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7:32 pm - 01/20/2013

'Hobbit' Star Richard Armitage Recalls His Time On 'Star Wars: Phantom Menace' Set



The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is arguably the most important movie of Richard Armitage's career, exposing the actor known from British television like Robin Hood and MI-5 to a global audience for the first time. Surprisingly, though, it's not his biggest movie to date.

That honor goes to another prequel: the infamous Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. As a budding actor, Armitage attended London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art while playing bit parts at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Like any actor looking to break out, Armitage was taking any film and television role that crossed his path. Thus, he became "Bravo Fighter Pilot" in George Lucas' much-maligned sci-fi epic.

The actor fondly remembers his brief time working on Star Wars, an experience that quickly exposed him as a Hollywood newbie. "Walking onto that set… I remember thinking, 'Why didn't they finish building the rest of the set?" Armitage tells Hollywood.com. "'Are they behind? They must be out of money.'"

Armitage is one of many famous faces who were still obscure to mainstream audiences back when The Phantom Menace hit screens back in 1999. Sharp eyes can catch a young Keira Knightley, a spot-on Natalie Portman lookalike, appearing as Padme's handmaiden Sabé. Lost in Translation and Somewhere director also appears as part of the Padme posse, while The Wire star Dominic West battles droids as one of the Palace Guards. Say what you will about the prequels, but they proved a breeding ground for young talent.

When Phantom Menace eventually hit theaters, Armitage was excited to see himself on the big screen. His biggest problem was actually seeing himself behind the many stars. "I certainly turned up and filmed a day, but I can't find myself in the movie!" Armitage says. "I think I ende up as a droid. I thought I was a fighter pilot. I can't find where I am I had a line to Ewan McGregor: 'No one's on board, sir.'"

We're here to help Mr. Armitage. We've managed to point him out in the below screenshot from The Phantom Menace. Needless to say, he has a bit more screentime in An Unexpected Journey.

Source

imanat 21st-Jan-2013 09:05 am (UTC)

queen_islanzadi 21st-Jan-2013 09:06 am (UTC)
omg awww
stellar_kar 21st-Jan-2013 09:13 am (UTC)
aww omg
the_angry_pixie 21st-Jan-2013 10:43 am (UTC)
got lost twice my ass. we know what you were doing Thorin!
pastelstar 22nd-Jan-2013 12:52 am (UTC)
thorin you so lame
drasticsigns 21st-Jan-2013 09:05 am (UTC)
drasticsigns 21st-Jan-2013 09:06 am (UTC)
Margaret’s a selfish bitch and she doesn’t deserve him.

I'm so glad you tagged this with #richard armitage <3333333333
steampen 21st-Jan-2013 09:10 am (UTC)
TEH DRAMAAAAA
loveumbrella 21st-Jan-2013 09:14 am (UTC)
oh my

who did the thing

that is unacceptable
stellar_kar 21st-Jan-2013 09:14 am (UTC)
some people really are just too jealous for their own good
drasticsigns 21st-Jan-2013 09:07 am (UTC)
drasticsigns 21st-Jan-2013 09:09 am (UTC)


ASKING THE CRUCIAL QUESTIONS, AS ALWAYS
stellar_kar 21st-Jan-2013 09:15 am (UTC)
lmao I see this person with hair dye of each color just in case richard comes to town
imanat 21st-Jan-2013 09:09 am (UTC)
drasticsigns 21st-Jan-2013 09:10 am (UTC)
lol
steampen 21st-Jan-2013 09:11 am (UTC)
The 1977 versions are creeping me the fuck out.
stellar_kar 21st-Jan-2013 09:16 am (UTC)
they're not so bad
all the characters are wonky looking in that version everyone was on shrooms!
loveumbrella 21st-Jan-2013 09:16 am (UTC)
the '77 versions remind me of

drasticsigns 21st-Jan-2013 09:10 am (UTC)
she_kender 21st-Jan-2013 10:58 am (UTC)
This one is one of my faves
railway 21st-Jan-2013 09:10 am (UTC)


