Actor John Rhys-Davies talks about LOTR, Hollywood, and real war

National Review Online ^ | March 5, 2004 | Andrew Leigh

[future tense]

It's a common perception that Hollywood is a liberal town, and rightly so. There are a few bold souls, however, who are willing to swim against the tide.

One of these starred in the film that won the most Oscars last Sunday night. He's John Rhys-Davies, who played Gimli in The Lord of the Rings (as well as Sallah in the Indiana Jones movies, in addition to many other roles). His comments over the past month or so regarding world affairs have ignited a firestorm of controversy in his home country of Great Britain.

Rather than taking up the banner of global warming, AIDS, world peace, or some other trendy cause, as most of his colleagues are prone to do, the Welsh-born actor has chosen as his particular hobbyhorse the growing demographic crisis in Europe.

He also regularly heaps praise on President George W. Bush and his war on terror, including the invasion of Iraq. "There are at least four or five [officials in the Bush administration] who could hold their own against the Founding Fathers," he says. This is blasphemous speech in Europe and Hollywood alike.

n a recent interview at a European-style café near Hollywood's Universal Studios, Rhys-Davies jokes about his candor, saying with a laugh that betrays a little nervousness, "Every time I open my mouth, I may be committing career suicide."

But he does not hold back, flatly stating, "I think that radical Islam has declared war on the West."...

[future tense]

Why aren't more Hollywood actors like this guy? He really tells it like it is, damn the consequences to his career. We need to show our support for him somehow, to counter all the left-wing critics who are calling him "racist" and so forth for telling the truth about the growing Muslim menace in Europe. Read the whole thing...

[Welsh Rabbit]

ping

[sauropod]

Ping.

[paul in cape]

[lawgirl]

I am going to pull out my Indiana Jones trilogy tonight and watch it just in honor of him.

[CasearianDaoist]

He will not be working in Hollywood any time soon after this. On the other hand, I bet he does not need the work.

[Welsh Rabbit]

"This could stir up racial hatred in society. It's ignorance, he should learn more about Islam...before he makes these comments."

He did learn, and was rightly alarmed by what he found.

[edeal]

It's nice to find out an actor you think does good work has some conservative ideals. After I found out Tim Robbins was a flaming Lefty, I decided to not try to find out about the politics of actors I liked.

[Jeff Chandler]

I heard an interview of him on the radio. He refers to moslems as "submissionists".

[raloxk]

"Why aren't more Hollywood actors like this guy?"

Well becasue most arent smart enough to think for themselves. Secondly, who cares if they are or arent?

[shellylet]

After the so-called "Hollywood expert" comments regarding the supposed failure of the Lord of the Rings & Passion of the Christ movies....who cares what they think anyway! They have proven themselves to be idiots time and time again!
This man has honor and integrity. He's going to be just fine!

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

Hurrah for Gimli. A Dwarf with big ideas.

Actually, Mr. Rhys-Davies is 6'1". This is one Dwarf who will not be tossed!

[DoughtyOne]

Very nice.

[DoughtyOne]

Who was that guy that wrote a book about this very thing a few years back? LOL Look for JRD to get the usual treatment by the usual suspects.

[xrp]

[Cicero]

He did a great job as Gimli. I'm sorry they didn't give him better lines. The weakest aspect of the movie was to diminish the true nobility of many of the characters, as compared to the books. Faramir especially, but Gimli was made into too much of a clown. But he sure did a good job with what he was given.

[jwalburg]

He'd make a great Peter in the next Gibson epic.

[bmwcyle]

Key factor here is "the Welsh-born actor". I have Welsh roots also. We are both not from the sissy London born.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I am going to pull out my Indiana Jones trilogy tonight and watch it just in honor of him.

Widescreen or fullscreen? (I'm thinking of buying it.)

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Why aren't more Hollywood actors like this guy?

Because they're too busy playing poker on TV, and trying to look COOL.