Interview- 2001 LOTR Premiere

Can you set up the character you play, and basically the movie as well, for those who haven't read the books?

Oh dear! Well basically I play Frodo Baggins, who is a hobbit of the Shire. He's slightly different from the other hobbits in the fact that he kind of grew up under Bilbo's wing. He kind of wants to take in adventure and is quite wise and pure of heart. The movie, and the story, is about Middle Earth which is under siege from the possibility of Sauron returning as the Dark Lord and he's trying to get his ring back. His ring is under Frodo's possession and he accepts the destiny to take the ring to Mordor to have it destroyed to save all of Middle Earth.

Nicely done!

Alright, fantastic.

Wow, that's quite a task and you rose to the occasion admirably there...

Excellent.

They've done a great job of recreating Middle Earth here (at the premier), although I don't remember quite so much Ricky Martin being played in the movie.

Yeah, it's slightly strange, I know.

The movie is terrific by the way.

Thank you.

And the audience I saw it with really enjoyed it as well.,/p>

Good.

Which must be, I would have thought, some what a relief for you and everyone involved, having spent that much of your life on it.

It is absolutely, I mean 16 months in the making, a year waiting for it to come out, certainly a lot of anticipation. It feels really good, you know? And the responses have been utterly amazing - so we're really proud.

Now don't take this the wrong way, but there is all of a bit of the hobbit about you. Even without the make-up on.

Well you spend all that time playing a hobbit, I think it rubs off on you a bit.

But there are worse things to be.

Exactly.

I'm looking forward to the next 2 films almost an improbable amount...

I can't wait, for the next 2 films!

You haven't seen them yet?

No, it's only going to get better though.

... I thought you might have a bootleg you could lend to me.

Wouldn't that be nice?

Thank you once again.

Thank you very much.