David Wenham - The Empire Interview
The Two Towers' Faramir talks CGI and hanging out with Sean Bean

Empire: You share a number of scenes with Gollum. Is it difficult working so extensively with a CGI character?
David Wenham: In this case it wasn't because Andy Serkis, the actor who plays Gollum, was actually always on set. Whenever you see Gollum in the film, the effects mask Andy's performance. I must admit, Andy's work in the film is incredible. That voice will haunt me forever. So, no, there was no need to pretend - we just stood back and marvelled at Andy's work.

E: Since you play his brother, did you talk to Sean Bean at all?
DW: I did talk to Sean but actually only after filming had wrapped. I met him at a party and we had a good chat. But while I didn't get to meet him on set, I was lucky enough to have access to rushes of his work as Boromir, so I was able to observe his performance and pick up the odd mannerism.

E: What does Return Of The King hold in store for Faramir?
DW: Read the book! (Laughs) Actually, if you read the books, especially The Two Towers, you find that Faramir is a pretty dead character, dramatically. It says a lot for the screenwriters that they were able to give me so much to get my teeth into. And in the third film, there's even more material as the audience get to meet my father, the king, who has gone insane and hates his son - he'd have been much happier if Faramir had died instead of Boromir.

E: How are things going with Van Helsing?
DW: I don't know yet because we haven't started shooting. But it should be a lot of fun, working with Hugh Jackman and Richard Roxburgh: three Aussie boys together!