What does it take to bring a fictional character to life?

I was just looking at the Just Giving bar to the side of my blog here, which is tracking what donations toward BBC Children In Need the fans of the Torchwood character Ianto Jones have come together to make, it is currently at 4042 pounds... That's over $6,611.00 to us here in America.

I know that fans have a bit of a 'oh, they are the weird ones' reputation, and I am sure that costumes at conventions do not help that outlook on fans. Let's face it, though, it is just downright cool that people from all over the world would come together to give over $6,500 to children in need in the name of a fictional character. It takes some pretty strong feelings for that kind of thing. Feelings that are normally only felt toward a living person that has passed away.

As a novel writer, I have a very high respect for the ability to stir that kind of emotion in an audience. Ianto Jones is the only role I have seen Gareth David-Lloyd portray, but I can tell you that the man has a rare talent that gives his characters a quality, that undefinable spark, that makes me believe in them. I don't watch a lot of television because I find it difficult to empathize with the characters in a show. I can check my brain at the door and enjoy the ride, I do that on occasion, but it is a rare actor that can make me care, deeply, about the character. I'm not talking fanatical caring; I am talking about something that will cause me to make the time to see a show because it is beautiful to watch the actor in the role, to see how they bring the character to life.

I suppose it was my past of wanting to be a camera operator in movies that makes me feel as I do, but I want to watch characters that, as the camera is rolling, the cameraman is so enthralled by the work that they want to just lean on the camera and watch. I might be being a bit dramatic there, and I know the camera operator never gets to see the complete scene the way the viewers see it, but that is the kind of 'it's real' feelings I got watching Gareth David-Lloyd portray Ianto Jones.

I must not have been the only one, for so many to be wanting to do so much good in the name of a fictional character.