[Water Lily]

Part 3



8 December 2000



What was it like acting with Patricia Routledge (Hetty Wainthropp)?



"I was thrown in at the deep end just after my eighteenth birthday when I started 6 months filming on Hetty Wainthropp Investigates. It was a real baptism of fire. I had never been on a film set before and now here I was acting in a major tv programme with the most famous actress on British television.

Patricia was fantastic, very patient as I am sure I made a lot of mistakes. She was extremely protective over me and I will forever remember all the advice she gave me.

I was initially quite intimidated by the idea of working with her but remembered that we are all people, we all exist on the same level and no one should affect the way you would normally behave just because they are *famous*.

Also a special mention to Derek Benfield who played Patricia's husband. Derek was also very good to me and kind and helpful."



Which character have you enjoyed playing the most thus far?



"The character I have most enjoyed playing at the mo is Etienne from Monsignor Renard, as it was so much fun.

I got some really meaty stuff to work with and was given quite a bit of freedom with the director of the final two episodes, David Wheatley, as we had a real understanding.

Due to that fact, I felt able to take risks and try as hard as I could to become Etienne. He did things that would not gain him too much love from an audience but I wanted to allow the audience to feel sorry for him and go some way to understanding his actions. That was a real challenge and that for me is what wakes me up in the morning.

Over here (NZ) the opportunities we have been given to dive into the characters has been fantastic. Learning to kayak, horseride, swordfight, learn a different accent, explore the books has all been truly great fun."



Which of the countries you've worked in is your favourite?



"New Zealand is the best country I have worked in thus far. It's so far from home but has a lot of familiar things from home, the language for example. But just being in a country that is so keen on the outdoors and sport and lifestyle is a real breath of fresh air. I could live here forever.

The people are the real gems of New Zealand. Friendly, funny, helpful. And the ladies...ah.."



How have you coped with learning to ride a horse?



"Due to the scale issues in the Lord of the Rings I haven't ridden a horse as much as I would have liked. But I have tried to do as much riding as my schedule allows and love how it makes you feel when you are on a horse. Having an understanding, unspoken, with another animal is something else."



What are your favourite songs?



"Hard, hard question. At the mo on my playlist everchanging is:

Shiver by Coldplay, Tricky by Prince, This Boy by the Beatles, Sheffield Sex City by Pulp, Famous Blue Raincoat by Leonard Cohen, Know How by Young MC, I am the Resurrection by the Stone Roses, Ashes to Ashes by David Bowie, Slide Away by Oasis, Hewletts Daughter by Granddaddy, Rappers Delight by the Sugar Hill Gang, Monochrome by the Sundays......"



In 5 words or less how would you describe your fellowship co-stars in Lord of the Rings?



Elijah Wood - Kind, quirky, positive, thinker, talented
Sean Astin - Motivated, friendly, pensive, great Father
Viggo Mortensen - Intense, artist, centred, generous, insane
Orli (Orlando Bloom) - Cockney, floppy, unpredictable, funny, dreamer
Ian Mckellen - Kind, British, gentleman, cheeky, experienced
Sean Bean - Northern, funny, amazing, twitchy, football
John Rhys Davies - Mad, intriguing, boats, English, storyteller
Billy Boyd - Funny, kind, gifted, calm, playboy