Another Richard Armitage Challenge 2020! Social Distancing Edition #24

New York Premiere of The Hobbit AUJ

If you had the opportunity to meet RA, what would you like to talk to him about? 

An unforgettable moment for me was meeting and talking to (in a group situation) Richard Armitage in 2012.  

If you would like to read all about it you can click HERE.

__________

So if I had the good fortune of meeting RA for a second time, what would I like to talk to him about?

What a difficult question.

Of course in a perfect world I would love to just have a relaxing conversation with him over a cup of coffee, or a glass of wine, about life and wherever else our conversation would lead us to talk about. Two people that could be friends, just talking about life.

BUT

If I had a more limited opportunity to meet him and talk to him as longtime fan and favorite actor, maybe over a glass of wine at some opening night party, after we had covered exchanging our thoughts about whatever play or movie he was starring in that I had just seen him in, what would I talk to him about? 

Richard III

Click on link below for info on the photo

https://m.facebook.com/114452911904874/photos/a.213049085378589/2401890133161129/?type=3&theater

I would love to talk to Richard A about his feelings an thoughts about Richard III now and what happened to the plans he had for a series about the real Richard III back in 2006-2007?

Now that he has his own production company, would he go back to this idea of exploring the real Richard III as a TV series or even documentary? Does he feel he's too old to play R3 and would he play the Earl of Warwick then?  

What are his thoughts about playing Warwick?

How about playing Richard in a version of Shakespeare's play? Other actors have played the lead role way into their 50's or even 60's?  I know RA feels the play is not true to the real R3, but Shakespeare plays have been reinterpreted in many ways.  

Could he convince David Hewson to write a Richard III novel that RA could perform/narrate?Would he like to do so?

Has he talked to his father over the years about the plans he once had, and hopefully still has, for a series about Richard III?  

(Richard's father is a Richard III fan)

What can RA supporters do, in a practical way, not a financial way, to help make the Richard III series a reality?  

Richard III: Equal Time for Leicester and York

Video from Leicester

(I recently finished an online course about Richard III's life and times from the University of Leicester and FutureLearn, and the narrator's voice I'm sure is our professor's voice. Nice find for me this morning.)

A special song from York (Click on Links):

https://soundcloud.com/johnny-hewes/let-him-come-home


http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/10987481.Richard_III_homecoming____anthem____penned/?ref=twtrec


 Why Richard III?

http://kingrichardarmitage.rgcwp.com/

King Richard Armitage Week 2013 Coming Soon

Richard Armitage and Richard III fans please note - King Richard Armitage Week starts August 21.

KRA will celebrate the birthday of dear Richard Armitage with articles, stories, history, games, and the contributions of fellow KRA and RA bloggers and participating websites.  

To stay up to date with all events, make sure to check the KRA website daily starting on August 21.

http://kingrichardarmitage.rgcwp.com/

What is KRA?  Click HERE and sign the petition

King Richard III 

(facial reconstruction)

Richard III: Leicester (Richard Armitage) vs York (Sean Bean) - Poll: Who has the most Plantagenet Nose

I don't have any British ancestry, so I'm staying out of the Leicester or York debate on where Richard III should be buried:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/world/europe/leicester-and-york-debate-where-richard-iii-should-be-reburied.html?_r=0

But the debate and reconstruction of Richard III's face made me think about my two favorite actors and their profiles.  You see, Richard Armitage is from Leicestershire and Sean Bean is from Yorkshire.

Pics from The British Library

Comparing the profile of Richard III, definitely a Plantagenet, to the profile of Richard Armitage and Sean Bean per the photos below, the poll question is:

Who has the most Plantagenet nose?  RA or SB? 

Please vote - Poll on the right hand sidebar

Pics thanks to The Mighty Bean, Richard Armitage Online, RichardArmitagenet.com, various Google Image sites.

We Have Richard III

University of Leicester confirms in press conference this morning that the remains found in the Leicester car park are indeed those of Richard III.

