United’s popularity throughout the world is well documented but few would have expected it to reach as far afield as Middle-earth.

For those of you not familiar with such a place, Middle-earth is the setting for the hugely successful phenomenon that is The Lord of the Rings.

Director Peter Jackson’s critically acclaimed trilogy has altered cinema history, not to mention the lives of the actors who were lucky enough to be cast in the epic three-part screenplay, which picked up a staggering eleven Oscars in Sunday’s 76th annual ceremony.

One of those lucky few is former Stockport resident and United fanatic Dominic Monaghan .

Alongside Hollywood stars Elijah Wood, Liv Tyler and Orlando Bloom, 27-year old Dominic took on the role of the Hobbit Meriadoc ‘Merry’ Brandybuck in the trilogy.

Dominic says he had the time of his life during his 18-month stay in New Zealand – the location where the three movies were filmed back to back – but admits his mind often wandered back to life at Old Trafford.

“We were a long way from football in New Zealand and I felt very torn away from United whilst I was over there,” he told ManUtd.com on a recent visit to the Theatre of Dreams. “The people over there know rugby as football which is a bit strange and the football they play is equivalent to the kind they play in the English Third Division!

“They did know about United and Arsenal, but I think being away from it all made me more of a football fan because you weren’t constantly surrounded by it like you are in Manchester,” he adds.

Dominic, who is currently based in Los Angeles, made sure he kept up to date with all the goings on at United via our very own website ManUtd.com!

“I was always on my computer in-between filming and I spent loads of time on United’s official website,” reveals Dominic. “I would sometimes hear about the team’s results but the United website gave me more of an insight into the games, as well as Fergie’s reaction.

“I also listened to the games through the radio on the Internet and my Dad would send over tapes of United’s matches every few weeks.”

Because of work commitments Dominic is not able to get back to Manchester as often as he’d like. But he can’t wait to watch the lads in action this summer when they return to America for their second pre-season tour in two years.

“I went to the game in LA last summer and was lucky enough to meet some of the players,” explains Dominic, whose latest movie ‘The Purifiers’ will be out in the spring. “I thought I’d just go to the game and that would be it. But that was only the half of it, as myself and Elijah ended up going to a party with the team in Venice Beach!

“I really wanted to talk to players like Ole and Rio but they were actually coming over to me and Elijah because they’d seen us in Lord of the Rings. To meet people who you admire and who also know what you’re doing in your line of work is amazing, yet very strange at the same time!

“United are a worldwide phenomenon and a lot of people in America know all about the club history and the current players, because they’re a very exciting team to support. Everyone’s looking forward to seeing them again in the summer and now I’m a member of the official Manchester United Supporters’ Club in America (MUSCUSA), I’ll definitely be cheering the team on!” he adds.

Manchester United Online

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