If I were on a near-hopeless quest, I'd want loyal and true Samwise at my side, wouldn't you? This guy takes constant abuse and goes through hell to support his pal Frodo. If we can believe the reports of Sean Astin's co-stars, Sean is like that too... a good pal though thick and thin. Speaking of thin, Sean has lost his Samwise fat and looked quite dapper when we chatted with him recently about the crazy production schedule that jumped from scenes in film one to some in film three. An actor's nightmare.

The actor, son of actress Patty Duke, has show biz in his blood and enjoys directing as much as acting. His short film, The Long and the Short of It was shot on the set of LOTR and is part of the DVD of "The Two Towers". Sean's daughter played Sam's young daughter in "Return of the King". He'll next appear as an actor opposite Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler in the comedy Fifty First Dates. The most naturally energetic of the Hobbit dudes, Sean bounced into our interview room wearing a classy black jacket and carrying a Red Bull....

Sean: When I started drinking one of these, everyone attacked me, 'No, Sean, not you – no Red Bull.' I think it's crack. It can't be right, the fact that I felt the way I did beforehand and then afterwards... it ought to be a regulated substance. [He sits and calms down].

TeenHollywood: You are so emotional in "Return". Were the emotional scenes spread out over time or shot all together?