For Viggo Mortensen, acting in big budget Hollywood films is just one form of artistic release. Voted one of the world’s most beautiful men by numerous magazines, Mortensen is also an artist, photographer and a jazz musician. “It is all one thing, there are all different ways of expressing yourself,” said Mortensen, in Sydney to promote his Oscar nominated film A History of Violence. “You don’t have to make something that people call art. Living is an artistic activity, there is an art to getting through the day.” [More]

Be sure to tune into FOX tonight at 9PM (it has now moved to 10PM in Canada) EST to catch a new episode of “24” with Sean Astin. Sean has joined the cast of the hit show in it’s fifth season, he plays a savvy government agent who has taken control of ‘CTU’ the Counter Terrorism Unit.

LeafOfHumanTree writes: Viggo Mortensen was at the Sydney premiere of A History of Violence tonight at the George St cinemas. Viggo was an absolute gentleman and generous with his time. He signed everything for everyone, posing for photos, chatting to fans in different languages and shaking hands.

Before the film started, Viggo slowly worked his way down the red carpet, signing books, film postcards, DVD covers, calendars, etc for the fans. After the invitees had entered the cinema, cinema staff allowed fans to take down the posters and poster boards promoting A History of Violence, so I took one. Viggo then disappeared briefly to introduce the film to those VIPs invited to the screening and returned to sign more paraphernalia.

On his first trip down the carpet, Viggo was kind enough to sign a LOTR CD cover for me. When he returned from introducing the film, he was kind enough to sign my A History of Violence poster.

Here is a link to one of the few photos I took before my camera batteries died. I wish I could have taken a photo when he was smiling and turned my way, but the batteries were dead. [More]

Here is a link to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald about Viggo’s appearance at the premiere. [More]

Viggo is even more gorgeous in person than on film. Softly spoken, polite, patient and kind. He was a little serious, but smiled readily for photos and conversation.

I wish I could say that I said or asked something incredibly clever or gracious but I was dumbstruck and he had to say ‘And this is for…?’ when he came to sign my LOTR picture. ‘Is this how you spell it?’, he asked, as he wrote my name. I didn’t care – he could have signed it ‘To Rumpelstiltskin’ for all I cared!

Celebriel writes: The second annual Vacaville Middle Earth Festival is seeking volunteers of all acting skill levels to perform at the April 21-23, 2006 Festival. Please come to the open call audition Saturday March 4, 2006 at 10 am at New Town Square, Main St., Vacaville CA. Please bring or wear your costume if you have one. This a volunteer gig but will be great fun and a chance to strut your LOTR stuff. Questions? Call Shirley @ (707) 451-7539 (between 10am – 9pm) or Chris @ (707) 450-6758.

FanofFrodo writes: I wanted to let all the LOTR fans in the RI/CT area know about a trilogy showing. The Revival House in downtown Westerly will be showing the three movies starting at 12:00 noon today (February 26th). Here’s the link for their site and showtimes. It’s a small theater, so I hope it will be packed with faithful fans! [More]