More about this on the news and at the links below:

http://www.le.ac.uk/richardiii/


http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-02-04/meet-philippa-langley-the-woman-who-discovered-richard-iii-in-a-car-park#.UQ-gKf0y_qs.twitter

Will we hear from Richard Armitage this week on BBC Radio Leicester about this amazing discovery of Richard III in Leicester? Will we hear from him about a future program/series about Richard III and his interest in starring in, or producing, such a program/series? We hope we will. 

Petition for “Richard III”

For several years, Richard Armitage, the famous British actor and star of “North and South,” “Robin Hood,” “Spooks,” “Strike Back,” and the upcoming “The Hobbit” films has been seeking financing to make a film or television series exploring a more historically accurate portrayal of King Richard III of England.

Please support Richard Armitage’s effort by signing this petition and encouraging potential financiers and production investors to support the “Richard III” project.

 Petition at the link below:

http://kingrichardarmitage.rgcwp.com/petition-for-richard-iii/



Update and More information from the University of Leicester Press Office - Thanks to KRA:

UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER ANNOUNCES DISCOVERY OF KING RICHARD III

UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER REVEALS:

• Wealth of evidence, including radiocarbon dating, radiological evidence, DNA and bone analysis and archaeological results, confirms identity of last Plantagenet king who died over 500 years ago

• DNA from skeleton matches TWO of Richard III’s maternal line relatives.  Leicester genealogist verifies living relatives of Richard III’s family

• Individual likely to have been killed by one of two fatal injuries to the skull – one possibly from a sword and one possibly from a halberd

• 10 wounds discovered on skeleton - Richard III killed by trauma to the back of the head.  Part of the skull sliced off

• Radiocarbon dating reveals individual had a high protein diet – including significant amounts of seafood – meaning he was likely to be of high status

• Radiocarbon dating reveals individual died in the second half of the 15th or in the early 16th century – consistent with Richard’s death in 1485

• Skeleton reveals severe scoliosis – onset believed to have occurred at the time of puberty

• Although around 5 feet 8 inches tall (1.72m), condition meant King Richard III would have stood significantly  shorter and his right shoulder may have been higher than the left

• Feet were truncated at an unknown point in the past, but a significant time after the burial

• Corpse was subjected to ‘humiliation injuries’ –including a sword through the right buttock

• Individual had unusually slender, almost feminine, build for a man – in keeping with contemporaneous accounts

• No evidence for ‘withered arm’ –as portrayed by Shakespeare – found

• Possibility that the individual’s hands were tied

• Grave was hastily dug, was not big enough and there was no shroud or coffin

The University of Leicester, in association with Leicester City Council and the Richard III Society, led the Search for Richard III.

The Search for Richard III is also the subject of a Channel 4 documentary made by Darlow Smithson Productions.

The documentary makers had exclusive access to the search team during the archaeological dig and during the scientific tests to determine the skeleton’s identity.

Their documentary, Richard III: King in the Car Park, can be seen at 9pm on Channel 4 today (Monday, February 4).

More information about Channel 4’s Richard III: King in the Car Park documentary can be found at:http://www.channel4.com/programmes/richard-iii-the-king-in-the-car-park/episode-guide/series-1/episode-1

The public can find more information about the University of Leicester’s Search for Richard III at:www.le.ac.uk/richardiii

Ends

Facial Reconstruction of Richard III (University of Leicester - February 5, 2013)

Resemblance with Richard Armitage? I think so, do you?

