I’m sick of Lord of the Rings stars saying they got paid “nothing” for the movies

As a die-hard Lord of the Rings fan, I can’t help but feel a pang of empathy for Cate Blanchett and Orlando Bloom when they casually mention their “meager” paychecks from the epic trilogy. Having spent countless hours immersed in Middle Earth, I too would have given my two shillings to join the fellowship.

Celebrities don’t share the same lifestyle as us common folks. They reside in grand mansions nestled among the hills of Los Angeles, jet-set around the globe for work and leisure, and frequently receive financial compensation that would drastically transform the lives of many average individuals. We adore our beloved movie stars. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with achieving success and wealth, money often brings about a shift in perspective, and it can be quite startling to grasp the extent of this change.

For instance, recently Cate Blanchett has been in the news for an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen where the host asked her to name the biggest paycheck she ever got from a film. She demurred, which is fine, but was quick to assure Cohen that it definitely wasn’t from The Lord of the Rings, where she played elven queen Galadriel. “No one got paid anything to do that movie,” she said, qualifying that she didn’t get a part of the backend because “that was way before any of that…No, nothing.” Instead, she wanted to work on The Lord of the Rings because she a fan of director Peter Jackson’s horror film Braindead. “I mean, I basically got free sandwiches. And I got to keep my ears.”

It’s clear that compared to her usual earnings, Blanchett’s paycheck for The Lord of the Rings might have seemed modest. However, considering she had already been nominated for an Oscar prior to this role in Elizabeth, I can confidently say it was significantly more than just “nothing.”

Blanchett isn’t the sole cast member from “Lord of the Rings” who speaks in this manner. Back in 2019, Orlando Bloom (Legolas) appeared on “The Howard Stern Show” and discussed his pay. He stated, “I got nothing, absolutely nothing. I received $175,000; that’s what I got.”

As a lifelong fan of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, I find it fascinating to put the earnings of Orlando Bloom (who played Legolas) into context based on my own financial experiences. In 2003, when the final movie came out, $175,000 had a significantly greater purchasing power than it does today, equivalent to approximately $30,000 in current dollars. The filming of those iconic movies took place over an extended period of 438 days from 2000 to 2003. Given my understanding of the entertainment industry and the dedication required for such a massive production, I imagine that Orlando Bloom spent most of this time working on set or preparing for his role, even though Legolas was technically only a supporting character. The dedication and commitment he must have shown to bring Legolas to life is truly inspiring, and it’s a reminder of the sacrifices actors often make to create unforgettable characters that captivate audiences worldwide.

In other words, he earned approximately $300 for a period of about one year and four months, which is significantly higher than the average annual salary in the U.S. today ($63,795) and well beyond what an ordinary person could have made in the early 2000s. Globally, the average annual income today is around $18,000.

As someone who has spent a significant portion of my life working in the entertainment industry, I’ve come to recognize the discomfort that arises when wealthy actors casually joke about their meager paychecks for certain projects. While I understand their nonchalant attitude towards money, it serves as a stark reminder of the vast divide between the privileged few and the many who struggle to make ends meet.

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2024-08-19 16:41