Hi guys. It's a pleasure to be back. I had so much fun last time and I'm excited to answer your questions again. I love Victoria, she's here too.

My latest movie is a thriller called Grand Piano about a young man who is a classical pianist who is playing a concert and held at gunpoint, whilst playing, and can't miss a note. It's on iTunes now and will be in theaters March 7th.

Go ahead and AMA!

https://www.facebook.com/officialelijahwood/posts/10100548998225154?stream_ref=10

I've had too much fun. And because of my delirium (I have a cold and a fever), I could probably keep doing this for another hour or so, and Victoria makes it really easy, and I've really enjoyed all of your questions. I hope you enjoyed our time together. And I would love to come back. I think this community is extraordinary and it's a wonderful way for people to connect with each other and people that they are interested in. So thank you to reddit for providing this forum for these kind of open conversations. GO INTERNET!

Comments: 6619 • Responses: 48  • Date: 

lightoutlet3514 karma

Hi Elijah!

I have no idea if you'll remember me or my family but my dad's name is Jose and he used to work with your dad many years ago (he's an architect).

Myself and my brother would come over to your house sometimes and one year your family gave us one of your Bearded Collies as a gift. Her name was Fanny and we had her for many years. She passed away almost three years ago at the age of 17 and lived a very long and happy life. I just wanted to say thank you for providing us with one of our most special family members and for having a part in my childhood with my first dog.

Here's a picture of her: http://imgur.com/iGOo1OO

Update: WOW guys! I seriously wasn't expecting all of this! Thank you so much for all of the kind words. I've already let my family know about all of this and everyone is so happy and excited that Elijah was able to read about Fanny. Thanks again!!

iamElijahWood3520 karma

HOW INCREDIBLE. Of course I remember your family! What a beautiful memory you've provided me. I will definitely share with my family. And what a wonderful long life Fanny had. And I'm sure she gave you a lot of love. Thank you so much.

lightoutlet2738 karma

Oh my goodness thank you for sending me a message! My name is Michelle and my brother is Philippe... I remember the two of you playing around in your house while my five year old self would be sitting around awkwardly, haha. And I'm going to let my family know that this exchange occurred. Thank you SO MUCH! : ]

iamElijahWood2903 karma

Aw that is beautiful. And of course I remember you and Philippe. Please give my love to your family. I'm going to share this exchange with my family as well.

Master_Spoon2588 karma

What are your views on marriage? I'd imagine you'd be wary given your rough history involving rings.

iamElijahWood2566 karma

I've always loved the idea of marriage. I know it's relatively modern for people to not reject the notion of marriage, but to sort of eschew the institution by just simply having a relationship and feeling comfortable within the bounds of that relationship. But I've always found it a romantic notion, the idea of uniting in front of friends and family with the person that you're in love with.

ATXPibble2570 karma

[deleted]

iamElijahWood2671 karma

I like serious face on occasion.

I don't hate you. Of course!

NDaveT2489 karma

Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized Daniel Radcliffes or 1 Daniel Radcliffe-sized duck?

iamElijahWood2814 karma

You get a gold star for a bizarre question.

shutyourpie2445 karma

Well, this settles it. Im gonna marathon all of the LOTR/Hobbit movies tonight.

EDIT I am no filthy casual. Extended it is. RIP in Peace sleep

EDIT My brothers...I have failedgotta watch Clippers/Rockets with my full attention

iamElijahWood2799 karma

You're brave. Good luck staying awake.

bumble_beer2437 karma

Hey Elijah, you never seem to age. Are you scared something like this can happen?

http://imgur.com/FppM2tE

iamElijahWood3470 karma

I get to turn into Danny DeVito? Fantastic.

iamElijahWood2424 karma

Someone asked what my favorite breakfast taco topping was.

Migas is awesome. But I love chorizo. And I don't understand why the breakfast taco only seems to exist in Texas.

skenn0242355 karma

Mr. Frodo, I want to say thank you for destroying the Ring that brought evil and terror to our lands for centuries. You sir, are a true hero.

iamElijahWood2592 karma

You're very welcome. It was really my pleasure.

iamElijahWood3040 karma

Now I will diminish to the undying lands.

moonmman2035 karma

What does Sir Ian Mckellen (Gandalf) smell like?

iamElijahWood2700 karma

He smells really good! He smells of a sort of masculine incense. I just…I can't put my finger on specifically what notes of the scent are there, but there's something very pleasant about the way that he smells. Incense definitely comes to mind. What an interesting question.

shutyourpie1952 karma

Probably smells like magnets

forgothow2errything1864 karma

And Old Toby

iamElijahWood2229 karma

That was great.

eckamon1918 karma

Helix or Dome?

iamElijahWood2550 karma

I pledge no allegiance to either. May the best team win.

Blacksmith_Kid498 karma

You mean like pokemon fossils?

