Stephen Fry was interviewed by
Digitalspy.co.uk, and he discusses his role in
The Hobbit, Master of Laketown. He describes the look of the master and design of Laketown. He calls the location, "Smelly city that’s on stilts in the lake below the mountain where Smaug the Dragon lives."
When the dwarves arrived, the Master of Laketown greeted them generously, but only to keep public spirits up. After the destruction of Esgaroth and the slaying of the dragon by Bard, he was given money for the rebuilding of Laketown by Dain II Ironfoot, the ruler of the Lonely Mountain. He is therefore described as weak, because he is easily overcome by the lust of the treasure Smaug held, and by the dragon-spell. He flees into the wild with the gold, and is eventually abandoned in the waste and perishes there of starvation. - http://lotr.wikia.com
Video Courtesy of Digital Spy
"He was a shlock, gore director of the highest quality and wit. My character is an opportunity for sheer grossness.
"He had me eating testicles... gross appetites. I mustn't give too much away but I've got a bald cap and then on top of that a really bad combover wig and this wispy mustache and wispy beard and horrible blotchy skin and disgusting fingernails.
"And generally speaking a really unappetising piece of work. And a coward to boot and very, very greedy."