Monaghan morphs from gallant Hobbit to rock star
By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
It's one thing to try to get into character as a produce-swiping Hobbit, quite another to cop the stance of a guy who once sang, "You're a slave to the money, then you die."
But so it is that Dominic Monaghan, his image set indelibly in the minds of this generation's "Lord of the Rings" fans as the diminutive but gallant Meriadoc Brandybuck, gets on with the rest of his acting life, playing a fading rock star stranded on a deserted tropical island on ABC's "Lost."
Monaghan's character, Charlie, is one of 48 survivors of a horrific airplane crash. The rest of the ensemble cast includes Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Ian Somerhalder, Jorge Garcia, Maggie Grace, Malcolm David Kelley, Naveen Andrews, Harold Perrineau, Josh Holloway, Terry O'Quinn, Daniel Dae Kim and Yunjim Kim.
The much-advertised survivor drama makes its broadcast debut at 7 p.m. Wednesday with the first half of the two-hour pilot filmed here in April. The show runs opposite another series shot on O`ahu, the NBC cop drama "Hawaii."
The full pilot episode, which has drawn mostly positive reviews, has already been screened at a comic convention in San Diego and at the weekly Sunset on the Beach event at Queen's Surf three weeks ago.
With almost the entire cast and crew in attendance at the "Sunset on the Beach" premiere, it was Monaghan, in free-flowing dress suitable for Shire dwellers and, perhaps, Men Without Hats who caused necks to crane the farthest.
"It's the film," said Monaghan, referring to The Box Office Juggernaut Trilogy That Need Not Be Named. "There's nothing I can do about it. I like the attention, but I didn't ask for it."
For now and, he hopes, for a good long run to come, Monaghan is enjoying year-round access to some killer surf spots, the occasional chance to show off his DJ skills at local clubs and, of course, the challenge of working on a high-profile American network TV series.
Here's what Monaghan had to say about the latest turn in an already impressive career path.
Q. So, get out much?
A. I don't go into Honolulu much. I live in Kailua and I hang out in Lanikai. I surf at Diamond Head and the North Shore.
Q. Your character, Charlie, is a heroin-using bass player on the downhill end of his career - how exactly do you prepare for a role like that?
A. It's actually quite easy to play a fading rock star. The guy I modeled my character after was Richard Ashcroft from an English band called The Verve (best known in America for their Grammy-nominated hit "Bitter Sweet Symphony"). I sort of copied his attitude and look.
A lot of actors want to be singers. It's easy for me to do this role because I'm immersed in music. I DJ a lot. Music is part of who I am.
Q. The pilot episode for "Lost" is reportedly the most expensive in history. Was it money well spent?
A. The pilot is a very cool idea and it's very cinematic. It doesn't look like a TV show.
Our first two episodes were directed by J.J. (co-creator and producer J.J. Abrams of "Alias" fame). I'm really excited to get it out there.
Q. Tell us about your project with Billy Boyd (Pippin Took from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy).
A. We finished a script. It's a story of two young British rapscallions who come to America and come upon the founding fathers. It's like "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure." I play an alcoholic English lord, and Billy is a Scottish noble.
We had to write this (ourselves) because you don't usually get these kinds of scripts. Usually they go to Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson.
We've been talking to DreamWorks and there is a lot of interest there. But it's hard to negotiate with me in Hawai`i and Billy in Scotland.
Q. Anything else?
A. If we don't do that movie, I want to do "Vurt," based on the novel by (Jeff) Noon. I'm heavily pursuing that.
Q. After all that time you spend in New Zealand shooting the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, now you end up in Hawai`i. You're becoming quite a tropical guy for an Englishman.
A. I've got that Pacific island vibe now. (Laughs.) I like to take on new challenges.
Hawai`i has a great sense of the environment. The sea, the sky, the trees - there is a lot of respect.
More 'Lost' news
ADVERTISEMENT
