Crowds gather to see The Lord of the Rings stars

9.00pm - By CATHY ARONSON

Hundreds of people crowded outside the Hotel Inter-Continental in Wellington tonight to catch a glimpse of The Lord of the Rings stars.

The stars are in town for The Return of the King premiere at the Embassy Theatre tomorrow.

As the stars were being interviewed in hotel rooms as part of the movie promotion the crowds were screaming outside.

Fans from all over New Zealand and the world were standing outside the hotel for hours carrying books and banners for their favourite stars to sign.

Leonie Newton, from Auckland, took her daughter Lara Newton, 13, to Wellington for the premiere because the book had inspired her daughter to read and spell.

"She couldn't read or spell properly but since the movie she's read the book twice. Anything that can make a difference like that in my daughter's life is worth supporting."

Lara had autographs from most of the stars who had walked out of the hotel but she was waiting with tears in her eyes to see Orlando Bloom.

Danielle Briggs, 27, had travelled from Perth to see the stars at the premiere, see New Zealand and check out Viggo Mortensen's photography as she is a keen photographer herself.

Upstairs Viggo Mortensen was amazed by the noise from the crowd. He stopped an interview and went and stood at the window to try and see who the crowd was going crazy for.

But, despite the adoration, the star who plays Aragorn was very humble.

"I think if you do become arrogant and completely sure of yourself then you're probably not in touch with what you're doing. I want to know myself that I did the best I could and I'm satisfied that I gave it enough."

He arrived in New Zealand early last week to set up his photography exhibition For Wellington, a series of photos taken while he was filming The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

He also read his poetry to a packed audience at the Paramount Theatre last night.

The 500 seats were sold out to people from throughout the world including Germany, Japan, UK, Australia, USA, Canada, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Malaysia and Taiwan. The event raised about $50,000 for a scholarship fund for students enrolled in the creative writing workshops at Victoria University.

He read alongside New Zealand writers Bill Manhire Tusiata Avia, Hinemoana Baker, and Cliff Fell.

Also last night Oscar winning composer Howard Shore conducted the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in The Lord of the Rings Symphony, Six Movements for Orchestra and Chorus.

The concert at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington was packed as the audience enjoyed music adapted from scores of all three movies in the trilogy.

The fans will be treated to another outing by the stars in Wellington tomorrow as the streets are closed off for a parade and then the red carpet walk before the world premiere.

Liv Tyler, who plays the elf princess Arwen who falls in love with Aragorn, said she was happy to be back in New Zealand but sad to see the trilogy end.

"I adore coming here and getting to spend time here. I'm constantly amazed at how beautiful it is. Every time I come back I see more and more beauty in it."

Other stars in New Zealand include Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Sean Astin, Andy Serkis, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Sir Ian McKellen, John Rhys-Davies, John Noble and Bernard Hill.

Interview with Sean Astin (Sam)

Herald Feature: Lord of the Rings