John Rhys–Davies – Gimli

‘Do you want to know why I got involved in this?’ asks John Rhys–Davies. ‘I really wanted to play a character called Denethor. He is Boromir’s father and doesn’t appear until ‘The Two Towers’. I thought: I can go to New Zealand for a few weeks, be in one or two wonderful scene and go home knowing that I was in one of the biggest pictures of all time. That was the idea!’
However, like several cast members of ‘The Lord of the Rings Trilogy’, John Rhys – Davies did not get his first choice role: ‘I was really shaken when they came back and asked me to play Gimli!’
Undertaking the role of Gimli was to prove a challenge, not least because of the many hours spent in the make-up department undergoing the daily transformation of his features into those of a Dwarf. Despite the discomfort of wearing a quantity of prosthetic make-up (to which Rhys-Davies skin developed an allergic reaction), the actor quickly became aware of the character’s importance within the Fellowship and the dramatic structure of the saga. ‘There is’, explains Rhys-Davies, ‘an energetic ferocity in the Dwarf that the film needs. It’s often these minor characters who really have to impact a sense of energy and dynamism to a film so that the heroes can actually take their time to respond and be thoughtful and reflective.’
It is something that the Welsh-born actor understands, having played several such film parts, including his memorable appearances as Harrison Ford’s roguish sidekick, Sallah, in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.’
Rhys-Davies studies at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and in addition to his distinguished theatre work – Othello, Macbeth and Falstaff – has taken leading roles in many movies, among them ‘Victor/Victoria’, ‘The Living Daylights’, ‘King Solomon’s Mines’ and the 1992 re-make of Conan Doyle’s ‘The Lost World’ in which he starred as Professor Challenger.
His prolific television-credits include playing Vasco Rodrigues in James Clavell’s ‘Shogun’, Agent Malone in the British series, ‘The Untouchable’ and Joe Gargery in Charles Dickens’ ‘Great Expectations’. Rhys-Davies has also starred in the T V mini-series, ‘War and Remembrance. And has mage guest appearances in ‘Murder, She wrote’ and ‘Star Trek, Voyager’, in which he has twice portrayed Leonardo da Vinci!
Reflecting on Tolkien’s story and decision to film it in New Zealand with Peter Jackson as director, Rhys-Davies says: ‘In the twilight of gloom, darkness and evil that is encompassing and about to overthrow the world, there are still men of virtue, there is still humour, honour, courage and compassion. And we couldn’t have picked a better director or a better country to encapsulate that drama!’
And as for the dwarf: ‘Well,’ laughs Rhys-Davies, ‘Gimli is a short fellow, so it was really very interesting: I’ve never playing a part before where I had to look up all the time I was acting!

Aliases: Elf-Friend, Lock-bearer
Date of Birth: 2879 T.A.
Race: Dwarf
Height: 4-4 1/2 feet
Date of Death: ?
Alignment: Good
Parents: Gloin - Father, ???-Mother
Spouse: None
Date of Marriage: N/A
Children: none

In 3018, Gimli accompanied his father to Rivendell, was chosen to represent the Dwarves in the Fellowship, and aided Gandalf in leading the company through Moria. He was the first dwarf to enter Lorien since Durin's Day, and was held in awe by the beauty of the Lady Galadriel. He became very close friends with Legolas, and journeyed throughout Middle Earth with him after the War of the Ring. Also after the War of the Ring, Gimli led a band of dwarvish smiths in reforging the gates of Gondor in mithril and steel, and he was the Lord of the Glittering Caves. In Fo 120, he sailed over the sea with Legolas.

Gimli is the son of Gloin of the Dale, one of the twelve dwarves that attended Bilbo on his journey. Gloin and his companions have built a wonderful dwarf-city at Dale, but Gimli still longs to see the greater glories of his race in Moria, or Khazad-dum, as it is called in the dwarf tongue. He accompanies his father to the Council of Elrond out of curiosity and his hope to, like his father, gain help on the behalf of Balin, Lord of Moria, who also traveled with Bilbo.

Gimli is, like all dwarves, of a sturdy and surly personality.


Dwarves are, as Elrond explains to Gandalf, mostly concerned with themselves. They dig into the earth, building great wonders and mining for the precious gems to be found there. They do not have many dealings with men and dislike the elves as a general principle. Gimli is no exception. His appearance is in accord with this nature: tough. His beard is rough and his face weathered, his eyes beady and penetrating. The stubbornness of dwarves, both in battle and in counsel, is far-famed, as is their honesty and frank sensibility. This is what leads Gimli to impetuously attempt to destroy the Ring at the Council of Elrond... however, the task is not as easy as he first supposed, and he is loathe to let any elf handle the Ring once he realizes that it cannot be destroyed easily.


