Serkis on Gollum

By: Mike Whybark
Date: Monday, December 16, 2002
Source: Chicago Sun-Times

THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES runs a feature on this year's pickup shoots in New Zealand for THE TWO TOWERS and among words with Peter Jackson, Liv Tyler and others are some thoughts from Andy Serkis, the man behind the film's CGI Gollum.

Concerning the process whereby he played the creature, Serkis says, "We shot two versions for every scene for Gollum/Smeagol. One had me so they [could computer generate] how [the animated] Gollum should move. Peter said he saw my face and thought I looked like a Gollum puppet. That's why he hired me. I hope he was joking, but you can never tell with Peter."

Concerning the character of Gollum, Serkis offered, "I play Gollum as a junkie for the Ring. He is the abuser. Smeagol is like an abused child. Sometimes people aren't able to make choices, and that's kind of how I view Smeagol. He's trying to be good but he can't completely escape Gollum's influences."

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