I’ve said many times (and it bears repeating) that if I could choose one mentor in the audiobook genre of the voice acting field – or a mentor in dramatic arts, in general – it would be none other than the vastly gifted British actor Richard Armitage. He’s not only an incredible dramatic artist, but a wonderfully admirable person, as well. And since today just happens to be his 41st birthday, I wanted to post a little something in honor of it, and – in case you’re reading this and do not yet know of this brilliant actor – to share a bit of info about him.
A LAMDA alumnus, a former member of The Royal Shakespeare Company, and a favorite BBC male lead for many years running, Mr. Armitage has graced both stage and screen with exemplary talent. He’s been known for his roles as a brooding dramatic hero (John Thornton, North and South), a character inhabitation that continues to rival Colin Firth’s Mr. Darcy in popularity (not a small feat, to be sure!); a vindictive, yet redeemable, villain-turned-unexpected-hero (Guy of Gisborne, Robin Hood); a mysterious MI-5 spy with a tormented and convoluted past (Lucas North, Spooks); and a Marvel-Comics-inspired WWII German spy (Hienz Kruger, Captain America). To top it off, Armitage is predicted to soon be known the world over as the breakout superstar of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, in which he will play the dwarf lord Thorin Oakenshield, leader of the company of heroes that whisks Bilbo off on his legendary adventures. Armitage is also one of many fine actors who will be starring in Steve Quale’s tornado thriller Black Sky, which is currently being filmed here in the U.S….and, as rumor has it, Armitage’s character will supposedly be speaking in an American accent!
It will be quite an interesting thing, indeed, to see Richard Armitage play an American, as one of the actor’s most notable traits is his lovely baritone voice with its understated Leicester accent. He really does have a lovely voice. That being said, in addition to his stage, screen, and film accomplishments, Armitage is also an impressive audiobook narrator. I could listen – and have listened, truth be told – to his narration for hours on end. And his character inhabitations are excellent – most especially because he so thoroughly envisions and understands the characters he brings to life, their backstories and contexts. His most popular recent narrations have been a string of Georgette Heyer novels…my personal favorite of which is Venetia, a hilarious work of romantic intrigue and mishap, with its intelligent and beautiful title heroine and the rather enigmatically rakish hero Lord Damerel, who could never – in my mind – be properly voiced by anyone else.
So, in honor of his birthday, I want to encourage any readers who have not yet seen or heard Richard Armitage’s talent as an actor, to check him out. I think you’ll be happy you did. 😀
My recommendations? Here’s the shortlist. Definitely watch the BBC production of North and South (2004). If you like modern spy thrillers, watch Spooks…at least series 7-9, in which he’s featured. If you think you could stomach a really modernized (definitely geared toward mature audiences) and topsy-turvy version of Wuthering Heights, check out Sparkhouse (2002). If you want comedy, watch the two-part series finale of The Vicar of Dibley (also because Dawn French is hilarious and amazing, as well). (All of which, by the by, are available in segments on YouTube.) And, of course, please join all of us Tolkien-crazed fans in jumping up and down for the fact that there will now be three films (thank you, Peter Jackson!!) in which we’ll get to go along on the adventures of Thorin, Gandalf, Bilbo, and all of the other incredible characters that will be brought to life on the big screen. I’ve no doubt that these three films will prove every bit as impressive as Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. And in my humble opinion, Richard Armitage’s portrayal of Thorin will be an integral part of that!
All of that said, a very happy birthday to you, Mr. Armitage…and many, many happy returns! Thank you, sincerely, for being such a stellar example of acting at its best. Here’s to your day!
And cheers to each and every one of you for reading my ramblings. 😉
