10 Lord Of The Rings Extras Who Got Themselves Noticed
3. Everard Proudfoot
Like the elven extras, the actors who played hobbits were required to have distinctive characteristics. Chiefly, the specifications were that they needed to appear "homely". The hairy hobbit feet were provided by Weta Workshop, along with the curly wigs and country attire. All the actors had to do was convey a sense of living a quiet, comfortable and uneventful life.
This can't have been that difficult a task, considering all they had to do was partying it up for Bilbo's birthday with flagons of ale and plates of food. But there was one hobbit extra who stuck-out for their un-hobbit-like behaviour and grouchy demeanour.
Noel Appleby was cast to play the grumpy old gaffer, Everard Proudfoot. During Bilbo's party he has one line of dialogue as he corrects Bilbo's pronunciation of his name. But it's his brief interaction with Gandalf earlier in the film that really made him standout.
At first he seems dismissive, even disdainful of the Wizard's appearance in Hobbiton, but upon seeing his fireworks he allows himself a brief chuckle. This quickly turns to a brooding snarl as he notices his wife watching him. It was one of the more lighthearted interactions before everything starts getting heavy.