LORD OF THE RINGS - ELIJAH WOOD CONGRATULATES GWYNETH

LORD OF THE RINGS star ELIJAH WOOD has offered his congratulations to GWYNETH PALTROW on her pregnancy.

OSCAR-winning actress Paltrow and her COLDPLAY frontman beau CHRIS MARTIN recently announced they're expecting their first child in the summer (04), and Wood has immediately stepped forward to wish the beauty the best - even though they've never met.

He says, "Gwyneth, I don't know you, we were on a plane once. I don't know if you saw me there; I saw you but I didn't wanna say hi, because I was a little nervous and shy... But congratulations and I hope that it's a wonderful pregnancy."

America's former first lady HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON adds, "It's the most wonderful, difficult job in the world."

Meanwhile, film-maker RON HOWARD has a few words of advice for the expectant mother: "Get your rest now!"