Original Star Fay Wray Approves 'King Kong' Remake

"I remember Merion Cooper so well, who created the original. I still remember when he was just thinking of the idea for the film and he looked at me and said, 'I know – I think I will call it Kong – no, even better, I will call it King Kong!' He was a wonderful person – so strong and devoted to film.

"I think it is excellent and honourable that Peter Jackson wants to be true to the original. And I am proud that he wants to keep King Kong alive."

But while Wray, who began her film career in 1923, approved the remake, she said she would not consider making a cameo appearance. When Jackson and backers Universal first considered making the film in 1996, Wray had been invited to make a cameo, uttering the famous line at the end of the original film: "It was beauty killed the beast."

"(King) Kong was always an independent kind of guy and I think he should stay that way," she joked. "But, it is wonderful knowing that people care, and that Peter Jackson cares. That is what is important."