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Cate Blanchett has revealed she wanted to play a dwarf in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - so she could sport a beard.
The Australian actress, who reprised the role of elf queen Galadriel for Peter Jackson's Lord Of The Rings prequel, admitted she "fell in love" with the beards.
"There was one moment where I fell in love with all of the facial hair and the facial hair jewellery. I said to Peter that if I could come back and wear a beard - because the female dwarves have beards - and I said I'd be up for that," she said on ITV's Lorraine.
"I mean, I don't know if that's going to take on, but it could take off. I couldn't because I was on stage... And I've always wanted to have facial hair but I've missed my chance."
Cate revealed she never thought she would reprise the role 10 years after the last Lord Of The Rings film, The Return Of The King.
"I didn't think I'd get another chance, and I've got to play her younger than she was before which was a challenge. But when you're 3,000 years old, give or take 10 years - what's that?" she joked.
The 43-year-old, who attended the film's UK premiere alongside co-stars Martin Freeman, Sir Ian McKellan and Andy Serkis, said she doesn't feel any pressure to be red-carpet ready.
"I try not to fall over. It's hard to look good in minus two degrees," she quipped.
"It's fantastic. There's no pressure on me really - it's Peter's and Martin's night and the dwarves' night. I'm just along for the ride."
