Scottish actor John Bell may be the youngest member of the cast of The Hobbit, but this year alone he’s been in two blockbuster movies, Wrath of the Titans and Battleship. John is currently filming in the UK so we were delighted when he took a break from his busy schedule to answer some questions for Middle-earth News.
Middle-earth News: Thank you for being interviewed, John.
We’d like to know a little bit about you and how you got into acting? What was it like to be in Dr Who?
John Bell: Being on Dr Who was a dream come true for me. I was only 8 and already a huge Dr Who fan so to be able to not only visit but work on the set was unreal. I loved every minute of it, especially meeting David Tennant, Freema Agyeman and John Barrowman.
Can you tell us a little about the character you play in The Hobbit?
I play Bain, son of Bard the Bowman a young boy ready to do battle when needs be and to protect his father.
How did you get the part of Bain? Had you read the book before you got the part? Are you a fan of Middle-earth?
I got the part the old fashioned way going in for an audition and then getting call back to meet Peter, Fran and Philippa. I was incredibly nervous going into that audition as I realized how massive this was and I wanted to do my best. I hadn’t read The Hobbit before but I read it straight after I’d got it! My Dad is a huge fan of Tolkien and the LOTR movies so he was able to teach me a number of things.
Do you ever feel daunted by the thought of working with famous actors like Liam Neeson (Wrath of the Titans and Battleship) and Sir Ian McKellen? You have worked with fellow Hobbit actor Aidan Turner in the past. Does it help to have a familiar face on set when you first join a production?
I never really get star struck, they are just people after all, but I have to admit meeting Sir Ian McKellen for the first time was a little bit scary! It is always nice to have a familiar face when you come on to set for the first time especially someone as cool as Aidan. I mean how cool is it to have a vampire as a friend.
How does working on films abroad affect your family life? What did you do in your free time in New Zealand?
Whenever possible my Mum and Dad both come out with me but I miss my family when I’m away. It’s always sad to have to say goodbye to my Granny and Papa and my Granny “I” and my dog Angus but we video call them all the time. It is tough though, but well worth it.
In my free time I love to eat! There are so many great places in Wellington from Mexican to Vietnamese, I’m a bit of a foodie just now! New Zealand is all about outdoors so I also spent a lot of time walking and seeing the fabulous landscapes made famous by the LOTR movies.
Were there any light-hearted moments behind the scenes of The Hobbit that you can tell us about?
My Mum, Dad and I organized a karaoke one night at a Korean restaurant and that was a blast! My driver Yvette, all the scale doubles, my double Venetia, the one ring’s Larry and the dialect coaches Leith and Sarah were all singing away into the wee hours of the morning to Britney Spears and Tina Turner. Quite often at lunch the crew organize live bands and when Billy Connolly came on set, the first thing he did, before he even said hello to my Mum, was to take her hand and dance round the catering tent with her.
What would be your worst nightmare on set?
Turning up to a really long scene with lots of dialogue with the wrong lines and holding everyone up. “Touch wood” that will never happen.
You’ve been in The Wrath of the Titans and Battleship as well as The Hobbit. Apart from acting, what aspect of filming fascinates you most?
Meeting all the crazy and wonderful people that make a movie as well as travelling, but what I love to do is stunts! I’m a typical boy when it comes to that and I won’t shy away from a fight sequence, and I’m happy to slip into a harness whenever it’s needed so I can hang off a cliff or swing across a perilous ravine.
What do you think you will take away from the experience of working on The Hobbit?
A lot of great friends who I will keep forever all over the world and fond memories that will make me smile whenever I think about them, the atmosphere on The Hobbit is unique you are not just part of a film crew but part of a family.
Do you have any momentos from your films? What would you most love as a keep-sake from The Hobbit?
I have my very own sword which I got as a crew gift when I wrapped plus my dagger I use in the movie. I also have a cast of my face which was taken at Weta Workshop, one of the coolest places on the planet ever! It may look a little bit weird though! My own face up on a wall.
What sort of roles would you like to play in the future?
A really evil baddie or Batman, or a really evil baddie in a Batman movie. Or something wacky and out there maybe some weird Sci-Fi film like “12 Monkeys.”
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is in cinemas from 14 December 2012. Part Two, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, will be released on 13 December 2013.
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