A Hollywood star has been seen visiting a Kent seaside town that\u2019s become a magnet for big celebrity names in recent years.<\/p>\n
Lord of the Rings actor Elijah Wood was seen taking photos with fans and visiting several independent shops in Margate yesterday (October 16).<\/p>\n
Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood with Kieran Taylor on the train. Picture: Kieran Taylor<\/p>\n
Kieran Taylor told KentOnline that he met Wood on the train, where he was happy to pose for a picture. He said: \u201cHe was really genuine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eagle-eyed fans also said they saw him visiting The Lido Stores art gallery in Ethelbert Terrace, Silly Margate in Hawley Street and Comics and Sci-fi World in Market Place.<\/p>\n
Gallery owner and curator of The Lido Stores, Kristen Healy, said Wood spent a long time with the current exhibition, The Long Memory by Robin Dixon, which runs until October 25, and purchased some of the artwork.<\/p>\n
She told KentOnline: \u201cWe talked at length about the show. He really loved the work, particularly the landscapes and country scenes and bought a piece by Robin.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a lovely man, very sweet and kind-natured. He told me he had come for a day trip because he had heard cool things about Margate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe spoke about the town, the gallery and how the town\u2019s fortunes have changed in recent years.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe commented on the inclement weather when he arrived, which had now changed to a stunning day.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was happy to have his photo taken when I mentioned we had just finished the Lord of the Rings Trilogy with our eleven-year-old son. He did not mind at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe seemed to be having a lovely day, and it was such a nice meeting. I hope he returns one day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the comic book shop, Ian, said Wood was passing by when he popped in for a brief visit.<\/p>\n
Elijah Wood with the exhibition by Robin Dixon. Picture: Kristen Healy<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cI asked him what he was doing in Margate; apparently he saw Silly Margate on Instagram and thought it was rather quirky.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe decided as he was in London to pop down to Margate for the day to check out the shop and the area.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lord of the Rings fan James Addison-May said he also saw Wood, but in Ramsgate\u2019s Wetherspoons, the Royal Victoria Pavilion, where they chatted about the film franchise.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cI bored him to death with questions about Lord of the Rings, or so I thought, but considering it was the best part of 25 years ago, he still spoke with the exact enthusiasm you would expect, which was so refreshing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The American actor and producer is best known for playing Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and is set to reprise his role in the upcoming Hunt for Gollum movie.<\/p>\n
More recently, he has appeared in the psychological drama Yellowjackets, the horror sequel Ready or Not 2: Here I Come and HBO Max\u2019s miniseries Charlotte\u2019s Web.<\/p>\n
Elijah Wood with fan James Addison-May. Picture: James Addison-May<\/p>\n
Margate has become a popular stomping ground<\/a> for some of the world\u2019s most famous faces.<\/p>\n Madonna has made a number of trips to the town, most recently in January this year, and has even described it as her \u201cidea of heaven\u201d.<\/p>\n She is friends with Margate\u2019s most famous living artist, Tracey Emin.<\/p>\n Pedro Pascal, star of Game of Thrones, The Last of Us, and the rebooted The Fantastic Four, has been drawn in too, visiting the town<\/a> in 2023.<\/p>\n