December 24, 2001
NEW YORK (Zap2it.com) � Elijah Wood practically just took off his pants. The 20-year-old actor, who appears as the hobbit Frodo Baggins in the "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," was just asked about a tattoo he got while filming on location in New Zealand. After quickly scanning the small room to make sure no one planned to turn his show-and-tell session into a Kodak moment, Wood lifts his sweater and lightly tugs at his pants to show the little tattoo on his lower belly. It�s actually not such a salacious moment � in fact it just highlights the innocence and eagerness that has won Wood acclaim for his roles in films like "The Ice Storm" (1997), "Deep Impact" (1998) and "Radio Flyer" (1992). Today he talks about his role in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," a role which will undoubtedly cause his star to rise even higher. The young actor spent time talking about the pressures of working on a project of such magnitude, as well as what it is like to film on location in New Zealand. And, well, of course there�s that tattoo.
Bio: 01/28/81 born in Iowa
Filmography: "The Faculty," "Deep Impact"
Receiving the script
"I went after it. My agent called and said that they were casting for it and I should get into a casting office in Los Angeles." "They were looking for an English actor so it was a lot of pressure. I decided to do my own tape because I didn't like the idea of going to an office and putting (something) on tape there." "So I got a hobbit costume and put myself on tape. I got a book and an idea of what they look like. Then I went to the Hollywood Hills and filmed a few scenes there, put it together and gave the video tape to the casting director in Los Angeles. Then she sent it to Peter (Jackson, the director.)"It's how I got my foot in the door, so to speak."
Casting
"I still had to work for it. Especially something like this because they have certain things in mind. It's kind of a difficult role to cast, all of them are really, because they very specific." "It's not an easy film to cast. They looked at thousands of tapes. It's a difficult thing." "So, they really needed people to work for it."
Were there things you missed out on while growing up as an actor?
"This is my life and has been my life for such a long time. I think when I was younger I missed having friends my own age." "I wasn't going to school. It felt particularly painful at that time, not anymore. I feel like I gained more than I lost." "I've work with adults mostly my entire life. I feel like I've grown up in a healthy way. These experiences � that I gained from doing what I do � are brilliant. I couldn't ask for a better job."
What was New Zealand like?
"I lived in Willington. We all had our own places. I had my own house. Dom (Dominic Monaghan) had an apartment. Viggo, (Mortensen) I think end up having a house. Billy (Boyo) had one of my favourites because he lived in town just up a hill that overlooked the town. It had an amazing view of the city. Orlando (Bloom) had a place right on the ocean."
What was the biggest challenge?
"It was a long, long time to film. The schedule was very hectic. There were long hours, six days a week. So, it was more about enduring the length of the project. There were some physical scenes and sequences that were required of us, but it was more the fatigue. I think the challenge was more of keeping the energy up over the length of time."
Did you suffer any injuries?
"Obviously, they were injuries here and there. We were constantly getting cuts. But Sean Astin had multiple stitches in his foot after a branch got stuck in it. Viggo went surfing with us once and the surf board hit him in the face, so the next day he went to Peter with this big black eye. He also got his tooth knocked out as well."
Were you familiar with the book?
"I read 'The Hobbit� when I was really young and I fell in love with that book. I had 'The Lord of the Rings' for years and years, but I never read it. I knew what it was about and knew that I wanted to be part of it."
What not working what would you do?
"In my spare time, I was renting movies, going to the movies. I also love music. I love going to shows to hear bands play. I go to the CD store and spend way too much money." "I love lot of different styles, from jazz to hip hop to rock. I like it all."
Choosing the next job
"I'm quite picky. I love good films and a challenge as an actor. That really defines the choices that I make."
How did you get started in acting?
"Basically one day, my Mom was watching television and it popped into her head that doing commercials would be fun for me. I have a lot of energy and she thought that it would be a good challenge for my energy. My brother was in drama at school and was interested as well. She basically enrolled us in a modelling school and we travelled to Los Angeles for a modelling and talent convention. There were agents and managers looking for new talent. A manager approached me and said 'Do you want to become an actor?' I said 'yeah.' I was seven at the time." "We moved the family out to Los Angeles and I started auditioning. Within the first six weeks I got my first job." "My mom never thought I would do movies. I've been really lucky."
What is the secret of the Hobbits?
"It is a massive journey as an actor. It was such a joy to take a character from one extreme to the other over time. His journey is quite internal because it really deals with the rings and the influence they have over him. I was blessed to be able to flesh that out in that period of time."
"It starts to deteriorate Frodo's soul to the point where Frodo is really a shadow of his form by the end of it. That was great fun to flesh out and certainly challenging as an actor. It was difficult given the fact that we were constantly back and forth."
