Lord of the Rings Star Reveals They Received No Pay for Original Trilogy

Lord of the Rings Star Reveals They Received No Pay for Original Trilogy

Key Takeaways

  • The Lord of the Rings Trilogy was immensely successful, grossing $2.9 billion globally, with the final film hitting $1 billion.
  • Despite the franchise’s success, one actor revealed they were paid very little for starring in all three movies.
  • Actress Cate Blanchett’s role in the trilogy as Galadriel was significant, but she did not receive a substantial paycheck for her work.

As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the magical world of Middle-earth, I can’t help but be both amazed and dismayed by the story of Cate Blanchett’s modest earnings for her iconic role as Galadriel in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. On one hand, it’s fascinating to see how a small investment in a passion project can pay off so handsomely in the long run. Just look at the incredible career trajectory Blanchett has had since those early days on set – collaborating with some of the most renowned directors in Hollywood and solidifying her status as a leading global star.


An actor who was part of the main cast in Peter Jackson’s renowned Lord of the Rings Trilogy has recently spoken up about their surprisingly low pay for their roles in the influential films from the 2000s, offering insights into the financial aspects behind one of the most legendary film series ever made.

The epic film series known as “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, which includes “The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Two Towers,” and “The Return of the King,” is unquestionably one of the most financially and critically successful movie franchises in history. Collectively, these films brought in an astounding $2.9 billion worldwide, with “The Return of the King” alone earning over $1 billion globally – making it only the second film ever to achieve this feat. Interestingly, one of the actors who appeared in all three movies has recently revealed the relatively low pay they received for their work on the “Lord of the Rings” Trilogy.

During a recent discussion, Cate Blanchett surprised fans by revealing just how little she earned from the $2 billion-grossing Lord of the Rings franchise. Blanchett shared that she didn’t receive a significant paycheck for her part in Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy. The 55-year-old Australian actress revealed this on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen while promoting her new video game film, Borderlands, alongside co-star Gina Gershon. During the show, she participated in a segment called “Plead the Fifth,” where celebrities face tough questions. When host Andy Cohen asked her to name the film that earned her the biggest paycheck, guessing it was Lord of the Rings due to her iconic portrayal of the elf Galadriel, Blanchett quickly shut down the idea. “Are you kidding me? No, I didn’t get paid anything to do that movie!” she exclaimed.

Lord of the Rings Star Reveals They Received No Pay for Original Trilogy

Cate Blanchett was among a small group of actors who starred in all three movies of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which were uniquely filmed simultaneously – an uncommon achievement in cinema. The filming for the entire series took place from October 1999 to December 2000, with a total budget of $289 million. This ambitious production proved highly successful, as the trilogy, released annually from 2001 to 2003, grossed an impressive $2.9 billion worldwide, breaking records and silencing doubters. When asked why she decided to be part of the project, Blanchett explained that the opportunity to work with director Peter Jackson was her primary motivation: “I wanted to collaborate with the man who made Braindead,” she stated, referring to one of Jackson’s earlier cult horror-comedies, released as Dead Alive in 1992. “In essence, I got free lunches and managed to keep my ears – which was a bonus, considering the food.” When asked about the film where she earned the most, Blanchett humorously commented, “Well, it’s no secret that women don’t earn as much money as people think they do.”

As a die-hard fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I find Cate Blanchett’s portrayal of Galadriel intriguing, especially considering her role wasn’t as expansive as some others. Despite being a pivotal figure in Middle-earth, the Lady of Lothlórien woods and a powerful elf, Galadriel’s screen presence was somewhat marginal compared to other characters. This can be explained by the fact that at that time, Blanchett was still climbing the Hollywood ladder, with her fame yet to reach mainstream status. She had just made waves with critically acclaimed films like The Talented Mr. Ripley and Elizabeth I, which garnered her an Oscar nomination and set her on the path to stardom.

Back in the early 2000s, when I was part of The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003), little did I know that it would set my acting journey on a trajectory I never imagined. That humble role catapulted me to work alongside some of Hollywood’s greatest directors such as Wes Anderson, Martin Scorsese, Richard Eyre, Todd Haynes, Steven Spielberg, David Fincher, and Alejandro G. Iñárritu, to name a few.

The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies are streaming on Max.

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2024-08-25 19:24