Andy Serkis has revealed that his representation of Gollum is inspired by his cat.
The actor from ‘Lord of the Rings’, who is preparing to take on the role of the ring-obsessed creature again in the fantasy prequel ‘The Hobbit’, dedicates months to fully embodying his characters for an authentic portrayal, leading him to observe his feline closely for unique mannerisms.
He remarked, ‘It comes down to examining your own life and connecting it to your character. Your life evolves. You transform yourself.’
‘For Gollum, I took inspiration from various sources, including my cat. Think of hairballs.’
‘I also explored him from a psychological standpoint. How would he relate if he were a person? Considering addiction and its effects.’
Having vacationed numerous summers in Iraq, thanks to his father’s work, Andy aspires to establish a film festival in Baghdad.
He shared, ‘We visited every summer. I hold fond memories.’
‘Baghdad once boasted a plethora of cinemas—64 in the center, to be precise. Now, there’s not a single functioning projector. I would love to organize a film festival someday.’
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Andy Serkis. I’m not certain if he had just
wrapped filming ‘Shiner’—the gangster flick featuring Michael Caine and Frank Harper (known for ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’, ‘Bend It Like Beckham’, and ‘Rise of the Foot Soldier’).
Frank’s dad, Dave, owned a pub in South London where I spent countless nights… or shall I say, I practically resided there. We shared many late night drinks and, truth be told, I have a slew of amusing stories… none of which are fit for sharing right now. It’s a guy thing… it’s all about maintaining the honor, you know? One cannot go around spilling the proverbial ‘cats out of bags’.
There’s little more to add, except that during that evening, Andy mentioned his cat and made a sound reminiscent of Gollum. We were all imitating one another and enjoying some drinks, but Andy had an extraordinary talent for odd impersonations. He gave us an idea of what his cat might sound like if it were human—and Gollum sprung to life even before we understood what he was supposed to sound like.
If you were hoping for a bizarre story about Mr. Serkis having a fondness for leather or dressing up in schoolgirl attire, I apologize. This man is not only a remarkable actor but also a fine gentleman.
Moreover, he excels at embodying Gollum, not solely because of the visual effects, but due to the depth he brings to the role as an actor.
by Wallace McTavish
