Explanation about my comments yesterday -- the Elijah Radio 1 interview

[lyrastar77.livejournal.com]

After some comments and questions following my entry yesterday about Elijah's Radio 1 interview with Jo Whiley, I felt that some explanation (and perhaps something of an apology!) was warranted.

I was really pleased, on a personal level, about some of the things I heard Elijah say during the interview -- I felt others would probably be similarly pleased. But I think my enthusiasm might have inadvertently given the impression that some kind of "big announcement" was forthcoming!



First off, I've sometimes felt that Elijah was perhaps trying to distance himself too much (for my liking) from the LOTR movies and his role as Frodo. But when he said he was particularly proud of LOTR, it became obvious that the movies are still very important to him. Of course I loved hearing that.

As someone who really misses the whole LOTR boys thing, I was almost ecstatic when Jo Whiley asked if he was still in touch with the other LOTR cast members and, without hesitation, Elijah confirmed straight off that he speaks to Dom regularly -- yay!! He mentioned Billy & Viggo too, and I was hoping he would mention Sean of course, but the conversation kind of moved on a little.

Then the subject of Lost came up, and Elijah stated that he loves the show and then, "Initially of course I was interested in the show because of Dom & I wanted to support him." More squeeing from me!

There followed a question about how he feels regarding being over here in the UK and Elijah replied, "I love pub culture -- I love it, it's great!" More yay!! :-) He mentioned that he's a huge fan of Stella (Artois). I'm not a beer-drinker myself, but that's my son's favourite too! It's just great to know that he feels so at home over here -- that means that perhaps he'll be spending a lot of time in the UK in future, and of course that has to be good news for us!

Finally, when I met Elijah at ORC 2005, I congratulated him on the wonderful way he played Frodo (of course!), and then I told him I felt that he, and Sean too, should be made honorary Brits for their portrayal of the lead characters in what's perhaps our greatest story. His reply was: "I wish!"

I was so glad to hear that maybe, just maybe, what I said influenced him a little. And even if it didn't, according to what he said yesterday, he now *does* feel that he's sort of an honorary Brit. Of course I was over the moon to hear that! :-)

So this is what I meant by my comments yesterday. I didn't want to give out any spoilers for those who hadn't yet heard the interview at that stage. But I apologise if I misleadingly gave the impression that there was some kind of "big news" in the interview that we weren't already familiar with!

~Lyra

Comments

[mole-caz.livejournal.com]

I think Elijah will always be proud of LOTR and Frodo. It was such an important role for him and such an emotional roller coaster portraying him that he will never lose him.

Also so reassuring to hear that he is still so close to Dom [well we knew he was] and Billy and Viggo but Sean just doesn’t seem to be part of the fellowship these days. It can’t really be an age related issue so it maybe more of a family thing. Sean has too many other involvements and interests to keep a close contact with his old mates. I thought Elijah would be on Jo’s show if he could be. They do seem to have a good rapport with each other and she is relaxed and brings out the best in Elijah I think.

[ninaeatspie.livejournal.com]

I didnt see the post or the comments you made regarding the interview, but I just wanted to say that I cant wait to hear the interview as I basically agree with everything you've just said! Such excitment!

[lyrastar77.livejournal.com]

I think Elijah will always be proud of LOTR and Frodo.

I hope & believe that you're right. But I remember seeing a magazine cover once -- I can't remember exactly, but I think Elijah might have been wearing a Burger King T-shirt, and the caption was something like: "I'm not just a bl**dy hobbit!" And my heart kind of sank ... hobbits should *never* be referred to as "bl**dy" IMO, and what could be better than a hobbit anyway? Plus, hobbits certainly would *not* eat at Burger King! ;-D

Sean has too many other involvements and interests to keep a close contact with his old mates.

We can't know for certain what really goes on in Sean's head or in his life. Didn't he say at one of the cons that he would drive up to Elijah's house, park outside then call out, "Mr Frodo!" That was so good to hear! :-) And then they were spotted together at some obscure rock concert a few months back. So things might be different than they appear on the surface ...

~Lyra

[kissing-athelas.livejournal.com]

He mentioned that he's a huge fan of Stella (Artois).

It *is* the King of Beer. There's nothing quite like a Stella on a summer's day. But at the same time... Elijah drinks Wife-Beater?! If he's still as much of a lightweight as the rest of the cast said he was during the LOTR days... uh oh! ;)

[lyrastar77.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hope you'll manage to hear the interview soon & that nothing I've said will spoil it for you!

Oh, and I'm wondering whether, after The Oxford Murders is released, you'll be changing your LJ name to "ninalovespi"! ;-)

~Lyra

[lyrastar77.livejournal.com]

It *is* the King of Beer.

The closest I have ever got to Stella was when I "borrowed for keeps" a Stella Artois ashtray from a cafe on the Champs-Elysees in Paris! ;-) But I'll take your word for it ...

Elijah drinks Wife-Beater?!

Hey, what's wife-beater?! Is that Jack Daniels or what?

