STACK NZ Oct #78

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Vikings

Warcraft

Vikings

Just three years ago,Travis Fimmel found his breakthrough role as the lead in Vikings after years of struggling to make it in Hollywood. His latest part as the hero of Duncan Jones’s fantasy blockbuster Warcraft , however, was bigger than anything the 36-year- old former male model could have expected…

D espite once being splashed across billboards around the world in his undies, as the first male to secure a six-figure modelling contract, when Travis Fimmel came to conquering the silver screen, his background as the face of Calvin Klein threatened to hold him back. “I was stereotyped straight away, I was only going to be right for certain roles,” he says, “It happens to everyone in the same position: the key is to try and go beyond that.” After a slow start to his career as an actor, which included a disastrous turn as Tarzan in an ill-fated TV show of the same name, the 36-year-old Aussie rocketed to the top in 2013 with his compelling portrayal of Norse warlord Ragnar Lothbrok in the History Channel’s Vikings . Having been spotted by director Duncan Jones during his stint on the series, Fimmel was offered the chance to get involved in Warcraft , based on the best-selling online video game, World of Warcraft . “I'd never heard of World of Warcraft before but it didn't matter,” says Fimmel. “When I first spoke to Duncan about the role and his passion – he was a passionate player for years – I got it.” Though his latest role capitalised on the capabilities he honed as a Vikings warrior, the big-budget technical elements of Warcraft – which utilises cutting-edge CGI and performance-capture to create

a marauding band of orcs intent on world domination – were a whole new experience for Fimmel. “It’s tough because you're acting a lot by yourself,” he says, “I like to bounce off another actor in front of me, not have

the singe hairs moving independently of others, it really is breathtaking.” It wasn’t just the computer wizardry that Fimmel had to adapt to. The sheer scale of Warcraft must be seen to be believed, and his turn as military commander Lothar Anduin posed physical problems, as the historical accuracy of Vikings gave way to a world of orcs, mages, magic and frequent, cataclysmic battles. “I needed an army to put my armour on,” Fimmel laughs. “I needed a ladder to get up onto my horse, with all the armour – it was either that or have two or three men hoist you up there.” The unwieldy armour proved unexpectedly useful, however, when Fimmel was involved in a potentially disastrous equine incident.

I had no idea how it would turn out, but I was amazed

“I fell off the horse, it got freaked out by the environment, knocked me off and fell on top of me,” he explains. “Thankfully the armour I was

someone way off camera shout the script and react to no one beside you. It's different from anything I've done.” “I had no idea how it would turn out, but

wearing formed a protective shield – otherwise it could have been a different story. Those animals weigh a lot…”

I was amazed,” he continues. “When I saw the film, the detail, the intricacies,

Warcraft is out on DVD now

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