Part 5/9:
Clark claims to be a Tolkien fan, stating she read the books as a child and had no idea about the Second Age of Middle-earth when auditioning. She recounted her overwhelming feelings and her experience of being unfamiliar with the full scope of Tolkien’s lore, which she initially thought was a mere job opportunity. Her words seem to suggest a disconnect between her claimed fandom and her actual knowledge of Tolkien’s universe.
Many long-time fans view this as a classic pose—people claiming to be lifelong fans or deeply passionate about Tolkien but revealing through actions or statements that their knowledge is superficial or superficialized. Critics argue that these actors often surface in these roles more for their own career ambitions than genuine love for the source material.