If he's still as much of a lightweight as the rest of the cast said he was during the LOTR days... uh oh! ;)

I know there have been some folk around here who were horrified to hear about the amounts he drank, and the type of drinks, whilst in NZ! Or by "lightweight" do you just mean a non-beer drinker?

~Lyra

[mole-caz.livejournal.com]

I'm sure Sean is still a part of Elijah's life but not as much perhaps as he once was. So much water has flown under the bridge since the LOTR days that they are bound to have moved on. But I don't know either of them so they may well meet up regularly only we don't hear about it. Doubt it though or Elijah would say so.

That caption sounds very unfortunate and I would prefer to think that it was a journalist trying to sell his article than believe that Elijah was sick of the role because he was unable to move on.

[kissing-athelas.livejournal.com]

Hey, what's wife-beater?! Is that Jack Daniels or what?

Wife-beater is slang for Stella. It's one of the strongest beers you can buy at most pubs, and for some reason it has a tendency to make people more violent than other beers do. As a former barmaid, I can vouch for this. The problem is it's very sweet and easy to drink, so it's very popular.

Or by "lightweight" do you just mean a non-beer drinker?

No, no, I meant intolerant to alcohol. In the cast commentary isn't there a bit where they take the piss out of Elijah for not being able to drink as hard as the others? And then they mock Orlando for the same thing. :)

As someone who's never been able to lose lightweight status, I wanna know Elijah's secret. :D

[primula-baggins.livejournal.com]

You're so cute. : D

Yeah, lots of squee-worth items in that show. Thanks for telling us what Stella is. I thought it might be a beer, but wasn't sure.

I'm sure he talks to Sean too, he just didn't get around to saying so. Maybe he doesn't talk to him as much as the others because Sean is busy with his family. But I'm posititive he talks to him now and then. Heck, he has to ask Sean to appear for him at the cons every now and then, doesn't he? : D As for him mentioning Viggo, since he'd just had dinner with Vig a few days earlier, it makes sense that Viggo would pop into his mind.

[ninaeatspie.livejournal.com]

As for him mentioning Viggo, since he'd just had dinner with Vig a few days earlier, it makes sense that Viggo would pop into his mind.

Why just that? Dont they live close to each other (their LA homes)? And I remember hearing from Elijah before that he talks to Viggo often (especially on the phone).

[lyrastar77.livejournal.com]

Doubt it though or Elijah would say so.

Again, none of us can possibly know for certain. They might meet up very regularly, only for reasons of their own they don't mention it to others ...

That caption sounds very unfortunate and I would prefer to think that it was a journalist trying to sell his article than believe that Elijah was sick of the role because he was unable to move on.

Have now found the relevant pic & will post it up! It's "damn" rather than "bl**dy", which is just as bad I guess! ;-)

~Lyra

And here is the mag cover I mentioned!

[lyrastar77.livejournal.com]

[mole-caz.livejournal.com]

'Damn' is marginally better than 'bl**dy' but not much I agree. And yes, there may well be a good reason why Elijah prefers to keep Sean in the background.

[lyrastar77.livejournal.com]

Wife-beater is slang for Stella. It's one of the strongest beers you can buy at most pubs

OMG, I didn't know that! It's French, isn't it? (Not that that really means anything ...) Remember that French Stella TV commercial with the donkey & cart & all the red flowers?

As someone who's never been able to lose lightweight status, I wanna know Elijah's secret. :D

Oh, it probably just means your liver has been damaged in some way if you have a very high alcohol tolerance! ;-D

~Lyra

[kissing-athelas.livejournal.com]

OMG, I didn't know that! It's French, isn't it?

I think it's Belgian, actually, though I could be wrong. As far as I know, the slang is a purely British insert... ;)

[lyrastar77.livejournal.com]

You're so cute. : D

Awwww, thank you! :-)

Yeah, lots of squee-worth items in that show.

Definitely!

Thanks for telling us what Stella is.

You're welcome! It's full name is "Stella Artois" which means "Pole Star" in French, so now ya know! ;-)

I'm sure he talks to Sean too, he just didn't get around to saying so. Maybe he doesn't talk to him as much as the others because Sean is busy with his family. But I'm posititive he talks to him now and then. Heck, he has to ask Sean to appear for him at the cons every now and then, doesn't he? : D

Yes, I'm quite sure he does. A good point there, regarding the con cancellations (ouch!) ;-)

Elijah said in the interview that the record label business is taking up most of his free time, too -- so I guess that impacts on his social life to some extent.

As for him mentioning Viggo, since he'd just had dinner with Vig a few days earlier, it makes sense that Viggo would pop into his mind.

Yeah, I was so glad to hear him mention Viggo too. And they had Argentinian food. Hmmmm, corned beef maybe? ;-) I thought they were going to eat Vietnamese food that evening but maybe I misunderstood. If I ever did know about Viggo growing up in Argentina, I didn't remember it. Interesting!