ThatsFunForSometimes555 karma

yes. yes he does

iamElijahWood1259 karma

that's amazing man.

tsmith9441765 karma

Hey Elijah. Thanks for doing this AMA! Which one is the real you in this picture?

http://imgur.com/RoDX9

iamElijahWood2384 karma

They're both me…?

wrongbuton1720 karma

Elijah,

What was that foaming out of your mouth after you got stabbed by shelob in return of the king? I'm having a hard time believing it was straight up saliva.

Also, did you use the same Gatorade bong for all 4 seasons of Wilfred, or did they replace it every once in a while?

iamElijahWood2033 karma

It was not straight up saliva. I can't remember what the material was but it was probably an equivalent to alka seltzer. Maybe it was guar gum. I'm not sure.

I believe we might have a couple, because typically with props in films, especially a prop that ends up getting used a lot, you refer to the one that gets used the most as the "hero" prop (so we had a hero bong) but you typically have a couple in case something happens to the one. I think it gets cleaned. It gets freshened up.

Blacksmith_Kid1674 karma

What was the worst thing that went wrong on the set of LOTR? (Blooper, spill of tea on a costume, accidental sexual position?)

iamElijahWood2996 karma

We had a variety of minor injuries. My favorite was probably Viggo getting half of his tooth knocked out during a fight sequence, and his insistence on applying superglue to put it back in to keep working.

shutyourpie1652 karma

Do you wear wigs?

Have you worn wigs?

Will you wear wigs?

When will you wear wigs?

iamElijahWood1880 karma

A fine joke that has taken on a life of its own. Touche, Dominic Monaghan, Touche.

Nessi4u1415 karma

This is the first ama that I'm not eleven hours late to! Umm where to start... I never gotten this far. What's your favorite color?

iamElijahWood2059 karma

Green! In all of its shades.

mrsbass791408 karma

Elijah I hope this doesn't seem to forward but will you marry me? I promise I'll make a wonderful wife

iamElijahWood3038 karma

You're already married, MRS. BASS!

mrsbass791472 karma

I'd happily get an annulment for you.

iamElijahWood2331 karma

Wow! Damn! I hope your husband's not a fan of reddit.

operation_hennessey1295 karma

If I were to see you in a bar, what kind of drink should I send down your way?

iamElijahWood2362 karma

An old fashioned.

ericsmash1031 karma

Did you or any of the other LotR cast ever chant "RUDY! RUDY!" around Sean Astin?

Thanks for doing this AMA!

iamElijahWood1451 karma

I feel like that joke HAD to have occurred at some stage.

aidansghost936 karma

I heard you have over 4000 records. If your house was burning down and you happened to only have one hand (4 finger-spaces to clamp down on the records), which was the only part of your body not seared enough to cause excruciating pain when you touched something, which 4 records would you choose?

iamElijahWood1332 karma

What an extraordinarily articulated question. And very detailed. You've really thought about this. Which 4 records? Guhhh. They would probably be original pressing African records which are very difficult to find in good condition and quite expensive. Or there are a couple of relatively expensive 7" that I have that would be difficult to get again.

Abandon_The_Thread915 karma

I'm going to get straight to the point here.. Peanut butter and jelly or peanut butter with slices of banana?? Tick tock, Mr. Wood. Tick tock.

iamElijahWood1197 karma

Peanut butter and jelly, although I did grow up primarily with peanut butter, honey and banana.

the_burdman913 karma

How do you feel about red heads?

iamElijahWood2550 karma

I love red heads. Apparently there's a red head day somewhere in Scandinavia, I believe, where red heads congregate from all around and celebrate that they are redheads. And the reality about redheads is that it's actually a genetic recessive mutation, and apparently, the number of redheads is declining and I am petrified. I find redheaded women to be so beautiful! And the combination of red hair and green or blue eyes and freckles is fucking ridiculous. Long live redheads, keep the mutation alive.

PetesThaBoss890 karma

Elijah, Meeting you and gazing into your hypnotic eyes is first on my bucket list. I suppose this AMA is the closest I'll ever come to achieving that. So...

1) Can you elaborate on what's really going on to Ryan in Wilfed? I have my theories.

2) I once read that you drive a Mini Cooper. Is that true?

You're my favorite person.

iamElijahWood1238 karma

1) Oooh. I suppose it's up for interpretation. I believe that Ryan is experiencing a form of psychosis. Hence Wilfred's manifestation. However, I think it's important to not answer those questions definitively and perhaps we'll get more definitive answers in the final season.

