VIP: Evangeline Lilly's special little elf is son

http://www.usatoday.com

'Hobbbit' star says 2-year-old Kahekili makes work not "nearly as important."

Landing the role of the Silvan elf Tauriel in TheHobbit: The Desolation of Smaug was, of course, exciting for Canadian actress Evangeline Lilly, 34.

But it also was intimidating because "it's such an iconic story ... that's been in the world's consciousness long before I was alive."

"And, you're messing with it because I'm playing a character that's not actually in the book." adds Lily.

Luckily, motherhood — 2-year-old son Kahekili was just 3 months old when the movie began shooting — put it all in perspective.

"One of the benefits from being a mother and going to work is that the work didn't hold nearly as much weight because it wasn't nearly as important anymore. The important thing was waiting for me at home. ... I really felt that I came into this place of calm and relaxation in my professional life that I've never been to before and it was wonderful."