Richard Armitage as Guy of Gisborne

_________________________________________________

Interesting post from the academic point of view: 

Popularizing Archaeology: Richard III and Archaeological Theater  by Paul Mullins:

http://paulmullins.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/popularizing-archaeology-richard-iii-and-archaeological-theater/

____________________________________________________________________________

The Search for Richard III: Wonderful Drawings by Emma Vieceli from The University of Leicester Site

For more drawings and the story of the drawings inspired by the archeological dig and about graphic artist Emma Vieceli go to the link below:

http://www2.le.ac.uk/news/blog/2012/september/richard-iii-pictures

Interview with the artist from Medievalist.net

http://www.medievalists.net/2012/09/14/the-story-of-richard-iii-as-graphic-novel/

King Richard Armitage Week: Four Directors Armitage Should Consider for His Richard III Production

I love historical drama but not all historical drama has lived up to my expectations. Though I've watched both The Tudors and The Borgias I must confess I'm not a huge fan of either show. I do like The Tudors much  better, but I still find that both programs often have the look and feel of a glorified soap opera. The Eastenders with lavish costumes and locations.  

Richard Armitage has expressed his interest and commitment to a historically accurate portrayal of  Richard III's life and time.  I have no doubt that whatever project he's involved in will be the best. But television programs and films are a team effort involving many talented and dedicated people including writers, producers, actors, and directors.    

A key element of any successful television program is the right director.  Richard Armitage as producer of a future Richard III television series will need to find someone that shares his vision and will successfully bring his dream project to the screen. In a multi episode series he could select one director to put his stamp on the entire program, or he could use multiple directors for a set of episodes to make it more interesting for the actors and the audience.  I propose the four directors below for his consideration. 



Asif Kapadia

Kapadia is a film and documentary director who often looks to his Asian roots for inspiration, but he was born in London. He has a great eye for location and use of stunning scenery.  The environment and location of the story becomes a character in his hands.  His film The Warrior (trailer below) shows his ability to direct a historical epic.

Ashley Pearce

British director Ashley Pearce has a track record with period dramas having directed episodes of Downton Abbey, Poirot, and Garrow's Law.  He's also directed two episodes of Jimmie McGovern's Accused, including the recent episode Tracie with Sean Bean.

I've been watching Garrow's Law recently (thanks to great film watch friends) and it is the perfect blend of great acting and great directing.  Season 2 has a very period feel to the look,  but a contemporary pace in the story. I love the water imagery and the lighting of the first episode of Season 2 directed by Mr. Pearce (see video below).  His style would translate perfectly to a story of triumph and tragedy like Richard III. 

Brian Percival

Percival is another British director with much experience directing period drama.  Among his best known work is Shakespeare Re-Told (Much Ado About Nothing), The Ruby in the Smoke and The Old Curiosity Shop. He won the BAFTA Award for Best Short Film for his nine-minute short About a Girl.  He has an excellent connection with Richard Armitage having directed him in North & South.  

What can I say about the excellent North & South that hasn't already been said.  Percival brought the best out of actor Richard Armitage for his unforgettable performance as John Thornton and there is no reason to doubt it would be a great partnership of actor and director for Richard III.

Here is a clip of a scene all Armitage fans know well: Daniela Denby-Ashe and Richard Armitage directed by Brian Percival

Alan Taylor

Taylor is an American director who has directed many great television shows, many that may not be considered "period drama" but tell about a time gone by. I know Taylor's work from Game of Thrones, Mad Men and The West Wing. He also directed several episodes of Rome.

But the film of his that made me think he would be an excellent match for Armitage's Richard III is The Emperor's New Clothes. The film stars Ian Holm (Bilbo!) playing a dual role as Napoleon Bonaparte and his double. The premise of the film is that Napoleon escapes St. Helena and lives incognito in Paris plotting to regain the throne while his double pretends to be the real Napoleon in St. Helena.

Link to Trailer video

http://www.totalfilm.com/video/the-emperors-new-clothes-trailer-mpYRb6WV9t6i4

This post is my contribution to King Richard Armitage Week.

Don't forget to keep checking the KRA and Me + Richard Armitage website for more quiz questions.

King Richard Armitage Week 2012 - Come Play with Us

KRA Week Needs You! 

