You wouldn't see that in Middle Earth: Cate Blanchett leads the glamour in floorlength white gown with backless cut out at The Hobbit London premiere
PUBLISHED: 18:15, 12 December 2012 | UPDATED: 19:50, 12 December 2012
It was only a fortnight ago that the stars of The Hobbit took to New Zealand to hold the world premiere of the latest Tolkien saga in the franchise.
And knowing how popular the film proved in its home country, the cast were no doubt expecting big things as they took to the streets of London on Wednesday night for the UK screening.
True to form Cate Blanchett lead the glamour for the royal film performance of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
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Galadriel looks: Cate Blanchett leads the glamour as she walks the green carpet at the UK premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on Wednesday night
She wowed the crowds as she stepped on to the green carpet in a stylish floorlength winter white Givenchy gown, ensuring she was wrapped up more for the London winter than she was for New Zealand's summer at the original November premiere.
Cate, 43, did, however, vamp up her look with a backless cut out detailing showing off some flesh to the excitable crowd.
The actress, who plays Galadriel in the Middle Earth drama, finished off her look with her blonde locks in a simple up 'do, while carrying a cute clutch bag.
Baring the flesh: Blanchett appeared to cover up for the chilly London weather but on second look went for a daring backless cut to her gown
And she was joined on the special green carpet by co-star Sir Ian McKellen, who just a day ago revealed he was secretly diagnosed with prostate cancer six to seven years ago.
The Hobbit actor, 73, admitted he hasn't had any treatment for the disease, but is examined regularly and it is 'contained'.
He admitted he originally feared the worse when doctors first told him he had the disease, but his concerns were soon allayed.
Greeting fans: She battled the icy conditions to sign autographs for the waiting crowds
Leading stars: Cate was joined by her castmate Sir Ian McKellen, who only revealed on Tuesday that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer six years ago
Fancy seeing you there: The pair fooled around on the carpet before heading inside to watch the drama
And he seemed to have put his worries far from his mind as he greeted the crowds and photographers at the extravaganza in Leicester Square on Wednesday evening.
Cuddling up to Cate, McKellen smiled widely in his dapper outfit to celebrate the latest screening.
A whole host of other stars gathered in the West End for the royal UK premiere of the new Hobbit film.
The Duke of Cambridgealso joined them and attended alone as his wife Kate, whose pregnancy was announced last week, continued to rest at St James's Palace from acute morning sickness.
Stellar line-up: Blanchett was joined by her male co-stars as they posed up together during the evening
Family affair: Andy Serkis brought along his wife Lorraine Ashbourne and his children to the glitzy bash
Silver lining: Actress Rebecca Ferdinando went for metallic as she walked the carpet and joined the other stars on the night
With his girls: James Nesbitt also made it a family affair with his wife and daughters, who all glammed up for the evening
Andy Serkis, who also reprises his role from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Office star Martin Freeman, who plays main character Bilbo Baggins in the JRR Tolkien adaptation, all attended.
They were joined by showbiz figures including boyband McFly, who braved freezing temperatures on the green carpet in front of hundreds of screaming fans.
Sir Ian, who plays the wizard Gandalf, said it was great to be in London for a film with a strong British presence.
Date night: JLS' JB Gill brought his girlfriend along to the premiere both dressed to the nines
Man of the night: Martin Freeman, who plays lead character Bilbo Baggins, showed off his dapper looks as he brought along partner Amanda Abbington
Continuing their new look: McFly wore co-ordinating outfits in burgundy blazers and black suits for the outing
No Kate: The Duke of Cambridge was the royal guest of the night and appeared without wife Kate on his arm as she continues to battle morning sickness
Dapper: Sir Ian showed off his electric blue coat lining as he joined Graham McTavish inside
Fanfare: Director Peter Jackson was also on hand to watch the proceedings unfold
He added: 'Its cast is basically British and from the Commonwealth, Tolkien was an English writer, here we are in the capital city and it feels proper.'
Australian actress Blanchett, who plays elf queen Galadriel, joked about the cold.
'The weather is enough to drive anyone away but it is great to see so many fans,' she said.
She wore a stunning white backless dress but had donned a black jacket by the time she went into the cinema for the performance.
Olympic long jump gold medallist Greg Rutherford was among the celebrities attending, along with singer Nick Cave.
During the evening lead star Freeman admitted it was a challenge to star as The Hobbit himself, and he hoped fans enjoyed the film.
'I loved playing it. I really loved playing it. I hope people like it. There's nothing more you can do. It's in the hands of Peter Jackson and the editors.'
But he admitted that travelling between New Zealand and his home in the UK, where he lives with his young family, had been the greatest challenge.
'That was probably the major test - the mental and emotional test of actually leaving your home for that long.
'But the gig itself was a real pleasure and a challenge in all the best ways.
'Sometimes they're hard challenges, but sometimes they're fun. It was an amazing job, I'll never do another one like it.'
Serkis confessed he had not had chance to miss his role as Gollum in the time since he made the Lord Of The Rings trilogy because he is still often asked to do the voice.
He joked: 'I never thought he was ever going to go away. He's never really drifted very far from me.
'But it was lovely to play the scene with Martin, it was day one of 276 days of shooting.'
Serkis only makes a small appearance in The Hobbit but ended up staying on to work behind the camera.
He said: 'My unexpected journey on this was thinking I was going Down Under to reprise the role of Gollum for two weeks and then Peter asked me to direct the second unit, so I ended up going for a year and a half.'
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