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Craig Parker Online
Craig Parker is a wanted man, thanks to his part as elf Haldir
in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Log on to www.craig-parker.net
and see for yourself. Fans from around the world worship him but he's not fazed.
"It's very flattering but one needs to take it with a grain of salt. It's about an amazing film that people love and an amazing story that people love. It's about being involved in that."
Dressing up, castles, battle scenes and fantasy. It was an opportunity he wouldn't miss, he says.
However, Craig wasn't as enthusiastic about being blonde. "I don't think I suit blonde, but the wigs were these spectacular things which were $15,000 worth of human hair. I was always aware that if I fell over and damaged the wig, it cost a lot more than I did."
Despite his popularity, Craig says he's not desperate to follow the likes of Martin Henderson to Hollywood.
"Maybe at some stage but I'm quite lazy in that I love my life here. I have a very good time in New Zealand and I work pretty much when I want to work and make a good living. And my friends are here. I have no great desire to spend three years starving in London or Los Angeles."
What's Up Doc?
The on-screen antics of Mercy Peak characters Dr William Kingsley (Jeffrey Thomas) and his son Alistair Kingsley (Craig Parker) prove that even medical practitioners require the odd check-up. TV Guide gave the actors who play the father-and-son duo a therapy session.
Tell us about William's relationship with Alistair.
Jeffrey: "They can just turn on each other in an instant.
They are very well tuned into each other and yet there's a lot
they don't know about each other. They are pretty close, they
just don't let it show very often. They are a bit like the odd
couple and they do find it hard to live with each other."
What about Alistair's relationship with William?
Craig: "William's old school. He has to know exactly what's
going on and be above the game the whole time and that's the infuriating
thing about him."
Do they communicate well?
Jeffrey: "I think William should talk to Alistair- communicate
more with him. They back off from each other. I think he should
just talk to him and tell him what's on his mind. He's quite keen
to tell other people to speak their minds but at times, particularly
with Alistair, he bites his lip and lets things go."
Craig: "They have moments of revolution where Alistair and
William battle and then they have moments of resolution where
you think, 'oh, they are OK now' and then something will trigger
them. They know each other so well and there are enough similarities
that they piss each other off."
Do your characters cope with their relationships with women?
Jeffrey: "I think William handles love as well as anybody
could."
Craig: "Where there's love, there's always heartbreak. A
few tears, a few drunken nights."
Craig, is your relationship with your real dad like Alistair
and William?
Craig: "It's quite different from their relationship, thank
God. We have a very good one, we don't battle, there's no locking
of horns. He's not a control freak in any way. He's a lovely,
funny man. I think he's given up on having any control in my life.
He just goes, 'Oh God, make your own mistakes."
Jeffrey, does William consider himself a good dad?
Jeffrey: "I think he feels he could have done it better,
that he probably spent less time in his role as a parent than
he wishes because he was busy doing other things like work and
council business. I think William does have a sense of regret
there.
Do the pair of you get on in real life?
Jeffrey: "He's awful. He's the most obnoxious person in the
world. I really despise him. I hate the ground he walks on. And
now for the truth: we seem to get on pretty well actually. After
a days filming, I give him a lift home and we talk about things
that have happened during the day and we have a good laugh. There's
something quite lovable about Craig."
Craig: "He's a very easy man to talk with. He's got a very
dry humour which I love. I would prod him and we would have this
'let's see how far we can push the other.' He just keeps going.
He's a very patient gentleman. But he loves playing golf and I
think golf is the most boring game in the world so we have conflict
there."