dailyrecord - OUR HEROES 2004 AWARDS: I FEEL HOBBIT OF A CHEAT

Jun 22 2004

ENTERTAINER Modest Lord Of The Rings heart-throb Billy says he doesn't deserve his prize

By Cara Page

LORD Of The Rings star Billy Boyd was at this year's glitzy Oscars ceremony to see the Hollywood fantasy epic scoop an incredible 11 awards.

But yesterday, the 35-year-old from Glasgow said he felt humbled to be named as Our Entertaining Hero.

He said: 'I feel a bit of a cheat when there's people doing something that really matters.

'All I did was appear in a couple of movies.

'This is the first year of the awards and that makes it special for me.

'I'm more touched though by everything else I've seen here today. It's been pretty amazing.'

Billy's rise to worldwide fame has been nothing short of amazing in itself. He was a struggling actor living in Cranhill when he was touched by the magic of JRR Tolkien's Rings trilogy.

It looks a long and daunting trek from his first part in TV detective series Taggart to a role in one of the most successful film series in history.

But that is exactly what Billy has achieved in eight short years.

He had grown up in the Easterhouse area and dreamed of becoming an actor as a child.

But when he explained his ambition to his school guidance teacher, he was perhaps wisely advised not to tell anyone else.

After leaving school at 17, he put his hopes on hold while he worked as an apprentice printer and book-binder for six years.

He was planning to take a year out in the United States when he applied for the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama 'by accident' and got in.

His big break came when he was cast as Pippin, one of Frodo's loyal Hobbit pals in the screen adaptation of the fantasy classic.

He didn't think he stood a chance when his agent sent off his audition tape.

But director Peter Jackson was so impressed by it that he flew to Scotland to audition Billy in person.

Gruelling Billy moved to New Zealand for the gruelling back-to-back filming of the three Lord Of The Rings movies.

And he won international acclaim with the release of Fellowship Of The Ring in 2001, The Two Towers in 2002 and The Return Of The King last year.

The final film in the trilogy scooped 11 Oscars including Best Picture.

The personal rewards of Billy's success have also been massive.

He is reported to have pocketed more than £1.5million in bonuses and can now pick and choose any acting role he wants.

Billy recently starred as a seaman in the Russell Crowe action movie Master And Commander and he has other lucrative film work lined up.

His latest movie is called Instant Credit and is being directed by Ewan McGregor's mum Carol.

Billy said: 'I'm going to see it tonight actually, because they've just finished editing it.

'It's a short film, which is great. People get used to films being two hours long, or three-and-a-half hours long if it's Lord Of The Rings. But I think short films are just as fun.'

For the future, Billy would love to trade Middle Earth for MI6 by landing the role of 007.

The pint-sized star admitted: 'I'd like to be a really short James Bond.'

Billy attended yesterday's awards ceremony with his attractive girlfriend Ali McKinnon.

She proudly led the applause as he collected his award from the chairman of the judging panel, George Reid MSP, and Andrew Hannah of sponsors Famous Grouse.

Billy is currently working on a secret Scottish project but he knows he will forever be linked with The Lord Of The Rings.

He said: 'I know I'll always have that and be Pippin no matter what I do but I won't ever have a problem with it.

'I like acting, whether it's film or theatre, and I want to get more Scottish films made.

'We have great talent, great musicians and comedians in this country and we should be promoting that.

'There is alot of positive stuff going on in Scotland and an event like this shows that. I think it's been great.'

The other nominees for Our Entertaining Hero were Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus and Nicola Benedetti, the BBC's Young Musician of the Year.