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"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey star Sir Ian McKellen has insisted it was essential to introduce female characters to JRR Tolkien&amp;#039;s story. The original novel contains only male characters, but the Gandalf actor believes the inclusion of Cate Blanchett&amp;#039;s Galadriel was an important addition to the film.   McKellen, who reprises his role as the iconic wizard for a fourth time in the first Hobbit instalment, also revealed that fans will catch a glimpse of Bilbo Baggins&amp;#039;s mother Belladonna Took when the movie arrives on DVD and Blu-ray. &amp;quot;One thing Middle-earth is short on is the feminine. It&amp;#039;s a pity, because a female dwarf would have been fun,&amp;quot; he wrote on his blog.  &amp;quot;Bilbo&amp;#039;s mother, the &amp;#039;famous Belladonna Took&amp;#039;, will make a brief appearance in the extended DVD/Blu-ray edition but in the film itself, thank goodness for the ravishing re-appearance of Cate Blanchett&amp;#039;s serene Galadriel. She is so sweet to Gandalf, countering the sinister presence of a mournful Saruman at the conference table.  &amp;quot;Actually Christopher Lee wasn&amp;#039;t with the rest of us, filming in New Zealand. His contribution was shot back home in London and then sliced into the scene, though you can&amp;#039;t tell, of course.&amp;quot;  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was released in cinemas last week. Watch Ian McKellen discuss The Hobbit with Digital Spy below:  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/the-hobbit/news/a446792/the-hobbit-needed-cate-blanchett-says-ian-mckellen/>