GoT Withdrawals: Maisie Williams

As many of you know, I am a huge Game of Thrones fan. I have even gotten a couple of you to watch it and also become hooked. You can thank me later. 😉

Yes, it can be graphic at times in terms of both sex and violence. It’s not for the very young, the very delicate or overly squeamish. But for grownups who enjoy an array of interesting characters played by very talented actors, literate and witty scripts and engaging storylines, it’s a winner.

HBO has taken this whole other world imagined by author GRR Martin  and brought its various kingdoms and inhabitants to vivid life on the screen. I admit I watched the episode with the great battle near the send of series 2 no less than five times, I found it that compelling.

Heck, I even love the opening credits. They are phenomenally creative and imaginative and the theme song is wonderful. The theme music has an epic feel and I love the cello. Hmmm, who does that cello remind me of?

There are many performers on GoT whose work I truly like. But one who was new to me who has completely won me over is young Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark, the feisty youngest daughter of Lord Ned Stark.

Maisie Williams during a break on the set of GoT. I think this picture is just too cute.

Maisie, who is 15, has appeared in musical theater and is an accomplished dancer, performing tap, jazz, ballet en pointe along with gymnastics and trampolining.  But GoT was her first onscreen role.  I think this pint-sized actess (she’s five feet tall) holds her on against much more experienced performers such as Sean Bean and Charles Dance.

Maisie as Arya in the guise of a young boy in the second series of GoT.

She is set to appear in an upcoming television series The Secret of Crickley Hall and will return in the third season of GoT (can’t hardly wait!!)

Here is a clip from Season 2 with Arya and Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance)

I truly look forward to seeing Maisie in other roles and I would love to see her acting with a certain TDHBEW, too. Of course, I would also love to see our Richard pop up on GoT. I haven’t read the books so I have no idea which character I might want him to play. I’d just enjoy seeing him on one of my favorite shows.

New video: “I Only Have Eyes for You”

I love the old standards in jazz and pop and “torch” songs. They are the type of songs that suit my own singing voice. This is a classic performed by an American cabaret singer who died much too soon, Nancy Lamott. I really love her unaffected, nuanced singing style and I hope you will, too. And, of course, there are lots of images of Mr. A.

Portah & Gerry: What a team

 

 

Guyday Friday: It’s a full moon

And it’s getting wild out there . . .  feral, furious, hungry, haunted, the hunter and the hunted. It must be Sir Guy . . .

Early Guyday Friday: I want (Guy) Candy

It’s 9:30 p.m. here but I swear it seems as if it should be closer to 12:30 p.m. or later. It has been a long day and I am hoping to call it a night before too terribly long. And so we will kick off Guyday Friday early. I feel–the need–for Guy Candy!!

 

Gosh, but I do love it when the man smirks like this. Sooooo sexy.

 

 
And for some general sweetness (and not just Guy):

Hit Me With Your Best Shot!:Guyday Friday

It’s still more than an hour before Guyday Friday officially kicks off but my head says I had better go ahead and post now.

As I have mentioned before, I love the Hood Academy featurette from the Robin Hood DVDs. Seeing Richard practice his riding, sword fighting and archery is such a pleasure: the way he looks with the disheveled hair and stubble, the air of quiet concentration, the intensity he brings to each activity. He puts so much of himself into his roles–and it shows.

 

 

 

Time to Party! It’s Armitage Day, Ladies & Gents

Here’s my third (and I promise!) final tribute vid for Richard’s birthday. Earlier I posted two vids of the chaRActers saluting their wonderful Creator. I actually think Thorin and Guy are vying for who is going to cut the cake. Those alpha males!

 

 

 

 

I wrote Mama Armitage a letter (well, a fictional one) in honor of her son’s day. Clink on the link at the right if you missed it.

And now here’s the vid, which I think everyone just might be able to see! Get your dancing shoes on and get ready to celebrate Richard Crispin Armitage’s birthday!  PAAAAAAR-TYYYYYY! Richard, I hope you have a very happy birthday and many, many more to come, dear fellow.

Technicolor Tuesday at TAE

Because as much as I love B&W and sepia, sometimes a girl just needs some COLOR.

 

 

 

 

 

Hey, there’s a good chance my fellow Americans can see THIS one.

At least dear Laurie had success watching it and she’s on this side of the pond. It should only be blocked in Germany. Swapped songs for a Three Dog Night classic and made a few other tweaks. Hope it brings some smiles and some celebratory spirit!

