Sunday Herald Sun

October 10, 2004

Swapping Tales About Hobbits And Giant Apes

By FIONA BYRNE

OSCAR winner Adrien Brody and acclaimed actor David Wenham (both right) no doubt swapped a few tales about New Zealand hobbit Peter Jackson when the pair caught up for lunch at a swanky eatery in Sydney this week.

Brody enjoyed a short break from the New Zealand set of Peter Jackson's latest multi-million epic King Kong, popping up unannounced in the harbour city.

The actor, who is something of a kissing bandit (remember that Oscar night smooch with Halle Berry?), has been snapped puckering up to some of the movie world's most glamourous girls since picking up an Academy Award for his work in The Pianist last year. He lunched with Wenham, who worked with Jackson on The Lord of the Rings.

The following day he also rubbed shoulders with fellow Oscar-winner Russell Crowe and Sarah Ferguson's sister Jane Luedecke at another harbourside hang-out.

Brody is expected to be based in New Zealand for several months working on the remake of King Kong, which also stars Naomi Watts, funnyman Jack Black and Lord of the Rings graduate Andy Serkis.