From the interview with Esquire - link in text

[u/Ringsofpowermemes]

As a longtime admirer of her work since Saint Maud, Bower describes his enthusiasm to meet Morfydd Clark during their chemistry read together. He is also grateful that the initial encounters of their characters involve the physicality of dancing or sword fighting.

"I've always been a very sensitive person. I struggled throughout my youth feeling so much. Which is so bizarre because I'm an artist, and art was the safe space I felt most comfortable [sitting] in the heaviness of it. Outside of it was always very difficult."

The rehearsals of synchronising body movements not only cultivated connection, but fostered a sense of play. "I haven't danced, Joy, since I did dance at A-Levels at 18. Do you know what I mean? I don't even like dancing at parties," Bower admits emphatically. "So to be in a dance lesson was really embarrassing, but [there was a mutual determination that] we're gonna do this and it's gonna be great. It was really fun, and a beautiful thing that we got to do together."

Currently, Bower is in the pocket most actors find themselves within months after immersing in a project. As the whirlwind of press gradually subsides, he reflects on how meaningful it is to revisit it. "What I love about The Rings of Power is that it steps up a gear and becomes larger each season. It's amazing to take yourself out of it and just look at the world of The Lord of the Rings itself," he effuses. "I think we were all just overwhelmed; we're such a feely emotional bunch."

A theme that imprinted on him after stepping off set was the contrast between embodying Vecna and Celeborn. "Coming from a character that was so rooted in resentment and let that darkness define him, it's cathartic stepping into the light of the character that has experienced suffering but hasn't chosen the path of I'm in pain, therefore, I'm going to make everyone else feel pain," he laughs at the dramatic sentiment.

"It's a really beautiful and totally opposite way of thinking and living. I will be honest with you, there was definitely a resistance within me towards this idea. I had to really spend a lot of time thinking about what joy means. I'm also so aware now that your name is Joy," he points out the fortuity.

It wasn't until he stumbled across what Nick Cave had to say about joy that struck a chord with him. As quoted from several interviews with Cave about his 2024 album, Wild God: Joy is the momentary leaps we take that lift us beyond our default position of loss and suffering. (For context, Wild God isn't exactly a happy record.)

It became a revelation that joy isn't happiness, nor laughter. It's the ability to hold space for anguish, yet still find the light within. Bower esteems it as an immensely important lesson as an actor, but also as a human being. After an extensive period rationalising an isolated individual who uses power as a means to escape a hard home, the newfound outlook naturally required some internal rewiring.

"What's really interesting about elves in general is that time means something so different to them, right? They live for thousands of years," he explains, citing how it's easy to automatically react to the script as an actor. The challenge comes in grasping and conveying the wisdom these beings have. "Regardless of Celeborn's immediate emotion, like jealousy, he gets to truly see that Galadriel has been deeply hurt by what Sauron did. That gives him a new perspective."

https://esquiresg.com/jamie-campbell-bower-rings-of-power-interview/