Movies

Cate Blanchett shocks fans by revealing how much she really made in the $2 billion box office blockbuster Lord of the Ring franchise

BBG News

As a lifestyle expert with a deep appreciation for the arts and a keen interest in Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes stories, I find Cate Blanchett’s revelation about her paycheck during the Lord of the Rings trilogy both shocking and inspiring. Here is a woman who has achieved global stardom, earned countless accolades, and yet, she was paid peanuts for one of the most iconic roles in cinematic history.

As a devoted admirer, I’m sharing insights from Cate Blanchett herself on the modest earnings she garnered during the making of The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

55-year-old Australian actress, who is well-known, appeared on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live on Wednesday to promote their upcoming Borderlands film alongside her fellow cast member, Gina Gershon.

In another context, she took part in a show titled “Plead the Fifth,” during which the host, Andy Cohen, queried about the film that brought her the largest earnings. Guessing correctly, he suggested it was the Lord of the Rings trilogy, where she portrayed Galadriel, the elf character.

Blanchett appeared astonished, exclaiming, “You’re joking, right? Nobody received any payment for making that film.”

When Cohen inquired about whether Blanchett received a share from the profits of the trilogy that earned over $2 billion globally, Blanchett replied, ‘No! That was long before any of that. Nothing at all. I just wanted to collaborate with the director who created Braindead. To put it simply, I essentially got free lunches and I got to retain my earrings.’

In 1992, New Zealand director Peter Jackson unleashed the gruesomely funny film titled “Braindead” (known internationally as “Dead Alive”). This horror-comedy has earned a reputation for being one of the bloodiest movies ever made.

As a die-hard fan, when someone recently asked me about the film that brought in the most for me, I replied with a sigh, “Believe it or not, women aren’t compensated as generously as one might assume.”

In most cases, film actors’ wages are not publicly disclosed, making it improbable that she truly worked for no payment. However, it seems her remuneration was relatively modest.

In October 2013, a report from We Got This Covered provided insights into various celebrities’ alleged earnings, although these figures haven’t been verified. Unfortunately, Cate Blanchett’s salary was among those not disclosed in the report.

The report does claim, though, that Orlando Bloom (Legolas) earned just $175,000 for all three films, while Sean Astin (Samwise Gangee) earned $250,000. 

Elijah Wood, who played Frodo Baggins, is said to have received $250,000 for his role in the first movie, whereas his paycheck increased significantly to a million dollars for the third film.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but marvel at the fact that Cate Blanchett graced us with her mesmerizing presence in every single one of The Lord of the Rings trilogy movies – an extraordinary feat achieved during an unparalleled filming process where all three films were simultaneously brought to life.

From October 1999 through December 2000, the production of all three films took place with an overall budget of approximately $289 million. Accounting for inflation, this equates to around $530 million in 2024’s value.

The risky move proved successful as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, comprising The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, became both commercially and critically acclaimed.

Over a three-year period from 2001 to 2003, these three movies amassed a total of $2.9 billion at global box offices, with each one premiering in December simultaneously.

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2024-08-08 08:03

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