt for a minute that she loved me entirely and would do anything to keep me safe. I’m utterly grateful for the time I got to spend with her and not a day goes by that I don’t miss her.
May everyone have a mom like that!
One more question or questions, and they’re going to be about Richard Armitage since that is the premise of my blog. LOL! I’m wondering what made you do the video? And if he saw it and made it known, how you would respond? :D
Well the song was just written in mid-November, after having watched the last few episodes of Spooks, and first played it for a friend about a week after that. She loved it and was the one who encouraged me to put it on You Tube. If I’m honest, I’m flabbergasted at the reception this song is getting. I wrote it as just a larf, I just thought, “why don’t I write a cutesy song about my crush on RA, but it’ll be kinda funny since he mostly plays dark characters.” I never for a second thought I’d ever be making a You Tube video or that – be still my heart! – he may ACTUALLY HEAR it one day! I have little doubt that he will see the video – which, again, still doesn’t seem real but in this age of technology I’m sure someone will eventually call his attention to it and he’ll watch it and… no, it’s just too much for my poor mind to handle! ;) But if he actually responded, well, that would be… how can I make words describe it – really freakin’ cool. All I can say is that if he does respond, how am I to know it’s really him unless he thanks me in person? Just sayin’, Richard, if you’re reading this and want to shake my hand and be all like, “thanks for the great song, Al” I’d have no problem with that. None at all.
LOL!
_______________________________________________
There is so much more to say about Allison. She could no doubt make a book, and during our conversations, she commented that she was humbled and having been something of a reject in her younger days was honored that someone would want to ask her these questions. As she said it, I thought how often those who have endured what it is to be something of a reject in their youth end up being the most interesting people.
Photos courtesy of Allison of course.
Oh, and Al is on Etsy and has some neat looking items. Why am I not surprised by this? LOL!
If you haven’t already done it, go over now and look at Nat’s interview. Fantastic as usual. She is a comic genius!
note: If you’ve made it this far, sorry this was so long, but Allison was worth it, and I had a blast doing it.
Spoilers for Spooks Series 9 and maybe Spooks 2 and 3.
I’m mostly over my disappointment of Spooks Series 9, but I would not have had such high hopes if it weren’t for Richard Armitage. When I know he’s in a cast, his investment in characters raises the bar for me. This was certainly the case with this show the last few series. But earlier I had let my expectations of Spooks slide after the first couple of episodes of Series 3, aka the final resolution of Tom Quinn. A commenter on my last post describes the effect well:
what…I have seen of the last 9 seasons, shows me they REALLY struggle with character development. The personal story arc leave much to be desired. For those that love Spooks, the weak character story arcs are fine. They do JUST enough to support the action, and that is enough for them. For me… it leaves me unsettled.
It seems unsettled might be the point. That is indeed how I’ve felt through most of Spooks, and being unsettled addicted me to it. I was continually in search of something to satisfy. Yeah, I was totally manipulated by the producers of this show for awhile, but I was growing weary of it until Richard Armitage was announced as a cast member in Series 7.
With the advent of Lucas North, I was relieved and my expectations were raised again and then some, and by the end of Series 7, I had a lot of hope for a great story. Richard joining the cast appeared an opportunity for Spooks to go way beyond what they had done before since they now had someone who could really pull off conflicted characters in a way Matthew Macfadyen has never even come close to doing in any of his pieces. No offense to Matthew. I appreciate his acting, but he’s no Richard Armitage.
And now we all know it wasn’t meant to be. The show is what it is, and the character of Lucas North is a miss for Richard, which is in no way a slap to RA. He did what he could with what he had. I think many of us are agreed on that. I just hope he was taking notes — not just on the artistic aspects of this show but on the business end, and more specifically on the bullshit that goes on behind the scenes. How can I know that? Are people and money involved?
Richard,
I believe you took notes on the bullshit and that you’re still taking notes. It’s figuring out the bullshit that’s a big part of getting something done. But I’m sure I’m not telling you something you don’t already know, or maybe I’ve strayed into what Servetus calls “B” or maybe “A” in Armitage Epistemology. I stray so boldly because my bullshit detector is sensitive enough to realize when someone else has a bullshit detector. And well, actually, I have the track record to prove that, but that’s another story.
For now the beauty of someone like me writing this stuff is that you don’t have to say it. You don’t have to call bullshit yourself. Let your fans say it for you so that you can maintain good ties with some of those same people who were involved in the crap that was Spooks this series. I realize you can’t burn bridges, so let us rail against this for you. Hey, I’m a business person, so I know how important it is not to ever burn a bridge. It may be an escape route someday or a great road to somewhere else. It’s funny how some of the crappiest experiences can put us in touch with people who become great assets. I’m sure you’ve learned that lesson by now. Good!
All of that and the fact you’re not spending much of your money means to me that you will eventually have your own production, and as much as I love your acting, I can’t wait to see what you’ve got. If it’s about Richard III, that’s great. If not, that’s great too. I don’t really care.