2) I used to.

iamElijahWood1456 karma

My cooper was silver.

delicious_toast817 karma

What do you spread on delicious delicious toast?

iamElijahWood1523 karma

I just had (and this wasn't on toast) but clotted cream and jam on a scone. Which may be one of the greatest combinations of spreadable items in life. It was on a plane from England. Clotted cream! UGHH so good.

photojacker685 karma

Hi Elijah - do you pronounce a scone as 'scon' or 'skone'?

iamElijahWood1622 karma

When in England, i refer to it as "scon." But when in the US, I refer to it as "skone."

mstrmrdr716 karma

Hey Elijah, first off i was wondering how much voiceover training you have recieved prior to doing voiceover work (Spyro the Dragon, Shay Volta) and if you enjoy doing voiceover work more than acting or vice versa

iamElijahWood1129 karma

I've never experienced any training as it pertains to voice work. Voice work does tend to be a part of acting in film as well because oftentimes we do ADR (additional dialogue recording) to fix sound issues that occurred whilst filming. So I'm used to simply using my voice to replicate a performance. And I really do enjoy voiceover work. There's something very freeing about the experience in that it's not about any physicality, it's just about the voice. But there's also a challenge there in terms of articulating only with your voice what a character may be experiencing at any given time. But I enjoy that challenge. And speaking of doing the voice of Shay in Broken Age: that was an absolute honor for me because I grew up with Tim Schafer's video games such as The Curse of Monkey Island, Day of the Tentacle, and Full Throttle.

Grand_Wizard_Juis856 karma

Wait you voiced for Spyro?

iamElijahWood1476 karma

Yes.

CochMaestro514 karma

Follow up question, any studio you would want to work for in the future? Naughty Dog? Valve?

iamElijahWood1676 karma

I love Valve. Half Life is incredible. I'd love to work with Rockstar games. I'm a big fan of the GTA franchise.

foreverenraged498 karma

Hi Elijah Wood,

Huge fan here, loved your work from your days as a child actor up to now in Wilfred. Also I'm a LOTR fanatic.

My question is if you had the one ring for one day how do you think you would use it?

Thanks for being an inspiration to us all and keep up the incredible work.

iamElijahWood1048 karma

I think I would spend most of my time being invisible. It would be a great tool. The imagination runs wild at the possibilities...

hesouryou464 karma

What's your favorite snack food?

iamElijahWood899 karma

Nuts. I'm not really a snacker, but if I did snack, like I would make my own trail mix of different nuts because I really like them and they are good for you too. And delicious!

jcm2themax391 karma

You did an amazing job with the LOTR trilogy and have had the privlege to work with other high caliber actor/actress(s). My questions for you:

  1. Who is your favorite by far (if you can't pick one, how about 2).
  2. How was it working on the set of Green Street Hooligans? That is one of my all-time favorite movies....I'M FOREVER BLOWING BUBBLES, PRETTY BUBBLES IN THE AIR!!! UNITED!!
  3. Do you watch any football (for those of you who don't call it this, you know it as soccer) and if so who is your favorite team?

iamElijahWood628 karma

1.) That's so difficult! Because I feel like so many of the members of the cast feel like family to me, so it would feel wrong to single out one individual or two individuals. But it was really special to work with Ian Holm, who I've admired as an actor for a long time. And I absolutely fell in love with Cate Blanchette. And Ian, and Viggo, and Bernard, etc…

2) Green Street Hooligans was a lot of fun to make! It was great to spend time in East London and to entrench myself in the world of football hooliganism, which was fascinating to me, as a cultural phenomenon.

3) I don't really follow sport at all. I grew up with my family following college football and basketball and professional football and basketball, and it never really caught on for me. So I tend to pour that same energy into buying records and watching movies.

operation_hennessey381 karma

Tell us something about yourself that you think we may find surprising.

iamElijahWood707 karma

I always find these questions difficult. We'll come back to this one.

The_Asian_Hamster328 karma

whats your favourite movie, (that youve not been in) and whats been youre favourite to film

iamElijahWood850 karma

I find it so difficult to pick a favorite film. And really difficult to pick a favorite of anything, be it a film or a record or a band. I've always found that really complicated because with any given art form I tend to love so much of that art form that it's difficult for me to choose. Let's say Groundhog Day in memory of Harold Ramis. It's honestly one of my favorite films and I've seen it countless times, and I think it's one of the absolute classics in comedy.

Taking LOTR out of the equation, I would say Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of my favorite films to have been a part of. I'm a massive fan of Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman, and to have been a part of their work together is something I'm tremendously proud to have been a part of.

15chainz293 karma

Hi, do you find Frodo to be one of your biggest accomplishments? Is there any other LOTR characters you would want/think you could play?

iamElijahWood629 karma

Frodo marks one of the greatest experiences of my life in what will likely be the largest undertaking and production I will ever experience again. So in that sense, yes. As far as any other LOTR characters, I have no perspective on that any longer. After having the experience of playing the one character, and that having been such a huge part of my life, I couldn't really imagine playing anyone else.

