Cate Blanchett Opens Up About Not Receiving Pay for Lord of the Rings

Cate Blanchett recently made a shocking revelation about her experience in The Lord of the Rings franchise, disclosing that she was significantly underpaid for her contributions to the film.

During an episode of Watch What Happens Live, the actress from Borderlands participated in a game of Plead the Fifth with host Andy Cohen. Following a relatively easy question about her character’s wig, Cohen inquired about the movie that earned her the most money.

Despite some discussion, Cohen ultimately stated that he believed her earnings from The Lord of the Rings were the highest. However, Blanchett immediately objected to this statement.

Blanchett firmly denied Cohen’s statement, exclaiming, “Are you joking? Absolutely not! Nobody received any payment for their involvement in that film.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ielt7A-Ebn4

Will Cate Blanchett Plead the Fifth? | WWHL (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ielt7A-Ebn4)

The conversation began at the 50-second mark in the video linked here: https://youtu.be/ielt7A-Ebn4?t=50.

Blanchett also clarified that she did not receive any additional compensation or bonuses based on the film’s box office performance. She had accepted the role solely because of her desire to collaborate with the director of Braindead, stating that she “basically got free sandwiches”and to keep her elf ears.

In her closing remarks on the subject, Blanchett playfully teased the audience, stating that women do not receive as much as many may believe.

Cate Blanchett is among the few actors who have appeared in all six The Lord of the Rings live-action films released to date. In the films, she portrays the elf Galadriel, who makes occasional appearances.

According to Box Office Mojo, the 2001 live-action film, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, has earned a box office gross of over $300 million. Despite being made on a budget of $93 million, the film was a profitable success, resulting in a sizable profit and plenty of sandwiches for Blanchett.

The journey through Middle-Earth and the tale of Galadriel continues in the second season of Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, set to premiere on August 29. In the meantime, Blanchett can currently be seen in theaters as the fierce bounty hunter Lilith in Borderlands, which has received mixed reviews.

If you’re seeking additional content related to Borderlands, you can explore its post-credits scene, our analysis of the game’s finale, and the distinctions between the film and the game.