Blanchett juggled Hobbit with kids

Cate Blanchett has admitted she only has a small part in The Hobbit as she couldn't spend too much time away from her family.

The Lord Of The Rings actress - who lives in Australia with her husband and three children - returns as elf queen Galadriel in Peter Jackson's prequel The Hobbit, which was filmed in New Zealand.

Cate told Empire magazine: "I've got three children from four to ten and my husband and I are running the Sydney Theatre Company, so the only film jobs I've been able to do are the ones that can be done in the school holidays or in a small slot where I can fit it in.

"Ten days on The Hobbit is an absolute godsend because it's brilliant fun and you know the results are going to be great and even though I'm only a small part of it, I'm very happy to be a wheel on that Tonka truck.

"You can't do everything. I don't have any regrets. I've had children and that's the most important thing for me, so I can't do everything. Sure, there are things I've wanted to do that I haven't been able to but I've also been able to do fantastic things at the Sydney Theatre Company. I wouldn't swap a moment of that."

Cate also hailed co-star Sir Ian McKellen.

She gushed: "He's just a god amongst men. It's a highlight of my career getting to act with him. He's a wonderful man and one of the most extraordinary actors. I honestly think he's one of the best of all time."

She added: "I'm smitten. If only he were straight... In another life. Maybe in some different universe we're blissfully happy together."

Empire's 3D Hobbit issue is out now.