Dominic Monaghan – Merry

‘When the story begins.’ Explains Dominic Monaghan, ‘Merry is in the prime of life, he’s having fun and he’s well liked. He’s really one of the lads. Then, as the journey unfolds, he finds himself in situations where he has to look after people of make decisions that a hobbit would never normally have to make.’ Monaghan plays Merry (full name: Meriadoc Brandybuck), second cousin and childhood companion of Frodo Baggins. It is Merry , along with Pippin and Sam, who helps Frodo when he first sets out on his dangerous journey, during which he becomes part of the Fellowship of the Ring and has many adventures before the story and quest reach their dramatic conclusion.
Describing his character (and that of Pippin). Monaghan says: ‘Merry and Pippin come as vibrant characters. Frodo is weighed down by the mission he’s got to undertake and Sam is terribly serious about doing his job, but these are really the wild cards in the pack and spice in the Fellowship.’
Monaghan (who at 5’7’’ is ‘officially the tallest hobbit’), went directly from his sixth form college in Cheshire to work in youth theatres in Manchester. Spotted by an agent, he was given the role of Geoffrey Shawcross in BBC television series ‘Henry Wainthropp Investigations’. Playing the juvenile sidekick to the doughty senior-citizen detective, portrayed by Patricia Routledge, led to other television roles, a film debut alongside Rutger Hauer and Martin Sheen in ‘Boomber’, and an invitation to audition for ‘The Lord of the Rings’.
He was already an admirer of Tolkien’s books to which he had been introduced by his school teacher father: ‘My dad’s a big fan of Tolkien. He used to go on and on about what a great book The Hobbit was and how Bilbo Baggins was such a fantastic character, Once I’d read The Hobbit, he gave me The Lord of the Rings, saying that it was a challenge but well worth reading. He was right: it is a challenge, because it’s so big and huge and vast, but it’s well worth it!’ ‘auditioning for The Lord of the Rings,’ recall Monaghan, ‘I was really excited and really nervous!’ Monaghan was rehearsing for a play in London when he was invited to audition for the film. For him, the project was the Holy Grail. While trying to calm himself down about potentially being involved, Monaghan landed a lead role in ‘Monsignor Renard’ in France, starring John Thaw.
Nearly six months later, he was offered the part of Merry, a role with which he feels particularly at ease: ‘I think that Merry is well-known in the Shire: he’s charming and cheeky and I imagine that all the hobbit mothers pretend o be annoyed by him, but really like him!’ Which is something he has experienced a great deal while growing up!’

Aliases: Merry, Meriadoc the Magnificent, Holdwine, Master Holbytla, Master Perian
Date of Birth: 2982 T.A. (1382 S.R.)
Race: Hobbit
Height: about 3 1/2 feet, probably around 4 1/2 feet after the War of the Ring
Date of Death: Fourth Age 67
Alignment: Good
Parents: Saradoc Brandybuck and Esmerelda Took
Spouse: Estella Bolger
Date of Marriage: Fourth Age 14
Children: none
Weapon: Short Sword

Merry was always a close friend of Frodo Baggins, and with Pippin and Samwise, spied out Frodo's plan to leave the Shire and unexpectedly joined him on his journey to Rivendell. Upon the arrival in Rivendell, Merry was selected to join the Fellowship, though Elrond was against it. Gandalf thought that the loyalty of a true friend may have been better than the might of a warrior. Merry travelled with the company to Parth Galen, where he and Pippin were captured by orcs. Merry and Pippin managed to escape into Fangorn forest during an attack on the orcs by the Rohirrim. There they met Treebeard, and played a major part in the rousing of the Ents and the destruction of Isengard. It was in Isengard where Merry met King Theoden, unto whom he pledged his service. He rode with Dernhelm, of Theoden's army, to Gondor. He fought valiantly in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and aided in the avenging of Theoden's death. Merry was nearly killed by the black breath, but was healed by Aragorn. After the War of the Ring, Merry was made a knight of Rohan, and treated with honor whenever he returned. He then went home to the Shire, where he was one of the leading forces in its scouring. Upon the death of his father, Meriadoc was made Master of Buckland, and was known as Meriadoc the Magnificent.

"Merry was a friend of Frodo and agreed to join him to Rivendell. At the end he was permitted to join the Fellowship of the Ring together with Pippin to make the total number of nine walkers. When the Fellowship broke up, Merry and Pippin were captured by orcs who wanted to bring them to Isengard. Thanks to Eomer and his men they escaped and went to Fangorn forest. There they met Treebeard and convinced the Ents to fight Saruman in Isengard. After the battle was won, Merry became the esquire of King Theoden of Rohan, who he saw as a father. He was secretly taken to the Pelennor fields by Dernhelm who turned out to be Eowyn. Merry helped Eowyn slay the Lord of the Nazgul by attacking him from behind and stabbing him behind the knee. After the War of the Ring he went back to the Shire but returned to Gondor. His grave is in Rath Dinen besides King Elessar and Pippin "

'I have a sword,' said Merry, climbing from his seat, and drawing from its black sheath his small blade. Filled suddenly with love for this old man, he knelt on one knee, and took his hand and kissed it. 'May I lay the sword of Meriadoc of the Shire on your lap, Theoden King?' He cried. 'Receive my service, if you will!'
'Gladly will I take it,' said the king; and laying his long old hands upon the brown hair of the hobbit, he blessed him. 'Rise now, Meriadoc, esquire of Rohan of the household of Meduseld!' he said. 'Take your sword and bear it to good fortune!'
'As a father you shall be to me,' said Merry.
'For a little while', said Theoden.