Frajer270 karma

YWhat was your experience like as a child actor?

iamElijahWood492 karma

Extremely positive. Because I started working as an actor from the age of 8, initially on commercials, and quickly small roles on films that then developed into larger roles on film, it all happened relatively quickly. And I loved it immediately. I was lucky enough to continue to work. There was a sense of momentum and I got to work on a variety of different kinds of films. In a way I felt like I was an adult, or was treated as an adult to a certain degree, from a young age. And I got to have incredible experiences - to travel, to work with really extraordinary or talented people - experiences that I wouldn't have otherwise had the opportunity to have. So it was extraordinary and I think that my childhood was framed by my incredible family. That provided for me, particularly by my mother, a sense of roundedness and reality outside of the context of the world that I was working in as an actor.

jaruko262 karma

whats top on your bucket list?

iamElijahWood831 karma

My bucket list tends to be dominated by places I'd like to travel, restaurants that I want to eat in, and a few experiences I've never had. I don't have one thing that I absolutely must...You know, I really must learn a foreign language. The fact that I don't know one, at 33, is embarrassing, and the fact that I have friends around the world whose first language is not english who speak it… I suppose it's not exactly a bucket list item, but if I leave this planet without learning a foreign language I think I will have made a mistake.

gummywurm250 karma

Hey Elijah! I was wondering what it was like working with Eugene Hutz during Everything Is Illuminated. I hear a lot of rumors about the guys personality and was wondering if there was any truth to some of the more scandalous ones.

iamElijahWood424 karma

I loved working with him. I think he's an extraordinary artist, musician, performer, and I really enjoyed watching him bring the character of Alex to life. And to get to know him and the Gogol Bordello family over the years was a special time in my life. There's nothing like a live Gogol Bordello show.

lethalweapon5178 karma

What's your favorite comic book?

iamElijahWood310 karma

I just read Black Hole for the first time. And I absolutely loved it.

Matt__Larson110 karma

What are you having for dinner?

Edit: Is it sad this is my highest rated comment of all time?

iamElijahWood267 karma

I'm not sure. I have a Q&A that I have to do for Grand Piano, so there's a relatively short slot for dinner. But there's a pizza restaurant next to the theater, so perhaps pizza. Although I did have a massive bowl of ramen and 2 pork belly buns for lunch so I'm not very hungry, to be honest.

CPTRetardo94 karma

How did you like DJ'ing in Copenhagen last saturday, and what did you think of the city? Thanks for a great party btw.

iamElijahWood137 karma

I've always wanted to go to Copenhagen. I wish I could have stayed there for much longer. I've always been a massive fan of mid-Century Danish design, and on a nerdy, utopian city planning level, I've always admired Copenhagen from afar as it seems like an awesome place to live. DJing was fun and quite intense.

krazyfrobro81 karma

Do you read a lot of books? What is your favorite genre?

iamElijahWood209 karma

This is a subject that I find upsetting. Because in truth I used to read a lot and over the years, my consumption has diminished increasingly and it's actually something that I spent a lot of time thinking about how to make more time for reading. It's always depressing to hear people talk about the books they are reading, and I feel like I've amassed a mountain of books that I want to read, and need to find more time in the day to spend on reading, because i feel like it's something that is missing from my life.

royjones6 karma

Grand Piano was one of the most beautiful thrillers I've seen and that theater seemed to go on forever! Do you have experience playing the piano?

iamElijahWood12 karma

I had minor experience with the instrument. I took lessons from the ages of 10-14 (on and off) but like many kids I got bored with practicing, but stopped, regrettably. The theater was built in such a way where the stage, the two balconies one on either side, and the first five rows were physically there, but if you turned the camera around and looked from my perspective onto the audience there was no extension to the theater. So all of the extension was done digitally.

flurrygirl3 karma

Hi! I have two questions for you! 1) If you could relive any day of your whole life, which day would you want to experience again? 2)What is in your fridge right now?

Also, you are gorgeous.

iamElijahWood20 karma

1) If you could relive ANY day of your whole life? Wow. This goes into the same category as picking a favorite movie or record, it gets into the realm of the impossible. I had a day recently - this is the easiest way to answer the question - in Northwest Queensland in Australia where I took a boat out with a group of friends and some of their family members to the Great Barrier Reef and I had never been before. Part of our plan was that we were going to go to a quay, where there's a sandbar in the middle of the ocean somehow, but there was a high tide so water was covering the quay, so it turned into a giant swimming pool in the middle of the ocean. So we jumped into the water and waves were crashing in all different directions because we were in the middle of the ocean and we couldn't stop smiling. It was magic, extraordinary. There were jellyfish in the water that we were lifting up with our hands. Then we went snorkeling on the reef, we saw a sea turtle, amongst many incredible fish and coral. It was a magical day.

2) I haven't been home in over a month. So I don't know. Definitely some dog food for my dog. And sauerkraut. And hopefully some sparkling water.