I DON'T NEED TO GIVE MY REASONS.
queen_islanzadi 21st-Jan-2013 09:13 am (UTC)
mmm yes that half-unbuttoned shirt does things to me
stellar_kar 21st-Jan-2013 09:18 am (UTC)
I LOST ALL MY FALL GIFs

:( so thanks for posting some of these
imanat 21st-Jan-2013 09:25 am (UTC)
YOU DON'T NEED ANY.
xandy_candyx 21st-Jan-2013 09:40 am (UTC)
his arms...unf!
drasticsigns 21st-Jan-2013 09:11 am (UTC)
pastelstar 22nd-Jan-2013 12:54 am (UTC)
daniel-radcliffe-woman-in-black-01
drasticsigns 21st-Jan-2013 09:12 am (UTC)
drasticsigns 21st-Jan-2013 09:13 am (UTC)


railway 21st-Jan-2013 09:16 am (UTC)
SCANDALOUS HAND-TOUCHING

NEXT THING YOU KNOW WE'LL BE SEEING *ANKLES*
drasticsigns 21st-Jan-2013 09:17 am (UTC)
WHY I DO BELIEVE HE ALSO STARED AT HER WRISTS AND COLLARBONE, THE PERVERT
stellar_kar 21st-Jan-2013 09:18 am (UTC)
or shoulders! can you imagine!?
loveumbrella 21st-Jan-2013 09:29 am (UTC)
A TRUE LADY HAS NO ANKLES
drasticsigns 21st-Jan-2013 09:15 am (UTC)
lmao these pressed stans in the RA tag complaining about new fans
stellar_kar 21st-Jan-2013 09:19 am (UTC)
I'm more like the more the merrier! Except hair dye confession girl...
pastelstar 22nd-Jan-2013 12:55 am (UTC)
lol they think the new stans are diluting their non-existent chances of fucking him
madam_red 21st-Jan-2013 09:15 am (UTC)


praying for their dad rn



pamuya 21st-Jan-2013 09:15 am (UTC)
lmao omg
drasticsigns 21st-Jan-2013 09:17 am (UTC)
LMFAO
serenedawn 21st-Jan-2013 09:18 am (UTC)
omg the hair
queen_islanzadi 21st-Jan-2013 09:19 am (UTC)
stellar_kar 21st-Jan-2013 09:20 am (UTC)
LMAOOOOOOO first one had me cackling second pic had me dead and buried
steampen 21st-Jan-2013 09:21 am (UTC)
 photo judgingyou_zps54a35192.gif
ajk 21st-Jan-2013 09:23 am (UTC)
LMFAOOO BETWEEN THE SUPER TAME ARMITAGE CONFESSIONS AND THE BENJI CUMINBUNCHES FANART I AM DYING IN THIS POST.
xandy_candyx 21st-Jan-2013 09:43 am (UTC)
no, no, no...still have nightmares from that tag on tumblr!
brightstarmara 21st-Jan-2013 07:02 pm (UTC)
 photo tumblr_mb4yxbprLn1qi2j42_zps65aa3691.gif
pastelstar 22nd-Jan-2013 12:56 am (UTC)
mJz86
pastelstar 22nd-Jan-2013 12:56 am (UTC)
FAZED

fuck.
drasticsigns 21st-Jan-2013 09:18 am (UTC)


tbh I'm surprised he still has a full head of hair at 41
stellar_kar 21st-Jan-2013 09:20 am (UTC)
I forgot he was 41 :( I'm going to pretend he's 36 like I thought I feel less grave robbery
madam_red 21st-Jan-2013 09:21 am (UTC)
Well then
qween_tartii 21st-Jan-2013 11:15 am (UTC)
its all in your head and you should just chill
drasticsigns 21st-Jan-2013 09:18 am (UTC)
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