Rings star chose career over love life

Dominic Monaghan says he sacrificed a relationship to star in Lord Of The Rings.

The 25 -year-old actor had been living with his girlfriend in Normandy when he was offered the part of Merry the Hobbit.

He said there was "no choice" between staying with his girlfriend or flying to New Zealand for a year to film the Tolkien trilogy.

Monaghan said: "That was one of the toughest things I ever had to do but there was no choice.

"This was like a moment you wait for in your career - the chance to go to the other side of the world with great actors and do something which may never be done again.

"You know you may have to face decisions like that but it doesn't make it any easier. Many tears were shed."

Monaghan spent over a year on location in New Zealand, with a month in a special training camp to attain peak fitness.

Monaghan will also be seen alongside Ewan McGregor in Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down.