The ChaRActers have kicked off the celebration! (fanvid)

This is my first treat celebrating Richard’s upcoming birthday. The ChaRActers are hankering to get the party started–cake, champagne, kisses . . . and you know those filthy, raucous dwarfs like to party hard!

Ten Things I Learned from “This Year’s Love”

Last night I finally got around to watching This Year’s Love. It’s the 1999 Indie film that provided Richard Armitage’s screen debut in a very small but memorable role as the delightfully named “Smug Man at Party.”  Richard’s character obviously finds tattoo artist Danny (Henshall) completely out of place at  the posh party his partner Sophie (Jennifer Ehle) the rich rebel, has him attend.

Richard looking very handsome and suitably smug, given his role, with two unidentified actors in a scene from This Year’s Love.

 
Here’s the link to the snippet from the film that features Richard:

The film has a strong ensemble cast led by Jennifer Ehle and Douglas Henshall and a great soundtrack. It follows the misadventures of six young people in Camdentown, London as they keep searching for Mr. or Miss Right.  It’s funny but also quite painful in parts, not unlike real life, I suppose. It’s an interesting film and worth seeing even without RA’s film debut.

Now, here’s a list of things I learned while watching the film:

1. Don’t let your new husband find out you cheated on him with a friend’s husband on your wedding day. It doesn’t bode well for the future.
2. Never get drunk with a tattoo artist and let him tattoo your bum. It doesn’t bode well for the future.
3. Never get involved with a womanizing artist who never washes his hair. It doesn’t—hey, you get the idea.
4. Lizzie Bennett with long blonde dreadlocks and tattoos but still speaking posh is slightly disconcerting.
 5. Either have an excellent ear for Scottish accents or use the subtitles if you want to understand a large portion of the dialogue spoken by Douglas Henshall and Dougray Scott, or, as I like to think of them, the Two Dougies. (Fortunately, I have the former.)
6. It’s a heck of a lot better than Cleopatra (not that most things aren’t), but you don’t get to see Richard’s legs.  *sigh*
7. I sometimes miss Richard’s floppy hair. Reminds me of Harry and early Guy. *sigh*
 8. “The cast of Trainspotting gate-crashing Four Weddings and a Funeral” is a pretty apt description of the film. Posh mixed with squalor. Humor mixed with despair and tragedy.
9. Kathy Burke is a wonderful actress. I think I had only seen her on a chat show prior to watching this film.
10. Richard Armitage has always looked just swell in a tux.

Wake up with Lucas/Action Lucas

OK, I don’t know what Mr. Armitage looks like when actually he wakes up at home, but he certainly looks great feigning sleep and waking up with those heavy-lidded blue eyes and morning stubble . . . yummmmm.

 

 

 

And then once he’s had his morning java, shower *gulp* and slipped into his tight jeans and snug shirts, he’s off to be–Action Lucas. Running through the London streets, rifling through your drawers, defusing the bomb of the week and occasionally jumping into pools (in tight black jeans!!)  to punch up Russian mobsters and look really hot doing it.

 

 

 

That’s just our Lucas–taking care of business!!

Hallelujah I just love him so . . .

Tonight I feel the need for some sweet, sunny, funny, dear Harry Kennedy. How ’bout y’all?

 

Sorry, Mr. Bond. Nobody does it better than Lucas (and RA)

Like everyone else, I found the Bond/Queen Elizabeth scene filmed for last night’s Olympic opening ceremonies absolutely delightful. Your Majesty, I love a monarch with a sense of humor and I admire you more than ever.  However, like others I couldn’t help but wish you’d had a different escort, one who is even more attractive in a tuxedo than your Mr. Bond.

He’s in Your Majesty’s Secret Service, too, and dedicated to Queen and Country (don’t believe all that John Bateman hooey).  He’s clever, resourceful, he’s quick on his feet, and, oh yes–bloody gorgeous.

And frankly, nobody does it better.

And if you need any more proof to his desirability as an escort, well, here goes . . . and this one might make you want to put on your boogie shoes, ma’am.

I believe in fairy tales and serendipitous encounters . . .

Let your dreaming be your guide . . . if you seek, then you shall find . . .

photos courtesy of RAnet

A dream team come true.

Of the hundred-plus vids I have made over the past year or so, this particular career-wide vid really is one of my favs. I love the song–the inspirational lyrics, the infectious tune, Elizaveta’s ethereal voice–and it just seems to suit our man so well. I am truly glad the lanky lad from Leicestershire with the big “hooter” didn’t give up on his dreams–and went on to help make his and our own dreams come true. What a beautiful, intelligent, generous, gracious and talented man he has become! And what good company he is keeping these days . . .