A birthday countdown in pictures (#1)

Today is 1 August 2012 (it actually already just after midnight here, but I'm conveniently ignoring that). Exactly 22 days from now, we will be celebrating Richard Armitage's 41st birthday, an event known in the fandom as Armitage Day.

To mark the occasion, I decided to discuss one of my favourite pictures of Richard every day, with my absolute favourite to be discussed on his birthday. To be honest, I'm not exactly sure which one that will be, but I guess I've got 22 days to make up my mind!

Unless stated otherwise, the pictures are taken from www.richardarmitagenet.com

Let's get started with this one:

Percy Courtenay (Richard Armitage) proposes to Marie Lloyd in the BBC's Miss Marie Lloyd, Queen of the Music Hall (2007)

In 2007, Richard played the role of Percy Courtenay in  Miss Marie Lloyd, Queen of the Music Hall, a BBC drama based on the life of Marie Lloyd, one of the most famous entertainers in England at the turn of the 20th century. Percy and Marie start a passionate affair and when she discovers that she's pregnant, Percy asks her to marry him by offering her a ring with the words: "You will say yes, won't you?" I love that moment, it's very sweet and filled with hope. Percy and Marie have a stormy and at times horrible marriage after that and Percy's jealousy will ultimately lead to his own downfall as well as the end of their marriage. But at the moment of this picture, that is all still far away in the future.

What do I love about this picture? Everything, really, but 4 things in particular: the shape of his nose (don't ask me why, but I do!), the hint of a smile on his slightly parted lips (extremely kissable!), the crinkles (how much more perfect can a man get if he can even make the lines in his face look sexy?) and the soft wave in his hair just above his ear (so adorable!). And, let's be honest, every picture that shows his neck is an absolute winner, right?

Come back tomorrow for another picture... and if you haven't had a chance to see Richard as Percy, you can watch the series on Youtube.


What's a birthday without a birthday present? But what do you get the man who's living his dream?
This year, consider donating to one of Richard's selected charities (Shelter, The Salvation Army, Childline and Barnardo's) - visit his Just Giving page. Thank you!