http://c19.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=cat6&action=display&thread=58768&page=2
If you haven’t seen this wonderful story of an RA encounter with a fan at the actors’ trailers for his new movie (and seen the pix!) here’s a link to thread at C19. A big thank you to Nadia and to Judit for sending me the photos and story after I could not get access to Armitage Army (where it is also posted). I am not posting the photos here publicly-we don’t have an all-clear to do that yet.
The account seems to reaffirm our impression that RA is a genuinely nice guy who, contrary to what some may preach, actually enjoys meeting fans. He not only agrees to meet with the fan, he comes out in a joking mood, agrees to a photo, he offers to pose for additional photos taken by his assistant and gives the fan a big ol’ hug.
He certainly looks slim and fit as reported by RAlover, and his face is just as lovely as ever out from under the whiskers. And if my eyes don’t deceive me, his hair appears to be close to the texture and color it was with John Standring after his makeover.
Finally, the much-hoped for close-up look at RA post-beard–a lovely report from one very happy fan. 
Wonderful story and beautiful Richard Armitage !
Yes to both!!
I’m grinning from ear-to-ear! So happy for RAlover … what a fantastic moment and memory for her!
And here’s to our amazing husbands, who not only “put up with” our addictions, but aid us in making dreams come true. You rock, Mr. RAlover!!!
Oh, absolutely! Mr RALover is terrific! You know, I could see my hubby doing the same thing. How lovely to have an understanding spouse!
(And why does knowing he smells clean make me grin like an idiot??)
It is one of life’s most amazing gifts, to have an understanding, and willingly helpful, spouse.
Mine did the same kind of thing for me, so I could have that kind of experience with meeting a long-ago teenage heart-throb. 
He smells clean! I know
… why does that just make my heart thump a bit and bring out this huge grin?
I have a business video conference I have to host in … dear heaven, 20 minutes! … and I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop this grinning.
Here’s hoping today is a “successful” one for ItsJSForMe!
*positive energy heading her way*
BTW, Angie, thanks for sharing … it made my day!
Have to run …
It is indeed, a gift and blessing.
Clean, fit and firm. *sigh*
Well, at least they will think you’re a happy lady!
*hee hee* Never, in the history of video conferences, have I grinned so much. I even got a “What are you so happy about?” from one of my colleagues. *giggle*
OK … back to work. As if I can think of anything other than RAlover’s experience!
P.S. Hope today goes great for you, too!
Did you read this RAlover’s comment on Armitage Army Forum ?
“OH!!!! I forgot to mention….
As RA started to walk away I said I was a member of the Armitage Army and he raised both arms and said WOOOO!!!”
LOL! Reminds me of when the dwarfs were dressed up for that fundraiser and Richard did the fist pump and woo-hooed. He’s so darned cute.
Hahaha! He is great,Nadia!:D
Thank you very much Angie!<3
You are welcome.
Knowing that he smells clean is making me grin like an idiot as well! After watching Spooks s9e6, my mood needed a serious uplift so back I went to C19 to read RALover’s report and gaze upon those very welcome pics of our gorgeous man. *sigh* I’m more besotted than ever.
I’m thinking there are a lot of grinning idiots out in RA land today.
It’s like we all got to catch a whiff of his scent. *sigh*
(Yeah, yeah … I’m going back to work … *grumble grumble*)
Hahs. You & me too!
Oh Angie aren’t these photos just fabulous he is so beautiful. In a big puddle of goo now **sigh**
OH…MY…GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m one of those who was grinning like an idiot as I read RALover’s account of her meeting! I think I might actually have squeed!! I was rather taken aback by my own reaction to her story AND the pictures. Just how old am I?? I sure felt like a teenager!
What an experience for her and how sweet is he!! Lucky girl! 
It still amazes me how he manages to look so fabulous in a plain grey tee-shirt and I was thrilled to see his natural hair colour! I had a thought re the lack of cologne. So many seem to have perfume allergies these days they likely don’t wear them when they are working.
I had to laugh at what was playing on the radio when I was reading all about it – Rod Stewart’s “If you love my body”!!!!!!
He’s man who looks equally at home in an old tee and jeans or a tuxedo. And I love his natural hair color–the dimensions of it, brown with a touch of red and perhaps a hint of grey. Look very healthy. He’d been dying it pretty much since 2006 until last year and deserved a break. And I do love his body and very much think he’s sexy!!
Thank you so much for sharing this, Angie! I’m so happy for RAlover
I totally forgot how to breathe when I saw the pics. He is soooo breathtakingly beautiful!! I am more besotted than ever, too.
And I keep hearing he’s more gorgeous in person. *thud* I am so delighted for both RAlover and ItsJSforme. Hard not to be thoroughly besotted with him, isn’t it??
