There was a discussion about the importance of holding onto dreams over at Twitter today and I shared these words from one of my favorite poems by Langston Hughes. I decided to do a bit of artwork to go with the words. And naturally, thoughts of my favorite actor, a man gifted with the ability to dream and dream big (and work hard to make those dreams come true).
Todd Garner producer for Richard’s next film project “Black Sky,” actually Tweeted this quote below today. And it reminded me of Richard, too, and that sort of Zen-like aura he often seems to exude.
How wonderful it was to see Richard’s dream of playing Thorin come to fruition this year as he gave such a compelling performance, truly claiming the character as his and his alone. Richard certainly put that vivid imagination to very good use.
How proud his family and close friends must be, as those of us who have never met him are as pleased and proud as punch over his accomplishments. Hooray for my fellow dreamer! Here’s to many more dreams coming true.
the armitage effect 
Here’s to dreams coming true, and the strength to continue pursuing them!
Absolutely!
Hooray! He loves his work…he has money and recognition… all is well, right?
I think so! I hope it just gets better and better for him, too.
I love that sepia-toned pic! Is that photoshopped or a real pic (and if real, what’s the story behind it?) Also, so glad that someone else noticed the lovely lady standing behind him when he was talking to the Prince. 🙂
The sepia tone is real–although I did change it from the original color and did a couple more tweaks. That was taken during a traditional Maori ceremony in which people greet each other forehead to forehead letting their “third eye” touch. They did this during the blessing of the set when they began filming The HObbit, and then this one was taken during the premiere festivities in NZ. I love Richard’s smile here–he looks so sweet and so gorgeous. And that’s a lucky little lady!
Seeing that his mom was there for such a special moment made me cry, I do not mind telling you. I was so proud of him and for him. And thankful that this wonderful woman and her husband brought up such a splendid gentleman.
Now that I’ve come back to look at that ceremonial pic again, I do so dearly love it. I love his expression, of course, but I love hers as well: it looks like her eyes are closed and she’s smiling widely too. So beautiful, the both of them. I have no idea how well they know each other, but there’s a real fondness and mutual respect conveyed in that moment. It sort of neatly summarizes for me: THAT is why I have become such an admirer of RA. His appearance is striking, certainly, but his skill as an actor is stunning and the people who have worked with him seemed to hold him in very high esteem. I know what you mean when you say that you are proud of him and for him. On some level, he’s representing the best of his profession for me, and I feel like I’m just one more tiny voice somewhere in the background, newly-joined ranks of the Army, cheering him on for his hard work and for (at least appearing) to be a kind and generous human being.
And cheering on his parents (and teachers), oh yes. He and they are just as human and flawed as the rest of us, but I’m grateful that these sorts of people are around in the world, making it a better place and inspiring us to better things. 🙂 Feel free to tear up without shame. 🙂
Yes, it looks like two lovely, sweet-natured people sharing a special moment. They both look like people I’d like to sit down and have a good chat with. 😀 It’s one of my very favorite candid shots of Richard interacting with others. I have a chronic pain condition and sometimes just looking at those beautiful genuine smiles and grins of his can help lift me above the pain.
You never see or hear anything truly negative about Richard from those with whom he has worked. The stuntmen on Strike Back praised him as being just “one of us.” There is no prima donna in him, or if there is, it’s well hidden. He has a strong work ethic, very professional, very respectful of others, so thoughtful and sweet regarding his fans; yes, his parents and his teachers, like his beloved Miss Pat, really instilled good morals and values in him in his formative years and I thank them so very much for that. I’ve been an ardent Armitage aficionado since 2007 and I don’t foresee it ending.
Richard reminds me of that nice boy next door who is good to his mama and always polite, who is handy around the house with tools, a little shy but oh so sweet–and oh yes, he’s also tall, fit and gorgeous, very bright and enormously talented. I think he’s a great role model in many ways and I think my life is all the better for discovering him and the wonderful fan community.
