Our stars in the Narnia Chronicles

By Peter de Graaf
The real star of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a Northlander born and bred - but he doesn't give interviews and he won't be in the running for an Oscar.
That's because he's a lion.
The movie's hero, Aslan - a talking lion who represents the forces of good in the bible-inspired story - might be computer-generated, but he's based on a real lion. That lion was Zion, a six-year-old big cat at Whangarei's Zion Wildlife Gardens.
"Lion man" Craig Busch said the movie's director, Andrew Adamson, looked all over the world for the right lion. "But he kept coming back to Zion. He was the best-looking lion for the part, and he has the same character as Aslan _ he's magical, a very noble-looking lion," Mr Busch said.
A film crew had spent three days earlier this year at the Kamo wildlife park, filming Zion and studying his movements.
And it's not just the movie director who has a soft spot for Northland's newest star. "I get on very well with Zion. He's a personal favourite by a long way," Mr Busch said.
... and Rumblebuffin ours too
By Mike Dinsdale
The character Rumblebuffin, played by Whangarei actor Lee Tuson in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Northlanders will be "blown away" by the latest Hollywood blockbuster, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - just ask three Whangarei actors with parts in the movie.
Lee Tuson, Bridget Riggir-Cuddy and her mum Julie Riggir all appear in the movie, which was to open in Whangarei today.
Lee plays Rumblebuffin, a good guy turned to stone by the evil White Witch. His character is resurrected toward the end of the movie by the breath of the lion Aslan, whom he helps in the battle against the witch's evil forces.
Bridget and Julie are extras at a train station at the start of the movie being evacuated from London during World War Two.
Julie had no intention of auditioning for the movie and only went along to the casting to support Bridget. But she was soon roped in to play an extra and it's an experience she thoroughly enjoyed.
New Zealand director Andrew Adamson made the $282million film largely in New Zealand and the experience was exciting for the three Northlanders. Only Lee works as an actor fulltime.
Lee attended the movie's New Zealand premiere and was blown away by just how good it was. "It is absolutely fantastic and very close to the book. Andrew has done a great job - it's a fantastic movie for adults and kids," he said.
Lee predicted the movie would be in with a good chance for an Oscar next year.
"It's got marvellous moral tales for everybody. It's got good fables in there that can enhance our parenting. There are different things in there for different people," he said.
Bridget, who was put on to the part by her talent agent, thinks here mum was more excited than her about the idea of appearing in the movie.
"And she still is. But it's just fun to be able to say you have been a part of this," Bridget said.
Julie even jokes that she might be a shoe-in for the best extras category at the next Oscar awards - if there was one, that is.
One of the best parts for Julie was getting to dress up in the "wonderful" authentic 1930s outfits - including whalebone corset - which had been shipped out from the United Kingdom especially for the movie.