The Hobbit 3: Lord Of the Rings Actors Share Their Experiences

With the final film for the Hobbit trilogy, The Battle of the Five Armies, coming soon, the acting veterans of Middle-earth share their experience.

In his quest to turn J.R.R Tolkien's beloved Lord of the Rings books into a widely successful movie franchise, Peter Jackson recruited Sir Ian McKellen to play the wise old wizard, Gandalf.

"Actually, when I was first approached to do these films, I really wasn't that interested because I couldn't understand how a guy, who made splatter films like Bad Taste or Braindead, could do justice to The Lord of the Rings or why he wanted to film it in New Zealand, of all places. I thought it was preposterous."

"How wrong I was though, because when I met Peter I was so impressed by his passion and his vision and now I can see that there was no one else - and nowhere else - to make these films. I'm just so glad that I decided to give it a go, because it's really been the most remarkable project I've ever been a part of. It truly has been a life-changing experience."

Alongside McKellen, Orlando Bloom has been there from the beginning of the quest as the elf, Legolas.

"Legolas was the first role I ever got to play and it's also a character that has resonated with people the most in my career, so it's definitely defined me.

"That's why, when Peter asked me to come back to do The Hobbit films, I jumped at the chance." The filming of the final installment of the trilogy has been a bittersweet experience for Bloom.

The same is true for Martin Freeman who plays Bilbo Baggins, the star of the trilogy.

Although I hadn't been a part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I'd spent two-and-a-half years with these people, on this job, and it has been a huge part of my life. So, it ended up being quite emotional, when I realized it was over - a lot more emotional than I thought it would be."

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies opens at cinemas on December 11.