Family is very important to me and I think of RA as being family I’ve never met, if that makes any sense. 😉 You cheer on family, you want to see their dreams come true, you take pride in their accomplishments. And yeah, you tear up. I think it is allowed. 😀
I want to echo you without reserve, I really do, but I think he must have some downsides to his personality. 🙂 I can’t endow him with sainthood, but I do admit that he’s managed to let slip very little that would knock the apparent halo askew.
Cheering you (and him) on. 😀
Oh, I don’t think he’s perfect, don’t get me wrong. If he was, that would be a downer, ’cause I am WAYYYY from perfect and then I’d feel horribly inferior. 😉
He’s admitted a dark streak and says when he gets really angry he can say things that are unforgiveable. He did tell the RH writers they were f**king crazy at one point (I agreed with him!). I have a temper, too, but I have worked hard to manage it over the years, so I am the last to stand in judgment.
I think he is a very grounded and disciplined person and that’s why we don’t get stories of RA throwing phones at hotel employees in fits of pique or engaging in brawls outside nightclubs. That’s just not his MO. I don’t think he’s a saint or that he wants people to put him on a pedestal.
I do think there’s a lot of good inside him and I am appreciate all that he offers in a world of “celebrities” like the Kardashian clan. *shudder*
Integrity. That’s it. The man has integrity.
Integrity, definitely. Excellent word for it. So what did he yell at the RH writers about? The season 2 finale?
(Can I help wondering? I was shipping Guy/Marian big time and just wanted Robin to get out of the way…if the show hadn’t been named after him, I would have wished that him and his rather annoying, two-dimensional gang got written out of the story. :-D)
Yep, he got the script for the S2 finale and was VERY unhappy. If they HAD to kill Lucy’s character off (mind you, I am not so sure it was Lucy’s idea to leave in the first place, I think someone engineered that) it should have been Vasey who did the deed. We all know how much he hated the leper. I know it was a hard scene for Lucy and Richard and they spent a lot of time preparing for it. *sigh*
I definitely didn’t watch Robin Hood for the titular hero. No, indeed. Character badly written and poorly cast IMHO. When some people carped that it was The Guy of Gisborne Show in S3, all I could think was, “Good! He deserves his own show, anyway!” LOL Gosh, I’d better go to bed, it is close to 2 am here. I am meeting with the lady I am collaborating with on a children’s book re adoption tomorrow afternoon and I need to have my wits about me. 😉
Hah! Ditto on going to bed: it’s nearly 3am on my end. Sorry for keeping you up, and thanks!
Oh, I meant to ask: how did you hear about him yelling at the RH writers? Was it in an interview somewhere?
Hey, yeah, he mentioned it in a print interview, I do not remember where, sorry. I just remember thinking I didn’t blame him one bit. 😉
Oh, and I should add thanks for commenting, and welcome! 😀
Thanks! That’s the other thing that I’ve loved about discovering RA’s work: discovering a whole world of intelligent, (sometimes brutally) honest, and welcoming people in his fan base, who are actively creating and admiring and analyzing and laughing together. I feel like my own awareness of the world is widening in a really good way. I’m learning stuff and enjoying unexpected things beyond RA. So glad to be joining the conversation!
I’ve come to think of several of the fellow bloggers and blog readers and RA Twitter fans as true friends. I actually got to meet Servetus last year when she stopped in my hometown on her travels and we had a lovely time together. My husband practically has his own fan base, too–he’s a sweet and down-to-earth man and very understanding of my RA mania, bless him, and everyone feels they have gotten to know him, too.
I recently celebrated my first blogiversary and it’s amazing to think someone who lives in very rural part of the South has made friends all over the world, all ages, from all walks of life, united in their affection for a certain actor. Richard seems to attract a lot of very bright, creative, interesting, funny, delightful fans. And he inspires people in their lives, from writing novels and brushing up on their musical skills, to losing weight and getting fit, to starting their own blogs. 😉
He’s the catalyst for a lot of good things in fans’ lives, I think, and the rewards we reap go beyond the simple enjoyment of a detailed and nuanced actor’s work. 😀 I’ve said that Richard Armitage is the gift that keeps on giving, and I believe it.