A HOLLYWOOD star from Inverclyde says it felt ‘absolutely insane’ to mingle with A-listers at the world premiere of the new Hobbit movie in London.

John Bell, who plays Bain in The Battle of the Five Armies, looked every inch the film star in his Dolce and Gabbana suit as he rubbed shoulders with Martin Freeman, Sir Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom and Evangeline Lilly.

Under the spotlight of the world’s press in Leicester Square, John thrilled fans by spending nearly two hours posing for selfies and signing autographs.

He then went inside with his mum Susan, dad Iain and friend Aimee Richardson to watch himself on the huge IMAX screen.

The Kilmacolm actor told the Tele: “It was absolutely insane, the fans were amazing and it was great to chat with them.

“I also did interviews with press from Las Vegas, Arizona, France and Russia.

“It was really weird to see myself on screen.

“My character plays a pivotal role so I got to do some really cool stuff in the film.” After the screening John and his family enjoyed the five-star treatment at a posh after-party on the rooftop garden of the swanky London skyscraper dubbed the ‘Walkie-Talkie’, where he caught up with director Peter Jackson and even enjoyed a drink with Ed Sheeran, the chart-topping singer-songwriter.

John added: “The party was brilliant — we had a 360 degree view of London on the rooftop.

“It was great to meet all the cast again as the last time we saw each other was at the Berlin premiere.

“I spoke to Peter Jackson for a couple of minutes, which was great as he was in demand.

“I also met Ed Sheeran again — he’s so down to earth. I chatted away to him and he got me to pour my drink into a tankard and said ‘so you drink like a Hobbit!’.” Leaving the party was a bit emotional for John as the film is the culmination of The Hobbit trilogy.

John said: “It was really sad as I had to say goodbye to everyone. Earlier in the evening when I left the theatre with my mum and dad we all had tears in our eyes.” But John has plenty of work to keep him busy over the next few months.

He is jetting out to Austria and Italy after landing the lead role in an independent film called The Man in the Box.

John said: “I’m very excited, as my last lead role was when I was 10 and I starred in A Shine of Rainbows.

“The film is an in-depth drama set in the 1940s in the Austrian Alps and I’m really looking forward to working on it.”