For King Richard Armitage Weeek KRA has a quiz with nineteen questions about Richard Armitage, Richard III, and the prospective Richard III project.  You can participate in the quiz until September 3. 

To find out about the quiz "question a day" and more details on how to participate go to one of the following:

King Richard Armitage website:

http://kingrichardarmitage.rgcwp.com/contributions/king-richard-week-2012/kra-2012-quiz/

Me + Richard Armitage:

http://meandrichard.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/spend-our-money/

What are the prizes:

• KRA Champion – selection via the most points achieved in the scavenger hunt. (If more than one participant have top points, the decision will be made by lot.)

• Participation price – the winner, a random participant – independent of his achieved points – selected by lot, will be able to direct the accumulated GBP 91.- to the one (or more) charity he choses from the Mr. Armitage’s Just Giving page.

• Free entry to the Conference of the Richard III Foundation, Inc. – taking place on 13th of October 2012 at the Dixie Grammar School in Market Bosworth with lots of interesting speakers and topics. More details here: Richard III Foundation-page
  (To ascertain, the ticket really goes to someone who can attend the Conference in Market Bosworth, we check this with a question in the quiz-forms. The ticket will only be given to someone who indicates he can attend and the candidate will be chosen by lot.)

Several Blogs and Sites will be participating in KRA Week. Check out the list below. 

To find out what the participating blogs and sites are posting during King Richard Armitage week go to the KRA site HERE. 

Phylly’s Fave

 

White Rose: Sincere and Simple Thoughts 

(This is me!)

 

Fitzg (on the KingRichardArmitage website)

 

Something About Love

 

Fly High!

 

Me + Richard Armitage

 

CDoart: Richard Armitage – History – Spooks

 

Zaniam

 

Plus special guest:

The Richard III Foundation, Inc., 

Hope you have fun participating in the quiz, and checking out the KRA site and participating blogs. The fun continues celebrating the birthday of our favorite actor.

Fabo's Faves: Video Blog #8 (Richard Armitage and The Hobbit Cast & Crew)

For Entire Vid Blog #8 from Peter Jackson go to:

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/07/23/59683-hobbit-vlog-8-unleashed-and-it-is-kinda-awesome/

Urgent Richard III Archaeology Appeal Until July 20th

Archaeological Search for Richard III


Philippa Langley, screenwriter and founder, in 1999, of the Scottish Branch of the Richard III Society, has sent out an urgent appeal. An archaeological dig is scheduled to take place this summer in Leicester, seeking the last resting place of Richard III, and hoping to find and re-inter his remains with proper solemnity. In addition it is hoped the excavations will be filmed, and then form part of a proposed landmark TV special telling Richard's real story. The project has encountered a sudden and unforeseen shortfall of funds and is in danger of closing down, hence they are appealing for urgent pledges of funds.

Concurrently with this archaeological project, Ms. Langley is preparing a script about the real Richard III which has the interest of Richard Armitage. Please note that Richard Armitage is not involved in the archaeological dig project.

For further information about how to support this project and ensure it is not cancelled this summer visit the King Richard Armitage blog at the link below:


http://kingrichardarmitage.rgcwp.com/2012/07/11/urgent-richard-iii-archaeology-appeal-till-20th-of-july-2012/


Or fill out the pledge form, link below:


http://kingrichardarmitage.rgcwp.com/pledge-for-king-richard-iii/


Thank you! 

Armitage as Richard III: Who Should Play Queen Anne

We’re in Day Three of the FanstRAvaganza 3 in THE KING RICHARD ARMITAGE tagteam chain! If you missed Day One and Day Two check out the posts at Fly High and Crispin's Eclipse.

Stained Glass - York Minster

If a series or film based on the historical Richard III of England with the king played by Richard Armitage becomes a reality, then who would be cast to play his wife Anne Neville? 
 (Note: Scroll down to the bottom of the post for poll results- 3/18/12)

Anne Neville (1456 – 1485) was first married to Edward of Westminster and was Princess of Wales and later Queen of England as wife of King Richard III. She had just one son, Edward (1474?-1484), with Richard III who died as a child. Anne died only a few months before her husband was defeated at the Battle of Bosworth (1485).