This is the main reason he throws his lot in with the Fellowship, although he is not so base as to not appreciate the essential nature of the quest. Throughout the journey, Gimli is tough and never falters, and though his deep and grumbling voice often raised above the others in times of discord, he is a faithful fighter and not ashamed to admit his to his errors.


His senseless prejudice against the elves and his overzealous pride in his own race leads him to difficulties, though. He persists in asking the fellowship to try to go through Moria, even when it is clear that it is not Gandalf's wish -- after all, he sees nothing wrong with it and only wants to take a short cut and show the uncultured elf the "fabled hospitality of the dwarves." His enthusiasm is destroyed, however, when he discovers that Moria is now a tomb, not a mine, and he vents his anger against the orcs in a vicious battle.


He doubts the goodness of Lothlórien, rather choosing to repeat dwarfish rumors about Galadriel than listen to Legolas' protests. But once he meets the Sorceress of the Wood, he is unashamed to change his mind, and becomes Galadriel's most devoted follower, asking for a lock of her hair as his parting gift from Lothlórien when others are given more practical items. Though his friendship is hard to win, his loyalty is steadfast.


Lingering Thoughts:


Dwarves are literal creatures, and when they seize on an idea, it is hard to get them to let go of it. To Gimli, the solution to the problem of the Ring is simple: take an ax and hack it to bits. This he does quite swiftly at the Council of Elrond, seizing his ax and splintering it (to his shock) on the dark lord's handiwork. The temptation to take big problems and oversimplify them is not a new concept. It faces us every day, as we choose to blame our problems or the problems of another on a simple glitch that can be solved in an instant with the right words or the right actions. In reality, most things are deeper and more complicated than they appear, and rarely can most troubles be dispatched with the swing of an ax.


Gimli's quickness to action is to be applauded, though. While the rest of the council prefers to argue and accuse, Gimli jumps to his feet with a solution, erroneous though it may be. When the Gap of Rohan is blocked by Saruman's spies, Gimli offers a very reasonable alternative: cut through the lands of his people. (He cannot be blamed for not knowing that Moria was conquered.) At the staircase in Khazad-Dum, he prefers to take matters into his own hands rather than rely on anyone else to get him across the treacherous jump. Misguided though some actions may be, and though they may fall flat, intentions are important, and doing anything is often better than arguing to no end. Actions do speak louder than words.


Things to Watch For:

At first, Gimli is poisoned by all the rumors and degrading things he has heard about Galadriel. He wary of her pretense, her motives, and her intentions. He dislikes being led blindly into Lothlórien, because he cannot see where he is going. It is safe to bet that no amount of persuasion Aragorn or Legolas could have offered about her goodness would have swayed Gimli: he has to find things out for himself. Some people are like that: they prefer to form their own opinions independently instead of relying on the opinions of others, especially when it comes to religious things.


There's nothing wrong with that: no one comes to God "on the apron strings" of their parents or anyone else. Perhaps this is even the wisest way, to doubt what you are told until you come to grips with it for yourself -- there is no harm in inquisition. All it takes for Gimli is one encounter with Galadriel to convince him of her true nature, and once he is convinced, he is convinced, and remains her most loyal and faithful servant throughout the remainder of her time in Middle-Earth. And so it is in our world: for many, all it takes is one encounter with spiritual things to remove all doubts and complacency, and to inspire us to a service that burns with an ardor otherwise unattainable.


Because of his natural prejudice against the elves, who have quibbled with his people for thousands of years due to the treachery of Morgoth, an evil so powerful that Sauron merely serves him, Gimli is reluctant to let Legolas save him or help him, but Legolas is determined, and his kindness breaks down the walls between them. Their small squabbles are at first irksome to the company, as the age-old rivalry creased abrasion between them, but as time goes on, they learn to depend on one another: Legolas does not bear Gimli's accusations against Galadriel, yet when Gimli is unsure of the safety of Lothlórien in general and the swan-boats in particular, Legolas reassures him and takes the dwarf on as a passenger in his own boat.


When Gimli is later unsure of riding horseback, Legolas again comes to his rescue. Soon, Gimli returns the favor: at the battle of Helm's Deep, Gimli encourages Legolas when he is tired, and the two keep up a spirited competition regarding their "death toll." Though the worlds of elves and dwarves are distinctly different, they make and keep a pact to learn to enjoy each other's ways at the end of the quest, traveling together throughout the rest of their lives. What a friendship this is -- one that has survived all sorts of adverse differences!


We could do well to take lessons from both Legolas and Gimli about the nature of comradeship. They put aside their petty squabbles for the greater cause -- the destruction of the Ring -- fight side by side rather than against each other, and wind up being friends. How many of our "enemies" truly ought to be our friends? Discord amongst Christians is very like fighting within the Fellowship: it comes to no end, and belittles the true quest.


Memorable Quotes:

[to Legolas] "Now, master elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarves!"

[to the Fellowship] "Let them come! There is yet one dwarf in Moria who draws blood!"