Where are they now? - The Cast of LOTR - part 1

I have recently watched the trilogy for the 15th time, and I am still blown away by the accomplishment. I also noticed a few things that I hadn't before, especially in the performances. Of course everyone loved Ian McKellen and Viggo, but this time I noticed Liv, Bernard and especially Dominic as Merry.

It got me thinking about actors, and how they continue on. Being in these films would be the pinnacle of any career. These films are trophied and lauded and have a massive fan base. They will be considered one of the best films of all time by many many people. How do you follow that?
Out of this amazing cast who has been typecast, who has faltered, and who has used this opportunity to branch out?

Christopher Lee became more of a geek obsession by playing Count Dooku in "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" (try saying that 3 times in a row).
However aside from some more voice work, and a blink and you'll miss it role in "The Golden Compass" he has been absent of late.

He does have some other roles coming up, but the most curious of these is Robin Hardy's re-imagining of his 1973 classic "The Wicker Man" with Joan Collins called "Cowboys for Christ". Joan Collins for f*cks sake. This I really gotta see!!!

Elijah Wood began a series of quirky roles after LOTR. He especially like creepy. He played creepy stalker Patrick in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and creepy killer Kevin in "Sin City".
The cute little indie called "Everything is Illuminated" further cemented him as the guy to go to for quirky/strange man/child roles.
However since then he has been mainly doing voice work ("Happy Feet") and failing to impress critics ("The Oxford Murders") but nothing seems to have stuck. Next up....more voice work....
Elijah is blessed/cursed with eternally youthful face. Forever boyish and cute, and this could seriously hamper him from making casting directors final lists. It seems he could always be cast as man/boys.

To prove how vastly hotter a haircut and an eye patch can make you I give you David Wenham. As Faramir he didn't impress all that much. He spent the entire film in serious need of a wash, a shave, and a deep conditioner. But strip him bare and give him CGI abs and hello gorgeous!
Aside from "300" he has worked on the critically acclaimed "The Proposition" and next up he has a little film called "Australia" with two up and coming actors called Hugh and Nicole.

I really did not like Hugo Weaving's acting in the films. It was very very panto. I kept expecting Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders to pop out and do a skit when he spoke. He certainly over pronounced Ev-Ery Syl-Lable. The Council of Elrond scene still makes me cringe. I mean is it really pronounced "Morrrrrrrrrrr Dorrrrrrrrrrr"?

However he has proven his worth in movies like "Little Fish" with Cate Blanchette, and become fanboy lore by playing V in "V for Vendetta". Next up he has "The Wolf Man" with Benicio del Torro and the interesting looking "The Tender Hook"

Oh Liv...why have you not done so much?
She impressed me so much in the trilogy that I though the world would be her oyster.
Since completing the films she has worked steadily in some well received films like "Lonesome Jim" and "Reign Over Me" but she has failed to grab that spotlight she so deserves.

Next up she has "The Incredible Hulk" but that is hardly going to be her show (although I expect her to be so much better than the vapid Jennifer Connelly), and "The Strangers" which is a horror, but appears like it may really good (although it looks like a copy of "Ils").

I wish she would get cast in another light drama. I for one really enjoyed her in "Cookies Fortune"

Andy Serkis followed the film with another brilliant motion capture performance in "King Kong" (the man is genius....just watch the extras...his Kong scream is terrifying).
He followed this up with roles in "The Prestige", a Golden Globe nominated performance in "Longford" and the black comedy "The Cottage".

Next up more motion capture in "Tintin" as Captain Haddock and he is then directing himself in "Dark Blue Rising".
Go Andy.

Oh dear, oh dear.
Gimli will be your career beacon.

Since that role Jonathan Rhys-Davies has been in such productions as "The Legend of Sasquatch", "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale", as well as "Anaconda 3: The Offspring" and "Anaconda 4: Trail of Blood".
Perhaps he should have gotten that fellowship tattoo with the others instead of getting his stunt man to get one.
He needs another "Shogun", and quick!!

Miranda Otto - Sure she is in the apparently terrible "Cashmere Mafia" and had a few bit parts in a few films, but on a whole she has not lived up to her role as Eowyn, but that was an iconic role, and she never really delivered in the film. Even in the few films she has done she never really left much of an impact.
Perhaps TV is where she is best suited for the time being.
She seems like the type who would shine in gritty indie drama, she just needs to be cast. Maybe she will have more luck with the Australian film "How to Change in 9 Days"

Do I really need to talk about Viggo.
The man has had one of the most successful post LOTR careers of the bunch.
Since the film he turned in two critically acclaimed performances in two films directed by David Cronenberg, the latter gaining him his first Oscar nomination as well as a full on nude fight scene (yum)
Next up he has baity, baity, baity roles, so expect to see his name as a nominee called in the near future.

Next up what has happened to Merry, Gandalf, Bilbo, Theoden, Pippin, Legolas, Galadriel, Boromir and Sam.