Viggo Mortensen Discovered Frodo's Body Double Couldn't Swim

Footage has surface of Viggo Mortensen recalling the moment he was told by Frodo Baggins' body double that he couldn't swim:

The now 62-year-old who played Aragorn in Lord of the Rings, explained how Elijah Wood's scale double Kiran Shah, told him he couldn't swim as they were filming in the middle of a river.

In the clip, Viggo remembered: "Boats, as beautiful as they are, are pretty - yeah pretty tippy. They were kind of flimsy in a way.

"Kiran Shah, you know, who was Frodo, I remember when we did the wide shot we were really moving down that river.

"And Kiran - we were doing the first take - and Kiran's gone 'Viggo, don't worry about me,' and I'm like 'what do you mean?'"

New Line Cinema

He went on to explain: "I'm like 'what do you mean?' I'm trying to talk without moving my lips. And he goes 'If we flip over,' and I said 'we're not going to flip over'.

"And he goes 'if we flip over, just save yourself, I can't swim.' And I said 'WHAT?' I couldn't believe - I couldn't believe it.

"Then I got really nervous you know like if someone's watching your driving, you start over[compensating]. And I was like, every eddy now because fraught with possibility.

"After that take I said 'You're kidding, right?' and he goes 'no, I'm even afraid to take a bath.' I'm like 'Jesus'."

New Line Cinema

Since being posted on YouTube yesterday (23 March), the behind the scenes interview has racked up over 150,000 views.

People have also commented on the clip, with one saying: "That series actually had so much danger for the crew, and props to that body double. Swimming in a current is dangerous, never mind being helpless in one. Guy has some testicular fortitude."

Another added: "This is one of the best videos ever," while someone else wrote: "That's so funny. Viggo is world's treasure tho!"

If you're ready for another LOTR fact while we've got you here, in preparation for filming his scenes Andy Serkis revealed how he used to walk around 'on all fours for hours'.

Speaking to The Guardian, he recalled: "I used to walk on all fours off set when we were filming Lord of the Rings.

"I spent a lot of time in preparation for that; I would go off for walks on all fours for hours. I did occasionally come into contact with other people, so I just had to pretend I was looking for something. It's fair to say that's pretty method."

Topics: Entertainment, TV and Film, Lord Of The Rings

Rebecca Shepherd

I'm Becky - a journalist at LADbible. I graduated with a First Class BA in Journalism before going on to cover criminal court cases, medical tribunals and breaking news for the national media - which inevitably and eventually became as glum as it sounds. Can often be found rocking a bag for life - which I made a 'thing' way before Rihanna. You can contact me at [email protected]

@RJShepherd94