Thespian Thursday: The Daily Telegraph Richard Armitage Interview by Chris Harvey, June 26, 2014 Gratiana Lovelace (Post #590)

Even though I can’t afford to travel across an ocean to see the exquisitely talented British actor Richard Armitage portray John Proctor in The Crucible at The Old Vic in London, England (image right, my cap from The Old Vic video interview of him), it is great to read fan accounts of their experiences! The stellar cast, the setting, the performances in The Crucible coalesce into what many are calling a must see experience if you can swing it financially.

But what is even more delightful is hearing from Richard Armitage, himself, about his new play, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, and directed by Yael Farber.

And The Daily Telegraph interview by Chris Harvey with Richard Armitage about his Crucible role and his career is outstanding!  Thanks to my good friend Kitty for the article link!  Here are a few article and RA quotes (in italics) and image (image right, by Dan Burn Forti) excerpts from the article to whet your appetite:

“He says he feels like he has been waiting for it all his life. “It’s such an epic role. It feels as big as Lear to me in terms of what that man goes through.””

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“Armitage is a noticeably calm presence but he talks with passion. I ask him how it feels to be facing The Crucible’s agonising climax over and over for the next couple of months. “It’s a big mountain to climb every night,” he says. “There’s a shattering of the character, and almost a reassembling of him towards the end.”

“I leave the rehearsal room – and I carry him with me, I carry his thoughts, I dream his dreams a little bit.””

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“In the past, he has described himself as a shy person. “Not any more,” he says forcefully. “I mean… if I’m very, very honest, I’m a big guy, I think I’m at times quite a frightening person.”

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Grati’s two cents:

Maybe it is because I am 5 ft 2 inches tall lady married to my 6 ft 4 inch tall hubby–yes, that is a 14 inch height difference–but Richard Armitage’s height and imposing presence does not scare me. On the contrary, I am completely enthralled. Richard Armitage seems bigger than life–and he is a gentleman, to boot. And we need good male role models like Richard Armitage in our public figures. Snap!

Inevitably, Richard Armitage is also asked about his fans thinking him sexy. And Mr. Armitage demures again with him implying that he is not sexy.  All I have to say is, Fella? If you aren’t sexy, then no one is sexy. Ha!

There is so much more in Chris Harvey’s wonderful Telegraph article interview that touches on various aspects of Richard Armitage’s career and his take on how it all fits together.  I sense that his return to theatre in The Crucible will be life/career changing for him. Or as RA put it:

““I’m having a really amazing epiphany doing this, and I think I’ll be a different actor when I come out of it.””

For more of Chris Harvey’s fabulous interview with Richard Armitage in The Daily Telegraph (image right, by Dan Burn Forti), be sure to visit:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-features/10915442/Richard-Armitage-interview-I-think-Im-quite-a-frightening-person.html