THE LORD OF THE RINGS - BEAN BUYS COTTAGE IN CASH

THE LORD OF THE RINGS star SEAN BEAN has bought a new house in his native Sheffield, England - after paying the $299,000 (GBP149,500) price tag in cash. The actor, 48, stunned cottage owner Antonia Cardwell when he turned up on her doorstep recently after putting in his bid with her estate agents. And although Cardwell had been told to "expect a surprise" when her mystery buyer arrived, she never guessed it would be screen star Bean. Cardwell recalls of the meeting: "He just walked through the door and said, 'Hi, I'm Sean.'"