This post takes me past the halfway point of the challenge at last — at this rate I might be done by Christmas! Continued from here.
K — Have you met RA? Where? Have you got a photo to share? And what did you say to him?
Unfortunately, I have not met RA. Well, I say “unfortunately”, but I expect that if I saw him on the street I would probably just let him walk by without saying anything. That’s certainly been my experience with other performers that I’ve almost encountered. And then of course I kick myself later!
The only time I’ve really been comfortable enough to talk to a performer I admired was at a meet and greet after a concert where the singer was seated at a table and people lined up to speak to her and have her autograph a CD. That was a good experience, and I was glad to have had the opportunity to tell her how much her music meant to me. I think that I would be okay speaking to RA in a setting like that. But it was a bit more controlled than a stage door experience, from the videos I’ve seen.
L — Dealbreakers — what would make you stop being RA’s fan?
I think it would have to be something like him being racist or committing a violent crime. Or perhaps being intentionally cruel to a fan. I’m not fond of some of his messages that sound preachy to me, but so far they haven’t made me stop being his fan.
M — RA has spoken Russian, French and German in his roles so far. How good was he and which one was your favourite?
I think RA is pretty good at his foreign language efforts. I’ve enjoyed hearing him speak French and German, probably because I have more familiarity with those languages, having taken them in school. I’ve always loved the sound of both, even though they are so different from each other.
As something a little different, I liked the way RA as Uhtred of Bebbanburg pronounced the Anglo Saxon phrase “Wyrd bið ful aræd” or “Fate is inexorable” as translated by Bernard Cornwell in The Lords of the North. (The phrase is from a poem entitled The Wanderer which may have been from a similar time period to the books, though it appeared in an anthology published later.) There’s just something about the way that RA wraps his mouth and his voice around that phrase and the names of the people and places in the audiobook.
N — Which language/accent would you like to hear RA speak in a future role?
You know, we don’t really get to hear enough of RA just speaking in his natural accent (which does sound pretty good), especially with him being in a TV show where he has to use an American accent. So, I’d vote for a British TV show where he can just relax and talk like himself.
I'm Feeling This 
Oh goodness, I had totally forgotten about my fan challenge. And like you, it’s going to take me until Christmas (2020, probably, rather than 2018…) to finish up… Thanks for the reminder. And also the idea that Richard’s Anglo-Saxon is your favourite language for him to speak. I agree – very sexay…
LikeLiked by 2 people
His natural Brit accent is swoon worthy! I do like his Russian talk as Lucas!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I really loved his Russian – whether he was speaking Russian or putting on a Russian accented English. The Russian oligarch in Spooks s8 e6 is majorly sexy, just for that (ok, and the arrogant demeanor and the glasses).
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hmm I gotta look that one up again. I love your “Russian accented English” ! That’s a super hard language to learn I suspect so kudos for him. I loved his scene in the Bedouin Bar in S7 when the Russian contact/call girl is smoozing and canoodling his ear and neck. His eye movements and them hands omg!!!!! 😍😍😍💗💗💗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, it’s actually kind of fun to have something to keep coming back to! (Truly, I can listen to him voice just about anything!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I agree that it is a pleasure to have his voice in one’s ear…
LikeLiked by 2 people
A total O- wow pleasure that’s for sure!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello there 👋
I know I’m late to the party but I’d like to throw my enthusiastic support behind your “his own accent” ( or at least an English one). Seems like we don’t get that too often these days except in audio only and I think he sounds wonderful as himself. I mean, if I wanna hear an American speak, I usually just gotta to the next room (if that far). 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Never too late! And welcome! I do love his English accent. I’ve tried to listen to audiobooks read by non-UK narrators, but i still keep coming back to Richard and other English narrators.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Somebody once said I had too great a liking for things that are ‘other’ because I married outside my nationality. I guess now I need my ‘other’ to be British because I’ve gotten too used to the American. 🙃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Richard Armitage Fan A to Z: O | I'm Feeling This
I’ve never been to one of the events where he really does speak to people (Pinter / Proust, Newcastle, the first week or two of the Crucible stage door), but I really think that would not be my speed. The stage door seems to be more my style, now that I’m clear on what I’m doing there. I think the only way I’d want to meet him is if he had no idea who I was.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Truly I think I’d be tongue-tied if I ever met him. Too overwhelming I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person