“It wasn’t all about money”: Cate Blanchett May Not Have Earned in Millions For the LOTR Trilogy But How Did it Affect Her Hollywood Career?
- Cate Blanchett claimed that she got paid in sandwiches for the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
- Blanchett played the royal Elf Lady Galadriel in all three movies of the blockbuster franchise.
- Collectively, the trilogy collected $2.93 billion at the box office worldwide.
From Marvel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, actress Cate Blanchett has spread her wings and been a part of various franchises. Her versatile skill ensures that she fits into any story like a glove fits a hand. Blanchett is a woman of poise and character. Her impeccable dialogue delivery and method acting puts her a notch above the rest.
However, it was not always smooth sailing for the Hela actress. She may be paid in millions currently, but back when she was just starting out, there were some movies that she did without any payment, and received only free sandwiches!
Cate Blanchett reveals she did the The Lord of the Rings movies for free
Cate Blanchett has been known to charge high amounts for her talents and skills. That’s not unsurprising for an actor who has won two Academy Awards, four British Academy Film Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. Her work speaks for itself as Blanchett puts her heart and soul into every role, whether it’s in movies with great production value, independent flicks, or even stage plays.
When she appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, the host asked her about some of her biggest paychecks, claiming The Lord of the Rings may have catapulted her bank account to newer heights. Taken aback by the comment, Blanchett replied,
Are you kidding me? No, no one got paid anything to do that movie. No, that was way before any of that. I wanted to work with the guy who made Braindead. I basically got free sandwiches, and I got to keep my [elf] ears. Women don’t get paid as much as you think they do.
Even for The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Blanchett put in incredible preparation and time to get the fantasy role right. She plays the royal Elf Lady Galadriel in all three movies of the blockbuster franchise. However, the pay did not match the efforts. Nevertheless, the movies did shine a bright spotlight on the actress and brought her into the mainstream. Since then, she has gone on to be one of the most in-demand actresses of our time.
The Lord of the Rings Box Office Numbers
The Lord of the Rings trilogy may have been made on a small budget, but all three movies went on to do smashingly at the box office. The production house Warner Bros made millions from the trilogy. Collectively, as per Collider, the trilogy collected $2.93 billion worldwide. This has further added a bit of resentment on the part of the cast and crew as they were not even paid the bare minimum for their work.
On the other hand, if they had come up with a variable system where they could get a share of the profits, then everyone would have been happier. Nonetheless, the actors have gone on to claim that The Lord of the Rings was their launchpad to success. They have no regrets about working for less money and would happily do it all over again. Working on the fantasy trilogy was a delightful experience for most of the cast.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is streaming on Netflix.