~Lyra

[lyrastar77.livejournal.com]

I think it's Belgian, actually, though I could be wrong. As far as I know, the slang is a purely British insert... ;)

Yes, it would probably make more sense if it's Belgian, as the French aren't really into beer/lager much, are they?

OMG, it's a good job I don't live over on the Continent! What with Belgian chocolate & moules frites & French food & wine ... *is suddenly starving*

~Lyra

What seems to be the accompanying article courtesy of elijahfan.com

[lyrastar77.livejournal.com]

Available to read here (http://www.elijahfan.com/elijah/gear.php).

~Lyra

[(Anonymous)]

I didn't comment on what you said yesterday. My only quiibble with your posting of your thoughts was that this is a public forum for discussion of real Elijah news, such as "Here's a nice new interview on BBC." IMVHO, this really isn't the place for "here are my personal reflections on the interview"; that sort of thing belongs maybe in the ocmments to the post, or if you intend to post at length about it, perhaps make it a post in your own LJ.

[lyrastar77.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your comments. Firstly, although some people had posted to say the interview was forthcoming, no-one had actually posted to say they'd listened to it. I think it's enjoyable to exchange opinions about the interview itself, and my post yesterday served as a kind of forum for that.

I don't think this post (or the one I previously made) were particularly long -- except of course that quite a few people chose to join in with the discussion. I have to admit I do sometimes miss the "chit-chat" that used to surround news items about Elijah on certain people's LJs, as that function has now been more or less taken over by elijah_finds. I dunno, maybe some others miss that too.

Lastly, my LJ is usually f-locked, and many of the readers here aren't friended to me. So even if I'd created an open post to explain more about my post yesterday, most people here wouldn't have know it existed.

If other people think there's anything wrong with this kind of more "personalised" post, they're welcome to speak up & say so. If the consensus of opinion is against it, then I wouldn't post similar items in future.

I don't object to you expressing an opinion about this, but it would have been nice if you'd posted with your normal username.

~Lyra

[westmoon.livejournal.com]

I certainly didn't have a problem with your post. Of course people are going to have an opinion on anything they find and share, and I can't imagine why it would be inappropriate to include it. That's part of the fun here, after all!

[sssneaking.livejournal.com]

I agree. I didn't see it as being any different to the multiple posts we routinely get for different sets of screen caps or the different Oxford Murders extras reports. We quite often get a flurry of reports around particular finds or topics. I think virtually all cases, all the different posts add something to the whole (the extras reports are a classic example of that) and it would not be the same without out them. Your post was no different to somebody squeeing to emphasise a particular photo in a new set and that's happened often enough.

Some of the interviews that happen are very samey and I wasn't sure I was going to bother downloading the Jo Whiley one (I find her a bit irritating) until I read your post so I certainly found is useful. I may not have completely shared your enthusiasm on the same bits of the interview but there were some poarts of the interview I found fascinating and different (the lines and the bits about PR being the real work) so I'm glad I downloaded it. I didn't have problem at all with what you said; it was perfectly clear it would depend on personal reactions how you took the interview.

Although this is a finds community, it would be very boring if nothing was allowed but the absolute bare bones of the finds. It would be devoid of all personality. I do understand your point about the lack of chit-chat. Maybe we need to make a little bit more effort to comment with thoughts (within the rules of the community) rather than just to thank people for posting. Thanking is very nice but it's hard for it to develop into further discussion as it's kind of closed (e.g. thank you! You're welcome! End of discussion).

[lyrastar77.livejournal.com]

Hi westmoon, and thanks for joining in to say my post wasn't a problem for you. I agree with you that people squeeing & expressing opinions is part of the fun! :-)

~Lyra

[lyrastar77.livejournal.com]

We quite often get a flurry of reports around particular finds or topics. ....... Your post was no different to somebody squeeing to emphasise a particular photo in a new set and that's happened often enough.

Thanks for contributing your opinion here.

I may not have completely shared your enthusiasm on the same bits of the interview but ........ I'm glad I downloaded it.

Yes, of course there were other interesting points raised too, such as how Elijah is almost in awe of John Hurt (which some of us already thought anyway). It's good to have Elijah over here for a change so I'm sure other Brits will understand my squeeing about it!

it would be very boring if nothing was allowed but the absolute bare bones of the finds. It would be devoid of all personality.

I would tend to agree with you there. Maybe we should mark all posts so that it's clear whether they are "new news", "old news" (people do often re-post things from the past), or "squee" then readers can click or ignore as they please! ;-) Oh well, at least I (re-)posted the front cover from an old mag & a link to the article!

~Lyra

*mod hat on*

[bunniewabbit.livejournal.com]

I don't really have a problem with this sort of entry being posted here, but I wouldn't want to see it become a frequent thing. I think the focus should stay on Elijah rather than our opinions about what he says/does, though, obviously that can always be part of an entry or comments to an entry.[/mod hat off]

That said, I was disappointed that he didn't mention Sean or Orlando, myself. I know he's in infrequent touch with Sean (Dom and Billy much more frequently, I would guess), but I can't help but wonder about his relationship with the Elf.