“What Sean did, which I thought was really clever”: The Most Iconic Lord of the Rings Line Was Difficult to Remember for Sean Bean But His Solution Fooled Everyone 

SUMMARY

• Sean Bean taped the Mordor line to his knee to remember it during filming.
• Director Peter Jackson revealed Bean’s sneaky tactic during the Council of Elrond scene.
• Sean Bean leads the upcoming BBC drama This City is Ours as Ronnie Phelan.

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Turns out, even Middle-earth has its struggles! One of the most iconic lines from The Lord of the Rings wasn’t just tough to deliver—it was a real memory nightmare for Sean Bean. Yep, even Boromir himself had a hard time keeping track of those epic lines. The best part? He found a hilariously sneaky solution that fooled everyone on set. 

Sean Bean in Patriot Games | Paramount Pictures

Instead of mastering the script, Bean came up with a clever trick to keep things rolling without anyone noticing. Curious how he pulled it off? Let’s just say, next time you watch that legendary scene, you might spot his sneaky strategy in action. Spoiler: You’ll never look at it the same way again!

Sean Bean’s Sneaky Trick: How Boromir Delivered the Iconic ‘Mordor’ Line with a Script on His Knee

Sean Bean As Ned Stark in Game of Thrones | HBO Max

“One does not simply walk into Mordor,” right? Well, apparently, one does not simply memorize that line either—at least not if you’re Sean Bean. During the Lord of the Rings reunion for Josh Gad’s Reunited Apart series, director Peter Jackson revealed a behind-the-scenes gem about Bean’s iconic scene at the Council of Elrond.

Turns out, the legendary line we all love was handed to Sean the morning of the shoot! The speech was written just the night before, leaving Bean scrambling to remember his lines. But Boromir had a clever trick up his sleeve—literally. Jackson alluded (via IGN), 

It’s long, and we gave it to Sean the morning he arrived. What Sean did, which I thought was really clever, is he got a printout of the speech taped to his knee. 

Yep, Bean’s secret to delivering that unforgettable moment? Glancing down at his knee! Jackson asserted how Sean had to check his script every time, so he kept looking down at his knee. And there it is—what looks like deep, contemplative thought from Boromir’s actually Sean sneaking a peek at his lines. Talk about a smooth save!

This hilarious detail only adds to the magic of The Lord of the Rings. And the best part? Now you can’t unsee it. Next time you revisit the Council of Elrond scene, you’ll know Bean’s clever trick—and maybe appreciate his performance even more.

Sean Bean Leads BBC’s This City is Ours in a Gritty New Drama

Sean Bean in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring | Amazon

Sean Bean’s back in action! The Game of Thrones alum’s set to star in the upcoming BBC drama This City is Ours. Bean, a two-time BAFTA winner, will play Ronnie Phelan in the series, alongside James Nelson-Joyce (Bird) as Michael Kavanagh, Phelan’s friend, and Hannah Onslow (Empire of Light) as Michael’s partner. Jack McMullen (Hijack) joins the cast as Ronnie’s son, Jamie Phelan.

Created by Butchard (The Good Mothers) and directed by Saul Dibb (The Salisbury Poisonings), the series follows Kavanagh as he partners with Phelan, navigating love and the crumbling of his gang. Bean last appeared in the BBC’s 2022 drama Marriage and won a BAFTA for Time that same year. With its gripping plot and stellar cast, This City is Ours promises to be another hit.

Lord of the Rings is available to watch on Amazon Prime & Apple TV.

Written by Heena Singh

Articles Published: 248

Heena Singh is a writer at FandomWire, spent the last two years making waves in entertainment journalism. With a knack for digging up blockbuster celebrity scoops and an uncanny nose for the latest buzz, Heena’s articles bring a fresh and fun perspective to life. When she’s not conquering writing challenges, you’ll find her curled up in bed, peacefully sleeping.