Beneath battlefield grime, battered armor, and a weathered beard, Richard Armitage stepped into a defining moment of his career by embodying Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. As the leader of the Company of Dwarves, Thorin carried the weight of Tolkien’s legend and the expectations of fans. The on screen quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the dragon Smaug paralleled a personal journey for the actor, one that would push his craft in surprising ways. This reflection explores his experience working on The Hobbit.
Asked what stood out most for Armitage about bringing Thorin to life, he explained that the challenge lay in mastering a fighting style with a weapon that seemed to have a mind of its own. The sword demanded precision and control, and once it began moving, it dictated its own rhythm. The actor described this as a compelling aspect of the character and noted that the role presented a level of challenge he had never faced before, a culmination of his previous work.
Armitage described the role as offering a challenge unlike any other in his career, framing it as the moment that linked every prior job to this one. He explained that the part demanded growth and focus, pushing him toward a turning point in his acting journey.
Discussing the transition from a BBC mini series to a major film franchise, Armitage lightheartedly joked about budgets, saying there was more money and more people on set. Yet Peter Jackson’s direction kept the experience intimate, giving the cast time to breathe and experiment with the character. The actor also observed that the larger scale often affords filmmakers more time to refine performance, a trade that actors in film frequently crave.
On his first day, Armitage recalled standing before hundreds of colleagues to deliver a Maori welcome, the Pōwhiri, as part of blessing the soundstage. He admitted that the ceremony terrified him more than any on-screen moment. The set carried a heavy, electric energy, with many people in front of cameras and even more behind computer screens. Yet the nucleus of the project, Jackson and a close fellow actor, kept the atmosphere intimate, helping to quell fear and invite focus.
Armitage noted that on set there were numerous people, and behind the curtains, more minds at work on computers. Despite the scale, he found the central filmmaking process remained surprisingly intimate, focusing on the collaboration between Jackson and his actors, which helped dissolve fear and unlock spontaneity.
The actor spoke about portraying both younger and older versions of Thorin. He explained that he created backstory for the younger Thorin and approached the two ages differently. For the younger version, he aimed for quicker movements and a livelier voice, and he even allowed himself a broader smile to capture youth’s vitality. He added that he wrote a personal story for Thorin’s early days and Erebor, shaping the character’s arc from then to now.
Armitage recalled that as a fan he had the opportunity to walk onto the Bag End set before filming and feel awe at meeting Ian McKellen. He described a moment of disbelief when facing Gandalf and entering Middle-earth, admitting that he stood in the doorway with a sense of astonishment. He joked about the experience, noting that the moment felt almost surreal and that he had to take it all in before the cameras rolled.
Working with the familiar company from the Lords of the Rings trilogy felt like rehydrating a shared history. Armitage saw the experience as connecting the different casts and crews, giving energy to the new film. He also expressed admiration for Cate Blanchett and longed for a scene with Galadriel, reflecting the sense of kinship fostered by Jackson’s approach to loyalty and collaboration.
There was a sense of continuity that Jackson cultivated, a loyalty that invited actors back to the project. Armitage noted that the director’s ability to bind people to a common purpose inspired him to carry that spirit into his portrayal of Thorin.
When asked about his international debut as a bearded dwarf, Armitage joked about his look. He said he tends to look better in low light and dirt, explaining that harsh shadows suit his face and that grubby roles feel more authentic to him.
He recounts a moment on second unit where he and a team of twelve orcs rehearsed a scene. A mishap left him bruised when a shield clipped his face and his bottom tooth pierced his lip. His face swelled and blood streamed, and makeup had yet to be applied. The second unit director, Andy Serkis, brought a mirror and exclaimed that the result looked brilliant, prompting close-ups that otherwise would have required more makeup work.
On working with Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Armitage described him as a delightful man, adding that any moment of aggression toward Gandalf caused a touch of guilt, as he did not want to be too rough with the legendary wizard.
As audiences finally get to see the film, Armitage and Freeman reflected on how the process overshadowed the final product. They described the experience as epic and deeply fulfilling, noting that the journey itself was the reward and that sharing the movie with fans would reveal what they had gone through.
Regarding mementos from the production, Armitage recalled being given Orcrist, the Oakenshield, the door key, and a map on the last day of shooting. He called himself a lucky boy, with keepsakes that serve as tangible reminders of the voyage.
With a final nod to fans, the piece closes with a reminder to catch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in theatres.