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Cate Blanchett shines at the Royal Film Performance of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey held at the Odeon Leicester Square on Wednesday (December 12) in London, England.

Joining the 43-year-old actress on the red carpet were here co-star Martin Freeman with his partner Amanda Abbington, Ian McKellan, director Peter Jackson, and former Hobbits Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd.

The Hobbit hits theaters this Friday (December 14). Will you be checking it out???

FYI: Cate is wearing Givenchy with a Van Cleef & Arpels ring. Ian is wearing an Unconditional suit.

10+ pictures inside of Cate Blanchett and others at The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey premiere… More Here! »

Cate Blanchett takes one of five covers for Empire magazine‘s December 2012 issue, available on Empire U.S for the iPad, offering a first look at The Hobbit: An Expected Journey.

The 43-year-old actress is pictured as her character Galadriel while the other covers feature Ian McKellan as Gandalf, Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, Richard Armitage as Thorin, and everyone’s favorite Gollum!

“I think it was just getting to spend some time in close proximity to Ian McKellen. I’m smitten… Maybe in some different universe we’re blissfully happy together,” Cate said of her favorite experience filming the flick.

“I have less baby fat and my face is slightly more angular. But once I’d put the wig, the feet and the clothing on again and took a photo of myself on my iPhone and looked at it, it blew my mind how much I still resembled Frodo,” Elijah Wood said of playing Frodo at 30.

Make sure to visit EmpireOnline.com for more on The Hobbit: An Expected Journey!

Poor guy! Lifeguard Jake Gyllenhaal gets pissed on by Sir Ian McKellan on the red carpet at the BAFTA Awards on Sunday night. HILARIOUS!!

Er, is interviewer Ruby Wax on something?