The Lord Of The Rings: 10 Scenes Actors HATED Shooting
9. Christopher Lee Kept Tripping On His Costume
Christopher Lee's onscreen presence has been unrivalled in cinema history. He made countless Hammer Horror movies, where he defined the modern image of Dracula; he starred as one of the most iconic Bond villains, Scaramanga; and of course gave an unforgettable portrayal as one of the most powerful Sith Lords in the Star Wars universe.
Christopher Lee was the one actor who knew Tolkien's work the best. He was such an avid fan of the books that he read them once a year, every year for decades. So when he was given the chance to play Saruman, he had both the acting chops, and background knowledge, to capture the character's majesty and menace perfectly.
By all accounts he relished the task of bringing the wizard to life. But during one particular scene, Lee found his costume to be such a hindrance that it caused him to forget his cool demeanour. Just before Saruman reveals himself as a servant of Sauron, he climbs to the top of his throne in Orthanc.
Lee's costume was so long, however, that with every step he'd trip. Eventually this caused him to exclaim "I cannot get up these god-damn steps Peter!". After an icy period of silence someone sheepishly replied "But you did it this morning". Lee claims it put him in his place...