Charlie Vickers, who plays Sauron in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, has shared his views on Tom Cruise's freediving abilities, his own marriage proposal, and his dislike of cheese.
Freediving Controversy
When asked who would win in a freediving competition between himself and Tom Cruise, Vickers said Cruise would win in a straight-up fight, noting that Cruise has reportedly held his breath for six or seven minutes. However, Vickers suggested that actors on films like Mission: Impossible and Avatar used oxygen beforehand to saturate their blood, which he believes allows for longer breath-holding. Vickers said he and his colleagues did not do that, only breathing normal air.
Asked directly if he was saying Tom Cruise cheated, Vickers replied: "Yeah, exactly. That's the headline. Tom Cruise cheated at freediving."
Proposal in the Mud
Vickers also recounted his marriage proposal in the woods of Hampshire, near where his wife grew up. The woods were muddy, and he was wearing jeans, so he decided not to kneel. Instead, he performed a deep lunge to simulate kneeling, which he acknowledged might have looked strange to any onlookers.
He described the setting, noting that the woods were full of little fairy figurines, a tradition from his wife's childhood when her parents would leave letters from fairies for her.
Memories of Sam Neill and Early Roles
Reflecting on working with Sam Neill on Palm Beach, Vickers recalled Neill being unbelievably kind to everyone. He mentioned that Neill re-enacted a Jurassic Park dinosaur sequence with a castmate who wanted photographs for her friends, with Neill playing the dinosaur.
Vickers also discussed his early acting days, including an amateur production of Fawlty Towers at Queen's College in Melbourne, where his moustache was coloured in and he wore a wig. He noted that the theatre was closed, so the performance took place in a circus tent in winter.
Evil Face and Pop Culture Views
When asked how someone with a pretty face can be so evil, Vickers explained that his eyes are quite deep in his head, making them hard to see when he moves his head. He attributed this to anatomy rather than his existence.
Vickers also shared his controversial opinion on cheese, stating he is not a fan, and expressed dislike for charcuterie boards, which he said are common in England but not in his native Australia.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season three premieres on Prime Video on 11 November.