Anne was a member of the powerful northern English Neville family. Her father was Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick.  She knew Richard, then Duke of Gloucester, when they were both children and was briefly betrothed to him when she was 14 until her father changed sides and married her to Edward to secure the alliance with his mother, Margaret of Anjou. The history of Anne and Richard is long and complicated by politics and war and you can read more about it in the King Richard Armitage website HERE.

Anne Neville was buried in Westminster Abbey and on the wall is a memorial erected by the Richard III Society in 1960 with this description:

“In person she was seemly, amiable and beauteous…And according to the interpretation of her name Anne full gracious” REQUIESCAT IN PACE.

(Source: Onthetudortrail.com)

Anne Neville

From what I’ve been able to research there is no accurate portrait or detailed physical description of Anne Neville. In most romanticized versions of her she’s portrayed as being a brunette, though one of the portraits below has her as a redhead. But in those days artists would portray royal personages without ever having seen them.  

Richard III and Queen Anne

Richard III and Queen Anne

Detail from image above - Cardiff Castle Wales

Thinking about who should be cast as Anne Neville to Richard Armitage's Richard III I thought of actors that would be a good match for him in age range, screen presence, and ability. Below is my top three list to play Queen Anne:

Paloma Baeza 

Richard Armitage fans know Baeza for playing Lucas North's Russian ex-wife Elizaveta Starkova.  Of the three women that played love interests to Lucas North in Spooks to me she had the best chemistry with Richard on screen.  She is a graduate of English and Performing Arts from Bristol University and has had roles in several period and historical films and series including playing Bathsheba in Far from the Madding Crowd (1998) and  Kitty in Anna Karenina (2000). It would be great to see Baeza and Armitage together again on screen.

Michelle Dockery

Seems like the entire world knows Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary in the very popular TV series Downton Abbey.  Though there is more of an age difference between Dockery and Armitage than there was between Richard III and Anne Neville they are both strong actors and would make the relationship believable on screen. She is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.  She and Armitage have a connection since she's played Erminia Whythe in the TV series Cranford and he of course was John Thornton in North and South, both series based on the novels by Elizabeth Gaskell. 

Hattie Morahan

American audiences probably know her best for playing Elinor Dashwood in the 2008 version of Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility.  Morahan graduated from Cambridge University and has an extensive career on the stage and British television, beginning with her role in The Peacock Spring (1996) at sixteen, directed by her father. I liked her portrayal of Elinor Dashwood and have since seen her in several other UK television series. Her naturalness on screen is very similar to Armitage's own and I think they would be a good match. 

The Poll

So what do you think about the three choices above?  Look at the right hand sidebar and vote on the poll for your favorite of the three, or vote "other" and make your suggestion through the comments below.

I will update this post with post results on March 18.


Update - March 18


Results of Poll - Who should play Anne Neville?


The Winner is:  

Other with 34% of the vote

Suggestions from the comments:

Natalie Portman (Bccmee)

Julianne Moore (Gratiana)

Lucy Griffiths (Anonymous)

Kate Winslet (Anonymous)

Runner Up:

 Hattie Morahan with 30% of the vote

Third Place:

A  tie for Paloma Baeza and Michelle Dockery with 17% each

Thank you to everyone who voted

For more of THE KING RICHARD ARMITAGE In FanstRA 3 see Fly High and Crispin's Eclipse . Tomorrow The KR tagteam continues at Me + Richard Armitage. All F3 links can be found here.

Please support Richard Armitage’s effort by signing this petition and encouraging potential financiers and production investors to support the “Richard III” project - see link below.


http://kingrichardarmitage.rgcwp.com/petition-for-richard-iii/