How Old Was Cate Blanchett as Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings?

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Many fans wanted Rosamund Pike to portray the royal elf Galadriel in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy. However, Cate Blanchett got the honor of playing the “Lady” of the woods of Lothlórien in all three films.

Reportedly on the casting wishlist of Jackson, Walsh, and Boyens, principal photography for all three films took place between October 11, 1999, and December 22, 2000. Cate was 30 years old when filming started and turned 31 on May 14, 2000.

Cate Blanchett was 30 years old when filming The Lord of the Rings as the royal elf GaladrielCate Blanchett was 30 years old when filming The Lord of the Rings as the royal elf Galadriel (Credit: New Line Cinema)

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring premiered on December 10, 2001, at the Odeon Leicester Square in London. One year later, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers premiered on December 5, 2002, at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City.

The final installment of the series, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, premiered on December 1, 2003, at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington, New Zealand.

Actress Cate Blanchett arrives for the premiere of "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"Actress Cate Blanchett arrives for the premiere of “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” on December 11, 2002, in London (Credit: Apega / FayesVision / Nicky Nelson / WENN)

While her character does not even appear in the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, the director and his writing team decided to increase the number of female roles in The Hobbit trilogy (2012–2014). Cate reprised her role as Galadriel and is one of few actors to appear in every LOTR film.

In an interview with The Guardian, she revealed that she’d always wanted to appear in a movie wearing pointed ears.

After filming The Lord of the Rings trilogy in the role of Galadriel, Cate Blanchett got to keep her elf ear prostheticsAfter filming The Lord of the Rings trilogy in the role of Galadriel, Cate Blanchett got to keep her elf ear prosthetics (Credit: New Line Cinema)

“To be honest, I did it so that I could have the pointed ears. I thought they would really work with my bare head,” she said about her role as elf queen Galadriel. The pointed ears were given to her as a present at the end of the filming.

“Someone got to hear that my husband has a bit of a thing for my ears and presented us with mine,” she told the Daily Telegraph.

“They were all beautifully housed in a wooden box with a little section for each ear. It was kind of like a box of chocolates but with ears!”

Cate Blanchett attends the Royal Film Performance of 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'Cate Blanchett attends the Royal Film Performance of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey at Odeon Leicester Square on December 12, 2012, in London, England (Credit: Apega / FayesVision / Nicky Nelson / WENN)

There are so many wonderful things to say about Cate Blanchett. Not only does the talented actress have an incredible sense of style, but she’s also absolutely hilarious. Take, for example, her Desert Palm Achievement Award win.

In January 2016, Cate arrived at the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards looking flawless, as usual.

Cate Blanchett wears her blonde hair down at the 27th Annual Palm Springs International Film FestivalCate Blanchett wears her blonde hair down at the 27th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival in California on January 2, 2016 (Credit: Apega / FayesVision / Nicky Nelson / WENN)

Cate’s ensemble of choice consisted of an embellished dress from Marc Jacobs’ 2016 collection in a beautiful dove gray shade. The actress accessorized with some jewelry from Tiffany & Co.

Cate Blanchett wears a Marc Jacobs dress on the red carpetCate Blanchett wears a Marc Jacobs dress on the red carpet (Credit: Apega / FayesVision / Nicky Nelson / WENN)

The then-46-year-old also had the honor of debuting a nude pair of mesh pumps from the exclusive Salvatore Ferragamo x Edgardo Osorio capsule collection.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the company’s collaboration with Hollywood, Salvatore Ferragamo asked Colombian designer Edgardo Osorio, the founder and creative director of high-end shoe label Aquazzura, to design a footwear capsule collectionTo celebrate the 100th anniversary of the company’s collaboration with Hollywood, Salvatore Ferragamo asked Colombian designer Edgardo Osorio, the founder and creative director of high-end shoe label Aquazzura, to design a footwear capsule collection (Credit: Ferragamo’s Instagram)

The mesh pumps were inspired by Marilyn Monroe, who personally bought the iconic Ferragamo 1940’s pump for $45.

Cate Blanchett's feet in Salvatore Ferragamo x Edgardo Osorio shoesCate Blanchett’s feet in Salvatore Ferragamo x Edgardo Osorio shoes (Credit: WENN)

Back to Cate’s stage antics — the actress hilariously ran in slow motion and pranced as she made her way to the podium to receive her Achievement Award.

Cate Blanchett wears an embellished Marc Jacobs dress on the red carpetCate Blanchett wears an embellished Marc Jacobs dress on the red carpet (Credit: Apega / FayesVision / Nicky Nelson / WENN)

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