Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett reveals her salary in the iconic trilogy was much lower than many believe, highlighting the pay gap in Hollywood
When we think about the trilogy of The Lord of the Ringsit comes to mind immediately epic images, unforgettable characters and a production that has left its mark on the history of cinema. But behind those spectacular scenes and the huge box office success, there are less glamorous stories that not everyone knows. One of these is the surprising revelation of Cate Blanchettwho recently shared details on how little the actors were paid during filming of the movies.
During an interview with Watch what happens live with Andy Cohen, Blanchettwho played the majestic Galadriel confessed that her participation in the trilogy did not generate much revenue. Despite appearing in the original three films and returning in the prequel trilogy The Hobbitthe actress revealed it His salary was far from impressive.. Are you kidding?he responded when Cohen suggested it The Lord of the Rings It had been one of the projects that had generated the most money. No, no one was paid anything to make that film.he stated categorically.
Salaries in The Lord of the Rings
For those who believe that franchise stars are all that successful The Lord of the Rings They would have received juicy checks, Blanchett’s statements are a bucket of cold water. The trilogy, which has grossed nearly $3 billion worldwidehas been positioned as one of the highest-grossing films of all time. However, according to Blanchett, This was long before there was any possibility of earning a share of the profits.referring to the lack of additional compensation based on subsequent financial success.
Blanchett also said, with her characteristic humor, that all she really achieved was practically free sandwiches AND? he could keep his elf ears as a memento of the filming. Despite this low salary, the actress noted that it was thrilled to work with Peter Jacksonthe director of the trilogy, whom I have admired since his work on the cult film Brain dead.
Orlando Bloom and other actors also spoke out
Blanchett isn’t the only star of The Lord of the Rings who spoke the modesty of his salary. Orlando Bloomwho played the elf LegolasHe also shared his experience in The Howard Stern Show. Bloom, who was an emerging actor at the time, revealed that He was paid only $175,000 for the three films.. Despite the low number, Bloom expressed gratitude for the opportunity, describing it as the greatest gift of my life.
On the contrary, some of the more established actors in the cast have received more considerable sums. Andy SerkisFor example, he got 1 million dollars for his iconic portrayal of Gollum, while Elijah Woodwho played Frodo, started with a salary of $250,000 which eventually increased to 1 million at the end of the trilogy. However, it was Mr. Ian McKellenwho played Gandalf, the one who took the largest payment, totaling $13 million.
Hollywood and the Wage Gap
The statements of Cate Blanchett on his experience in The Lord of the Rings Not only are they surprising in what they reveal about salaries in that particular franchise, but they also They open a broader debate on wage disparities in Hollywood. It reminds us that, even in multi-million dollar productions, not all actors are compensated equallyand that the differences can be huge depending on the fame, experience and gender of the actor.
Blanchett also briefly touched on another sensitive topic by mentioning it Women in Hollywood Don’t Make as Much as You’d Think. Her comment resonates in an industry that has come under fire in recent years for its gender pay gap, with several actresses pointing it out Their male colleagues received significantly higher compensation for similar roles..
The Lord of the Rings It’s still a cinematic gem, but Behind the scenes, it seems that not everything was as magical as in Middle-earth.. With revelations from actors like Cate Blanchett and Orlando Bloom, audiences now have a more complete perspective on what really happened during the creation of this epic saga. Although the salary was not high, the cultural impact of the films was inestimable.for both actors and fans around the world.