<P> In 2003, Fry made his directorial début with Bright Young Things, adapted by him from Evelyn Waugh's Vile Bodies . In 2001, he began hosting the BAFTA Film Awards, a role from which he stepped down in 2006 . Later that same year, he wrote the English libretto and dialogue for Kenneth Branagh's film adaptation of The Magic Flute . </P> <P> Fry continues to make regular film appearances, notably in treatments of literary cult classics . He portrayed Maurice Woodruff in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, served as narrator in the 2005 film version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and in 2005 appeared in both A Cock and Bull Story, based on Tristram Shandy, and V for Vendetta, as a non-conforming TV presenter who challenges the fascist state . The Wachowskis pointed out that it was Fry's "normalcy" in the face of the insanity of the censorship of BTV that makes his character truly powerful and adds a "wholly unexpected dimension to the film". In 2006, he played the role of gadget - master Smithers in Stormbreaker, and in 2007 he appeared as himself hosting a quiz in St Trinian's . In 2007 Fry wrote, for director Peter Jackson, a script for a remake of The Dam Busters . He also appeared that year in Eichmann . </P> <P> Fry was offered a role in Valkyrie, but was unable to participate . Fry starred in the Tim Burton version of Alice in Wonderland, as the voice of the Cheshire Cat . He played Mycroft Holmes in the 2011 film Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, directed by Guy Ritchie . In 2010, Fry provided the voice of Socrates the Lion in the environmental animated film Animals United . He portrayed the Master of Lake - town in two of Peter Jackson's three film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit: the second The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and the third The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies . </P> <P> Fry came to the attention of radio listeners with the 1986 creation of his alter - ego, Donald Trefusis, whose "wireless essays" were broadcast on the BBC Radio 4 programme Loose Ends . In the 1980s, he starred as David Lander in four series of the BBC Radio 4 show Delve Special, written by Tony Sarchet, which then became the six - part Channel 4 series This is David Lander in 1988 . In 1988, Fry wrote and presented a six - part comedy series entitled Saturday Night Fry . Frequent radio appearances have ensued, notably on panel games Just a Minute and I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue . In 2000, he began starring as Charles Prentiss in the Radio 4 comedy Absolute Power, reprising the role for three further series on radio, and two on television . In 2002, Fry was one of the narrators of A.A. Milne's Winnie - the - Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, in which he voiced Winnie - the - Pooh . He presented a 20 - part, two - hour series, The Incomplete and Utter History of Classical Music, a "witty guide" to the genre over the past 1,000 years, on Classic FM . </P>

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