This past December, we ran an interview with Mark Hadlow, who plays Dori in The Hobbit films. Each day, throughout the traditional 12 days of Christmas, we posted a Q&A titled, The 12 Days of Dori. The post has become a tradition here at Middle-earth News, as last year we ran The 12 Days of Bombur, which covered an interview with Hobbit cast member, Stephen Hunter. It’s our way of spreading some fandom cheer to Tolkien fans the world over.
Below, you will find the interview in full, along with some bonus Q&As from the ever talented, Mark Hadlow. We hope you enjoy, and from all of us at Middle-earth News, Happy Yuletide and New Year!
Middle-earth News: Tell us a little bit about Dori. What do you most have in common with your character?
Mark Hadlow: Dori and I have quite a bit in common. First off right out there, lets not try and disguise it, he is an anal retentive, no doubt…. and as any of my family will tell you I probably am too, in some things. I think it’s also a little bit in the genre of control freak as well. Both my daughters remind me that I am far too worried about things I cannot control, so let it go.
Dori has the same preoccupation. He is also pretty fussy about his appearance and his brothers, but of course Nori tells him to shove it, while Ori would love to but realises Dori’s feelings would be hurt.
M-e News: Being that Ori is the elder brother of Nori and Ori, did any sibling rivalry play out on set and/or on film? How close were you to your cast brothers and do you think that connection will last years to come?
MH: This is a great question. I tried so hard to maintain the best possible working environment for my brothers and I, but Nori undermines me at every turn, secretly trying to take Ori away from me, turn him against me. Nori simply is a thief and he resents the fact that I am upright and responsible and every effort on my part to save Ori from the same murky destiny is met with bitter resentment and insult. Of course I turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to it, he will eventually succumb to the path of righteousness and propriety.
As for me, Jed has been a best mate for years and Adam now is part of my family, we are all close and I am sure we will always be so. Couldn’t wish for two better chaps to act with and enjoy being three brothers called the “Glories”.
M-e News: Tolkien’s work encompasses a huge mythology with a vast cast of characters. If you could play any character in Tolkien’s universe, who would it be and why?
MH: I have been Dori for 3 years and I walk, talk, sleep, and communicate as him when we are working. Tolkien wrote hundreds of characters. To be any other Tolkien creation would be amazing; they are rich, formidable, vibrant, colourful, dark, and foreboding; being any character would be an actor’s gift. Add Peter Jackson to the mix with Weta Digital/Workshops and viola, dream come true. I am not dreaming, I luckily get to see the magic of The Hobbit with two characters, when my other character Burt the troll came to life.
M-e News: In The Hobbit book, Dori plays the flute. Was there ever a time when flute playing was in the script, and if so, how hard was it to play with prosthetic hands? Did you ever consider taking lessons as preparation?
MH: I don’t know whether in the original drafts if Dori played flute, but we didn’t really discuss the flute because the final draft didn’t. I sing pretty well, so in Misty Mountain it was decided I would sing a high descant part, I think you can hear it if you listen closely. James Nesbit is an ace on the Irish Whistle so having show his amazing talent was more than enough of wind instruments. Dori’s Flute was surplus to requirements which was fine by me.
M-e News: While filming The Lord of the Rings trilogy, members of the cast got matching tattoos. Has The Hobbit cast done the same and can you reveal what it is? If not, what do you think you all would decide on if you did get tattoos?
MH: Tattoos for the Trilogists was I am sure an amazing outpouring of their bonding, but all that pain. We salute them. But we all agreed that a much easier, painless way was to have a ring made for each of us to have, and include Martin and Ian. So we have a ring with the story of the “Quest” engraved on the inside with a small diamond. It’s beautifully made and it is worn with great pride. At the premieres for the first film we all wore them. No doubt we will wear them again for two and three.
M-e News: Which dwarf would you say spends the most time on their hair? Nori’s style is very intricate, but Dori has so many braids!
MH: Dori’s hair and beard is a masterpiece the platting alone requires early rising at least an hour before the rest. Nori puts so much product on his it’s just stuck in position. Dori’s is natural and the preparation process one of almost monastic ritual. (My hair and beard makeup artist, Jaime Leigh McIntosh, was the genius and it looks so good, even after fire, water, snow, ice and food and drink.)
M-e News: There are always those scenes that are difficult to film. Was there a particular scene in The Hobbit films that you’re glad you’ll never have to repeat?
MH: I am glad I don’t have to fight imaginary Goblins again. OMG it was so hot and so full on, spending many days on set at Stone St. fighting the Goblins. We did a lot of scenes with a lot of takes. Of course, we were trained at the gym and our fitness was good, but the heat was almost unbearable, in the costumes, the prosthetics, and wigs. Thank god for a fantastic bunch of A/Ds and costume Department who kept us hydrated and as cool as possible. I felt sorry for the stunties and extras whom were playing the goblins, in all over one piece goblin suits. They could hardly breathe but they never complained.
