Photo: www.serkis.com
Andy Serkis turns 48 today! He’s probably most famous for his groundbreaking portrayal of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings, but in addition to his impressive performance capture credits, actor Andy Serkis has appeared in over 70 films and television programs.
Like many actors, Andy got his start on the stage. While he was at Lancaster University to study visual arts, he became involved with the theatre department. In addition to taking his first steps as an actor, it was there that he got an education in design, lighting, and staging that would serve him well in his career. He went on to earn accolades for his performances in a variety of different roles. His versatility shows with a glance at his Shakespearean credits; he played Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Fool in King Lear, and Iago in Othello.
In 1999, Andy won the coveted role of Gollum in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Using performance capture technology, he and the team at Weta Digital created the physical performance of Gollum and translated that to the character seen on screen. For many of us, our first introduction to Andy was footage of him in a skin-tight blue suit strewn with reflective ping-pong balls. He wrote a book about his experiences, titled Gollum: How We Made Movie Magic.
Andy went on to become famous for his performance capture roles, playing Kong in King Kong, Caesar in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the King in the video game Heavenly Sword, and Captain Haddock in The Adventures of Tintin. Later this year, audiences can see him reprise his role as Gollum in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
In addition to acting in The Hobbit, Andy has stepped behind the camera and into the position of 2nd Unit Director for Peter Jackson. According to Andy, “It’s an extraordinary process. I’m loving it. Peter is such an amazing director and a great mentor. I’m loving working for him and being his eyes where he can’t be.”
I know, I know, we can’t wait either! The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits cinemas December 14, 2012. Here’s wishing Andy a very happy birthday from everyone at Middle-earth Network!