In the meantime, I’m glad to see you’re going to be in the movies and now free of serialization. You are better suited to vehicles that have a beginning, a middle and an end. I can hardly wait!
Take care, and speaking for many other fans, please know that we’re all so proud of you,
One of your crazy fans (crazy like a fox)
A picture of Richard listening to obvious bullshit:
I cannot tell you how good it feels to write these fake fan letters. Yes, I’ve said that before, but it bears repeating. I get to relieve my angst and peddle my bullshit, and no one is hurt. At least I don’t think anyone is hurt — except maybe the writers of Spooks in this case.
Note to the writers: sorry guys, but this one really wasn’t a good a series, and I think you know that. But I’ll keep watching ’cause I’m still addicted.
And before I go, another picture of Richard listening to bullshit. I had to post this one because it’s so cute, and I love it when he has an amused look on his face:
If you haven’t seen the interview this is from, you can go here and here thanks to Heather.
Screencaps courtesy of my stash.
edit: I would have a tag called “bullshit,” but then I would be tagging most of this blog.
In my last post I mentioned my gut is rarely wrong, and iz4blue wanted to know what I was talking about. Below is a post I was planning to make the day after RA’s birthday but didn’t because I really am trying to stay out of the guy’s head, and I just never got around to finishing it to my satisfaction. Then I was reading Peter Jackson’s “defense” of RA being cast, and it came to me that Peter Jackson and I may have the same “gut.” :D
My previous, unpublished post:
RA’s Diary
Entry — August 23, 2010:
40 is less than a year away, and I got a late start. That’s what everyone keeps saying, and I’m tired of hearing it, but I understand. Thankfully 40 is practically the new 20. But in this profession 30 is sometimes the new 40. I get it but it’s a distraction.
End of Entry
It seems we’re continually told that actors in their 30s just coming to our attention are late bloomers. If it is not always said expressly, the media’s attention on actors in their 20s seems to send a strong message. I was thinking about this and glanced up at my blog’s header picture, which has always reminded me of another actor whom I really like, and he was not a spring chicken when he first made it big. He was 43.
The whole issue of the late bloomer is fascinating. No one sets out to be a late bloomer but rather circumstances conspire against them. However circumstances may frustrate their desires, oftentimes they are so intent on something else, that circumstances be damned and sometimes conventions flouted if need be. It is this sometimes maniacal focus on something else which usually makes them so beautiful. For Viggo Mortensen it’s about artistic expression. He reminds me so much of RA, or I guess out of respect for Viggo’s age and success, I should say RA reminds me of Viggo.
Viggo makes an excellent point about artistic expression. “It’s a way of living,” and it should be honest like a child. For me it’s the continual succumbing to the need for honest expression that’s so splendid to watch, and yes, everyone has the potential to be an artist. Getting at the truth is the key, and that requires a fearlessness that always gets my respect. This demand for honesty is certainly what makes RA’s performances so compelling and sometimes startling. The ring of truth is always sublime.
I love that he is also so startlingly honest when interviewed:
‘I don’t put it about. Never have. I’m a late developer in everything. I have a fast mind and fast metabolism, and I’m an intense worker, but in terms of life development I’m way behind.’
You know, I wonder if being a late starter isn’t the key to Armitage’s vast appeal. By the time we first clapped eyes on him as John Thornton, he was already a proper grown man, in sharp contrast to all those snub-nosed pretty boys who pass for movie stars these days.
Yep, Allison, I’ll take the man who has found his voice over the boys who have yet to say anything interesting, and I thought this when I was 20.
If anyone reading this is an RA fan and has not read Allison’s article, get over there quickly and do so. It’s a real treat and is definitely one of my favorite articles on him. I also just happen to love many other articles of Allison’s even if she’s not politically correct for some of you. LOL!
Until someone comes along who has the ability to bring Richard Armitage to the attention of the rest of the world, I’m content for RA to focus on what he will.
Enter Peter Jackson, who apparently recognizes the kindred spirit of an artist. So it’s not just about eye candy. Although I give Peter Jackson credit for understanding how to get a movie made. It requires energy and money. You don’t make such big budget pictures unless you understand how to generate both. In an Entertainment Weekly interview he “defends” his selection of Richard Armitage. Oh brother. I say that affectionately! Anyone who thinks that’s actually a defense needs to think again. RA is almost a virtual unknown outside the UK. Peter has to do something to get his name out and in a way that creates buzz. How better to do it than to respond to doubts from LOTR fans about him being cast. Pardon me if my jaded self isn’t buying the “controversy.” But hey, whatever it takes, Peter. Whatever it takes! I’m behind you.