M-e News: Film sets can be busy places! How do you stay in the moment? Do you have any tricks or games you play that help you stay fresh and spontaneous, in the moment when on stage or in a movie scene?
MH: Staying in the moment was made considerably easier with the fact that there were 12 other Dwarves doing the same as me and undergoing the extraordinary daily routine of prosthetics, makeup, wardrobe, and weapons to become our dwarves. With all the paraphernalia on it’s almost instant to be in the moment, to drop the table tennis bat and head in for blocking, and then with cameras about to roll a quick thought about accent and dwarf moment, and being Dori was amazingly quick.
Stage is a little different because once you start it’s like a roller coaster of emotion, laughter, tears, or tension and it stops when the play or musical ends. And the audience is right there so it’s all in one … a start, middle, and finish. No stopping, no re-take, no mistake. Using your experience and the other actors to deliver the production night after night with a new audience. That’s one of the reasons why you can do the play each night and be motivated by them.
M-e News: There are so many fantastic scene locations in The Hobbit films. Is there a particular set location you would love to revisit, and if so, why?
MH: The Hobbit is shot in New Zealand, every location was outstanding and it is breathtaking. Probably the most stunning was Mt. Ruapehu, it was just amazing what the production company had done to preserve the rare ground cover that we were filming on. Scaffolding erected to protect rare moss to get to and from set. And when we were filming to see as far as the eye could see in the Tongariro National Park, one of 28 World Heritage Parks, you knew that this was a special place, not just because we were filming here, but it’s ground is sacred and has great WAIRUA (spirit) for its local Iwi.
M-e News: What was the first film that you can remember seeing that made you want to be an actor? Which character?
MH: There are so many good films but ones that stand out were Peter Sellers early films and they certainly had an influence. I’m All Right Jack was one where his genius showed the clarity and focus of character acting and comic timing. Many others a bit later on such as The Duelists, Bullet, as well as North by Northwest and Rear Window, both Carey Grant pictures who was a brilliant actor. Alfred Hitchcock made these films as well.
M-e News: How do you make your choices of what projects and roles to play? And when you choose, how do you prepare for a role? Where do you start?
MH: Work is a priority. But the work has to challenge and excite. Being an actor requires constant upgrade. You can’t just settle and sit on your laurels. I regard next projects as the key to becoming more adaptable and staying abreast of advances and new processes. Learning lines is a memory exercise and if you leave it too long it is really hard to re engage, so I never stop auditioning and grafting for work. Roles now have to be advantageous and encourage me to step outside the box a little and stimulate. So I choose carefully and when I have made a choice or been offered a role I get as much information and research it and look at all the options that my character could portray. Such as voice, accent, physical appearance and character traits.
M-e News: Many fans are anxious to see Hobbit cast members in other films or plays. What current projects are you involved in and are there any we can look forward to in the future?
MH: The next projects are lining up. I have been cast in a film called Four Saints which is still in pre-production about four nurses setting up an aid post for wounded men on the front line in WW1. I’m playing a cad called Havistad. I am also about to start rehearsals on two plays one at the Court Theatre in Christchurch, NZ, When The Rain Stops Falling, and a second play, a one man show called MAMIL ( Middle aged Man in Lycra) about a man whose midlife crisis explodes in his face and his rise from the ashes due to the peloton of a men’s biking group. Nine characters all played by me. That opens middle of 2014! And my Navy job, Creative Director for the 75th Anniversary of the Royal New Zealand Navy in 2016 ticks over as well. No let up.
M-e News: Six Kiwis, two Scots, two Irishmen, two Englishmen, and an Aussie walk into a bar. Finish the joke!
MH: Six Kiwis, two Scots, two Irishmen, two Englishmen and one Aussie walk into a bar….and trip…..”D*mn,” they all cry, “who forgot to raise the bar, from the scale doubles’ last scene?”
M-e News: What was your favorite childhood movie?
MH: Favourite childhood film: My Fair Lady. Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison.
M-e News: Who or what truly inspires you?
MH: I am inspired by people who stand up for their principles and challenge the norm. For people who defend those who cannot defend themselves.
M-e News: Do you take lessons or personality traits away with you from the characters you play?
MH: Maybe accents are the about the best thing I take away, especially ones I enjoy.
We hope you enjoyed The 12 Days of Dori – The Full Mark Hadlow Interview! Many, many thanks to Mark for sharing his thoughts and memories with us all, we are truly honored.
