HOLLYWOOD stars aren't divas at all.

So says New Zealand personal trainer Dave Nuku, who was fitness adviser to the cast of The Lord Of The Rings (LOTR) film trilogy (2001-2003).

In a phone interview from Malaysia where he has been based for the last 21/2 years, the 30-year-old told The New Paper: 'Stars have high expectations of those they work with because they've access to the best trainers in the industry.

'But everyone in The Lord Of The Rings was very down-to-earth. No one was difficult or whiny.'

Nuku, who has been a fitness trainer for 11 years, will be coaching The Biggest Loser Asia's blue team of plus-sized contestants into dropping excess kilos.

On the reality weight-loss TV show, which is a spin-off of the popular US programme, 30 overweight participants from all over Asia vie to drop the highest percentage of his or her initial body weight.

The biggest loser - of weight, that is - stands to win US$100,000 ($140,000).

Currently being filmed in Malacca, The Biggest Loser Asia premieres over Hallmark Channel (StarHub Channel 17) on 24 Nov at 9pm.

Lordly behaviour wasn't the only thing missing from the LOTR set.

Picture-perfect looks were also hardly in sight.

Stars like Orlando Bloom (who played elf archer Legolas) and Billy Boyd (who played the hobbit Pippin) often turned up for training looking the worse for wear.

Nuku recalled: 'You could tell some had had a rough night. Orlando and Billy partied as hard as they worked.

'I also had to remind them not to come in bermudas and sandals, which they constantly did.'

Nuku focused on strengthening Bloom's back which he had injured with core and abdominal training. The actor also did resistance training to toughen up for the trilogy's battle scenes.

Cate Blanchett (who played royal elf Lady Galadriel) and her husband, Australian playwright and screenwriter Andrew Upton, preferred exercising on stationary bikes with Nuku.

Every time she arrived at Nuku's Wellington gym for training, Blanchett would cause a stir.

'Everyone would stop working out and stare at her. But she was very gracious. She autographed and took photos with those who requested.

'She even signed on the gym wall.'

Actress Liv Tyler (who played half-elven Arwen) had to be spurred on to complete her cardio-resistance training regime.

Nuku said: 'Training wasn't her favourite thing. But she wanted to look good for the camera, so I had to remind her of that to keep her motivated. I think she really enjoyed the after-workout sensation.'

Nuku will now turn motivator to The Biggest Loser Asia contestants.

Since filming began five weeks ago, Nuku says there's already been 'a year's worth of drama'.

'It's expected. People are ripped from their normal lives and put into situations when they're exposed and vulnerable, and they're doing all this under the spotlight.

'We've had people breaking down out of sheer frustration. Mothers cry at the mention of their children's names. I really take my hat off to these contestants.'

Perhaps one consolation for them is that Nuku will not be another Jillian Michaels.

Tough-as-nails Michaels, a personal trainer on the US version, has made contestants lift her while doing bench presses and had them carry her around like a human backpack.

'I'm going to be myself, and I think I'm a pretty good guy. I don't scream at or ridicule people. I want to help people with obesity.

'As much as I hope I'm going to change their lives, I think they've also changed my life by going way outside their comfort zone.'