Evangeline Lilly worried about 'The Hobbit' role

Evangeline Lilly has defended Peter Jackson's decision to create an original role for her in the upcoming films based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit.

Lilly has been cast as a wood elf in Jackson's two-part epic, and admitted that she is concerned about how fans of the books will react to her presence in the films.

"I am very concerned to this day that people will watch the film and I'll be the black mark on the film," Lilly revealed to SFX recently. "I know how adamant the purists are and I'm one of them!

"That said, upon reading The Hobbit again, as an adult, I can see why additional characters were needed to round out the story as an adaptation - especially female characters!"

Lilly also commented on her preparation for the role, noting how different it is from her work on Lost.

"Right now I'm studying Elvish and having conversations with people about learning how to be an archer, a swordsperson and how to fight like an elf instead of a gritty convict," she added.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is expected in cinemas on December 14, 2012, and will be followed by The Hobbit: There and Back Again on December 13, 2013.

> The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - in pictures