Peter Jackson: I've Had Enough Success  12/2/05

Director Peter Jackson is relieved The Lord of the Rings brought him the glory and wealth he'd always dreamed of, as he now feels relieved of a huge burden.

The 44-year-old New Zealander, whose latest film King Kong is about to be released around the world, admits the thought of winning an Oscar seemed a distant hope in his early days as a film-maker.

But after his hugely successful adaptation of the Jrr Tolkien trilogy, Jackson can finally do what he wants without worrying whether his movies will make millions.

He says, "When I was making my first films, like Bad Taste and Just the Feebles and Braindead, I was human and like anyone in that position was always thinking, 'Gosh, I wonder if I'll ever win an Oscar. I wonder if I'll ever make a film that makes $100 million.'

"But in some respects, rather than a burden, it feels like a huge relief to have made big, successful films, to have won Oscars, because it's highly likely I'll never make another in my life that earns as much money as The Lord Of The Rings, and it's a weight off, frankly."