The actor opens up about his real-life friendship with Robert Aramayo and the perils of wearing a prosthetic nose.
(Minor spoilers for season 1 episode 7, “The Eye,” ahead.)
What do you remember most about filming that scene?
Robert Aramayo as Elrond and Owain Arthur as Durin IV on ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’.Ben Rothstein/Prime Video
That’s the kind of overall feeling I had with Peter.
As an actor, you’re almost improvising with what’s happening right in front of you.
I don’t know who’s right in this scene.
Owain Arthur as Prince Durin IV in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’.Ben Rothstein/Prime Video
Am I going too far with what I want, or am I putting Khazad-dum in danger?
Is my father right?
Is my father wrong?
Is it the old way, or the new way?
I like how it’s left to interpretation.
Tell me about working with Robert Aramayo.
What’s your friendship like off-screen?
Do you know what?
It’s really strange.
It’s weirdly a blurred line of Elrond and Rob.
We’re very close.
We worked well together, and we worked hard on creating this deep relationship between Durin and Elrond.
And I absolutely love him to bits.
I’d do anything for him.
We speak regularly on the phone, even though we’ve been apart for however long.
But I do consider him to be one of my very best friends.
This episode has that great goodbye scene where you both say “Namarie” to each other.
What stands out when you think back to filming that?
It’s Rob and I connecting, saying farewell to each other on many occasions.
Tell me a little bit about the technical side of filming a dwarf and an elf together.
I know sometimes you’re shooting in forced perspective, and other times Rob is essentially on a ladder.
How do you approach that?
We’re very lucky, actually, that the technical team strive to accommodate us actors.
They were very respectful, very helpful, very supportive and hard-working.
You really felt the…
I mean, excuse the expression, but you really felt the love in the room on that day.
I don’t know if it’s because I personally was feeling vulnerable because of where the character was.
Or maybe it’s just the special magic that this show has created on and off screen.
Was that your experienced?
That is one hundred percent true.
[Laughs] But also, I love him for that.
I love how knowledgeable he is of the lore.
[Laughs] I love how knowledgeable he is and how we’ll pick his brain.
I also love the relationship between Durin and Disa, played by Sophia Nomvete.
What do you love most about their on-screen relationship?
What I love is that Durin and Disa are solid.
There’s no shaking them.
They are a power couple, if you like.
The power couple of Middle-earth!
I think Disa knows Durin better than Durin knows Durin.
What I’ve loved is how people have picked up on it.
I’m actually in the car with her right now right this second!
We’re off to a convention.
I love her to bits.
[In the background, Sophia Nomvete yells, “I love you!"]
So I like that the fans have picked up on that.
What was your favorite part of Durin’s look, and what was your least favorite?
I’m sure the favorite part was the least favorite part as well.
It’s kind of yin and yang with Durin and the beard the comfort and the discomfort.
I love his beard, but I hated his beard.
I loved his nose, but I hated his nose.
Especially when it came to drinking smoothies because the nose dips down really far.
You’ve got pink foam on the tip of your nose.”
But I loved my nose!
And I loved my eyebrows and the ears and mustache and the beard and everything.
But I also hated it at the same time.
I’m not sure if I’ve answered your question there.
That’s when the fun starts, and that’s when the Scottish accent comes in.
I give a shot to stay as Durin for as long as I can.
Because it’s fun!
It’s fun being Durin, and it’s fun being a dwarf.
It’s fun shouting and belching during the day and getting away with it.
That’s kind of the dream!
It’s like, I’m allowed to belch because I’m a dwarf!
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