And I assume RA is taking notes for his future big budget project. :D
note: I only have two problems with my gut: 1) I don’t heed it enough; 2) when it’s wrong, it’s very wrong. LOL!
edit: In case it’s not clear, the RA Diary entry is a fake. Yes, my friend, it’s about as fake as it gets. That’s why I have a tag called “Fake Diary.” But I put this edit here for the action fans who may need it spelled out. ;-)
So Richard did an interview for Woman’s Weekly (actually it sounds like another interview and maybe they just picked it up? even the picture was a recycle), and now we know where the underpants came from, but knowing Mulubinba, I know it was not her. She has too much class for that! And I thought that even before I read her piece.
But take note, fellow fans, this interview is why I will never send a letter to Richard Armitage. I’m too proud, and not afraid to admit it. LOL! The real issue is that there is too much room for things being misconstrued. Okay, I did throw in with Nat’s letter, but that was different; it was about Nat. Plus, Nat’s a class act who is obviously funny and respectful, and if Richard Armitage doesn’t appreciate that, then he’s not who I’ve been led to believe. By the way, I’ve been wondering about that letter lately. Nat?
All of this begs a fake fan letter.
Dear Richard,
I love your honesty. It’s startling sometimes how honest you are, and I felt for you when some fans got their knickers in a twist about your comments awhile back and you felt compelled to address them. A word of advice from someone who understands what it feels like to live in a glass house: if someone gets their knickers messed up over this interview, I hope you ignore those people and don’t feel the need (out of being so nice) to respond. You can never appease your critics and that includes fans. Hey, I may be one of those fans who criticizes at times, and to be honest, I have and probably will again. That doesn’t mean I don’t love ya. I’m just really honest too.
But I have to chuckle at the response to this interview so far. Earlier I compared your words about fans like pebbles going into a pond. That picture is too serene. No, it’s like someone startling the hens in a coop. Thankfully, this hen is decidedly unstartled. Yeah, I think I said that earlier too. Sorry, my honesty gets the best of me sometimes, so I just blurt out what I’m thinking.
All of that aside, I’m curious about something. Is it possible to determine if a package is inappropriate before you open it? Maybe someone who has no emotional attachment to you can open the blasted stuff before you see it?
Sincerely,
One of your crazy fans (but not so crazy to send you underwear)
Oh, there is so much more to mine from that interview, but I’ve got to stop. Maybe more later. For now I’m on my way out the door to somewhere else again. For those of you who know, I’ve got eight days until the season ends. I’m glad for my little SO, but I’m also tired and need a break!
edit: Late breaking news (for me anyway): it was Nat who sent the pants!! Say it ain’t so, Nat!! Oh wait, I should have finished the piece first. She’s full of it. ;-)
second edit: I really am trying to get out the door and apparently moving so fast, I forgot the link to the Woman’s Weekly article, and to say THANK YOU to RichardArmitageNet.Com for posting it.
Stick Figure Richard (SFR as fans affectionately refer to him) is a man who maddens women. He may also be a genius who has discovered the secret of transmitting pheromones through the really small screen — YouTube. How else to explain that within hours of his first appearance fans all wanted their own SFR? Natazukii may have to create a fan club. ;-)
And I had thought that SFR fever was confined to a small number of bloggers, but now I know it’s much more widespread. Otherwise how to explain normally level-headed female friends from various and sundry blogs and forums who became flushed-cheek and bright-eyed at the possibility of finding SFR in their mailboxes? “Oh, my God. Oh, my God. But he is gorgeous,” cried the most frenzied, and at possibility of receiving hers in the mail, one asked, “Listen, do you think it would be totally unprofessional if I took him to work?”
Now it seems that SFR really gets around. First he was in Canada, then the U.S. Now he’s across the Atlantic, and I notice he was smart enough to visit Spain after the Running of the Bulls. Oh, yeah, SFR is one clever piece of parchment, and I’m sure he knows how to get in and out of tight places.
I only have one question: where is the paper doll to build him up? “Given that I’m going to be abroad for the next six months, it’s no bad thing to be single this year,” he says ruefully. “It’s a peripatetic existence I’ve seen others struggle with.” Ooh, words like peripatetic make my heart skip a beat, and he actually knows what they mean!
So all you paper dolls listen up. You’ve got a shot in six months. Wonder what kind of vellum is alluring to him. Something to think about when you quit dreaming about Lucas.
Candid shot is mine, and I can’t think of a more fitting “frame” than the “horns” from a deer hunt.
This post was Nat inspired. Yeah, I’m sure that’s obvious, but I still wanted to say it. Thanks for the good times, Nat.
edit: and I can’t forget about Richard Armitage:
Dear Rich,
Thank you for being a good sport. Well, I assume you’re a good sport.
Sincerely,
One of your crazy fans
edit: I’ve changed the link to the Times Piece so that it is accessible again, and I’m grateful to the ladies at Richard Armitage Central, who made it possible for me to have something to link. Thank you, Ladies for all the great work you do!!
RAFrenzy 
