Whilst harumph-ing at the slow day at the ofc... watched some other The Roses interviews w/ Olivia Colman and Ben Cumberbatch, to cheer me up... Looking at them a bit more closely... subjected the pair to my usual Chinese zodiac filter -- very interesting indeed. Fantastically-gifted actor Liv Colman, were born 23 Jan '74 -- only a few days after the lunar new year (20 Jan). Being a Tiger in general means a child and adult with an enormous heart and intimidating ability to fearlessly feel their way thru life, always aiming to top the mountain in whatever they choose... as if destined to it. Their self-assurance and confidence is legendary, as the big cat they're likened to. 'Bring it', is their creedo -- and tend to be quite wild in youth given their fearlessness... but this greatly varies depending on which of the five Tigers they are. Chinese traditional belief says all 12 animals are divided into the 5 elements -- Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. Each appearance of an animal every 12 yrs, changes elements thru that order -- to complete a full cycle of 60 yrs. The animal Year supposedly reigns from lunar NY, then begins to change to the following year's animal, around 01 Sep. The influence of the following year then becomes stronger and stronger approaching LNY, when the previous year no longer has any influence (which I dispute). People born in this time from 01 Sep to LNY, I consider 'cusp babies' -- those who have traits of both Year's animals. Liv Colman isn't technically, but may be one of these. Obvi her Tiger traits being one of two of the most Yang animals in the 12, makes her personality bias the Tiger -- she knows who she is, and has all her life. One part of her that seems to resemble the previous Year, which would be the Ox... is her unflappable base of decorum at all times -- esp after becoming a mum. Her Tiger side cracks and larfs at crude jokes (esp w/ Ben) but the Ox side balances the slashing Tigers claws, w/ civility and inertia. Both animals in nature often kill each other, so a good equaliser for the intimidating (and often self-destructive) confidence of the Tiger. She's also a Wood Tiger, which is far less intense and self-indulgent vs. Fire or Metal Tigers. Being born in Winter, also clips some of the intensity a Tiger would otherwise have, vs a Summer-born one. Ben Cumberbatch is a Fire Dragon (19 Jul '76)... which is a pretty neat coincidence, wouldn't you say? Dragons are the other dominant Yang animal, together w/ the Tiger. Tigers and Dragons -- esp males -- tend to either despise each other or become fast friends, no middle ground. Both have very different styles of domination and achievement, and of course each consider the other rivals for whatever they unfortunately happen to overlap in coveting. Ben is very much the consummate male Dragon -- an Omega who doesn't see frontal conflict as the best way to build empire to vision nor achieve greatness -- general vs. infantryman. Their choices are meticulously thought out and serve a grand design roadmap of the life they foresee themselves as sole architect of. Tigers are very much 'leap in, and things'll sort themselves out' -type people, and choose to act first and let someone else clean up later Dragons abhor lack of structure... so invent it wherever it's needed (Ben became producer on The Roses, so he could have control over the kind of set he felt would serve all in it). Control is the overarching theme of Dragons... and unless the Tiger (or any other animal) can serve some capacity / role in their worldview... they're only irritants. Ben also has that very British sense of decorum (at least at their collective level of social status), so have a fighting chance or being fast friends w/ Liv -- which they happen to be. Wood feeds Fire -- so feel Liv's Tiger side tends to knock a bit of stasis out of Ben, who's lightning-fast in reply to interviews but can seem a bit 'locked-in' -- Liv's perfect at saying and doing humorous things to break him out of this shell -- throwing Wood on his Fire Ben provides a sense of calm and careful consideration, Liv can sometimes ad-lib into the weeds -- which is hilarious to watch in real time. Long-years-friendly enough to cut up with, even on the junkets... but also intensely respectful of each other's craft and achievement. Fun! Love to see this sort of coincidence w/ celebs I adore