Resistance is futile. We know this…
Thanks Angie. He looks heavenly and younger. No?
He seems like a wonderful and kind person, taking the time, joking (it’s a rubbish sign!) and being accessible. Gosh, how fast can I make it to Detroit????
RAlover has also posted the same on the AA@RAC forum. It’s wonderful that she is sharing with everyone in our little community.:-)
I HAD to look at all those pictures again and couldn’t help but notice how fit and healthy he looks! With all the padding we have seem him in lately it’s nice to behold that amazing physique once again!!
He really is something to behold! Must be all that good NZ air he’s been breathing these many months and the great food they were enjoying!! 
Sorry, me again. I think it looks like he lost weight again. Was it all these months being a sweaty, naughty dwarf?
I can imagine it was pretty strenuous!
Yeah, I am guessing he burned some serious calories as Thorin. EW mentioned that Dwalin’s costume weighed 100 lbs.–I wonder about RA’s. And it was a very physical role. Of course, he was also padded underneath it all so he may have seemed to be heavier during the shoot than he actually was, too. And that’s a dirty, sweaty, raucous, naughty dwarf. Who liked to party hard.
I should imagine that even though the padding may not have been that heavy, the rest of his costume might well have been. He did seem to be wearing quite a few layers. The fact that he made the “sweaty dwarf” comment more than once makes me think that they were all pretty pungent by the end of shooting!
In spite of that I think they all had a whale of a time! 
That coat of Thorin’s looked like it could be heavy–and he had all that hair and the beard which would have induced further sweating. Yes, a whale of the time having barrel full of fun.
Almost 41 never looked better!
So true, Angie!
How does he do it? Like we have said so often he just seems to get better and better!! *sigh*
So he’s going to have an American accent and he won’t be called John! Any guesses as to what his name might be? I hope it is something classic like David, Michael, Mark, Andrew, Alan, Robert or Graham, although I have found that people in North America have a problem with the latter name. They almost make it sound like Gremm instead of Grey-am!!
Now here in the south we would say Grey-am.We tend to add or elongate syllables rather than run them together. Well, except when saying “Mississippi” or “Louisiana.” Then its Miss-ippi and Lous-ana for some. Yeah, I think five Johns counting the dodgy Bateman is more than enough of that name. Oh, and Ian is also John, isn’t it?? LOL
Kudos Angie for pronouncing it properly! You Southern folk warm my heart! Wish we could meet one day! It would be so fantastic! And yeah, Ian is Gaelic for John so there certainly lots of those and the Bateman “John” was one too many! Guess what they’re playing on the radio right now??? Sexy Back!!!!!!!!! LOL!! *giggles*
I was discussing with another fan today how we wished Richard could do a southern American accent in a future role. Generally they are easier for Brits to do than some of the other regional dialects. And I think he could sound very sexy doing it, too.
I would love for us all to meet one day, too–the great RA CelebRAtion! He certainly does bring sexy back . . . *thud*
Does Oklahoma count as Southern? But I guess as a teacher he could get away with some kind of standard accent? More so than let’s say a local farmer? Correct me, if I’m wrong, I’m ignorant about the intricacies of American accents, I just want him to get it right.
It’s more southern Great Plains than true South. I will be very much interested to hear how he sounds. Like you, most of all I just want him to have a credible accent.
He definitely brings sexy back. I hope he enjoys working in the U.S. and doesn’t find the accent(s) a trial. I can definitely see some interesting future roles…
So far he seems to be having a pretty good time. Yes, hoping the accent goes well for him.
Please, please, please let his accent be good, please God…He will get it right, he will get it right, he will…..
I have to say I feel better knowing it’s not going to be an East Coast accent–no offense to fans who hail from the East Coast–but some of those accents can be really tricky to pull off. God forbid he sound like whatever the heck Genevieve O’Reilly came up with for Spooks. That wierd Noo Yawk/Boston/Sutthun hybrid she gave us that made my ears bleed. *shudder* I think of Andrew’s credible southern accent for TWD and I think, “Now, Richard can do just as well!”
WOW this is amazing. Richard looks so much younger without the beard, even with the crows feet around his eyes. To me Richard looks a tad different without the beard too. I have to hand it to RAlover’s husband. He is truly amazing and it takes a very secure man to encourage his wife to make a sign with another man’s name on it and then take her out to try to meet the man.
I love Richard’s natural hair color and his bushy brows. I love the close up picture the best because it gives me a close look at his classic nose. I can even make out some of the pores on his nose. Oh My GOD I just fell more in love with Richard.
Every American filmmaker is going to be knocking down RA’s door. The man is going to be so busy. I wonder if he is missing England yet.
It’s awfully difficult to concentrate on such trivial things as work with all this going on in RIchardworld!
It is, isn’t it? *sigh*