The Lord of the Ringstrilogy has one of the most impressive casts in cinematic history.Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee, Cate Blanchett, and other members of the cast were already highly accomplished and award-winning actors, but despite their many roles over the years, they are still largely remembered for their respective performances asGandalf, Saruman, and Lady Galadriel. For other actors, including Orlando Bloom and Andy Serkis,The Lord of the Ringsproved to be their breakout roles and opened the door for many high-profile opportunities.
More than two decades after the movie trilogy concluded, it is nearly impossible to watch the actors in another role without thinking about their performances in Peter Jackson’s adaptation ofJ.R.R. Tolkien’s novels. When assessing whoseLord of the Ringsperformance is the best, many factors are taken into consideration, with the most important being how memorable the performance is, along with the impact it makes on the story and the audience.Nearly every performance in the trilogy deserves to be lauded, although there are a select set that elevate themselves above the rest.
10Christopher Lee
Saruman
The Lord of the Rings’overarching villain is Sauron, butit is Christopher Lee’s Saruman who is the face of Middle-earth’s villainyfor a large portion of the movies, especially inThe Fellowship of the Ringand inThe Two Towers.When Saruman is first seen emerging from Orthanc when Gandalf arrives in Isengard, Lee immediately imbues the characters with a palpable sense of gravitas and power. These traits are heightened by the sinister edge Lee brings to the role, making Saruman’s betrayal all the more chilling to experience.
Many villains are only intimidating when speaking at a specific volume, butSaruman can be intimidating both when issuing a loud command to his troops and when speaking in a quieter voiceto a single individual. After being such an integral part ofThe Fellowship of the RingandThe Two Towers, his complete absence in the theatrical version ofThe Return of the Kingand only a brief appearance in the extended edition are keenly felt. The lack of Saruman is one of the few blemishes in an otherwise deeply satisfying conclusion to the epic story.
9Bernard Hill
King Théoden
Bernard Hill essentially has to play two different versions of King ThéodeninThe Lord of the Rings. The first version is the wizened and feeble-minded ruler who is little more than a puppet leader being controlled by Grima Wormtongue. The second version, who is seen for the majority ofThe Two Towersand inReturn of the King, is a courageous, loyal, and kind leader who guides the people of Rohan through immense hardship and leads them to aid others who are in need. Hill plays both versions of Théoden just as convincingly.
The history of Rohan will be further explored in the upcoming anime movieThe Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.
He portrays significant emotional depth and vulnerability as Théoden mourns the death of his son, Théodred, and during his reflective monologue in the hours before the Battle of Helm’s Deep.Hill’s performance is just as potent in moments where Théoden seems larger than life itself, with the most memorable instance being his speech before leading the Rohirrim’s charge during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Théoden’s death is one of the most impactful in the trilogy, in large part due to how well Hill played the character from beginning to end.
8Sean Bean
Boromir
Even though Boromir dies at theend ofThe Fellowship of the Ring, Sean Bean’s performance still remains among the best throughout the trilogy. Boromor is a complex character who loves his brother, Faramir, and wants to do what is best for the people of Gondor, but can struggle with pride, ambition, and impulsivity, and be tempted by darkness.Bean’s portrayal helps the audience buy into the seductive power of the One Ringand how it can take hold of even well-intentioned individuals like Boromir.
In moments when he is consumed by lust for the One Ring, Bean makes Boromir unsettling to watch. In other scenes,when Boromir is unencumbered by such darkness, he is a likable, admirable, and even charming character, with his appearance inThe Two Towers' extended editionflashbacks being an important addition to his arc. Bean’s heart-wrenching performance helps give Boromir the best redemption story and the most tragic, heart-wrenching death in the series.
7John Rhys-Davies
Gimli
John Rhys-Davies brings a perfect balance of humor and heart to Gimli. From his banter with Legolas to declaring that he has the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox immediately before the elves sneak up on him,Rhys-Davies delivers his lines with superb comedic timing. He ensures that Gimli is more than just comic relief, though, including the devastating way he says,“He fell,“inThe Two Towerswhen Éowyn asks what happened to Aragorn.
He is just as important when it comes to being part of the trio with Aragorn and Legolas, and is the glue that holds the trio together and consistently makes them a delight to watch.
UnlikeThe Hobbittrilogy or Prime Video’sThe Rings of Power, where dwarves are at the forefront of the story, Gimli is the only dwarf present throughout allThe Lord of the Ringsmovies.Rhys-Davies' performance and the way he physically carries Gimli largely set the precedent for how Middle-earth’s dwarves are presentedin the stories that followed. He is just as important when it comes to being part of the trio with Aragorn and Legolas, and is the glue that holds the trio together and consistently makes them a delight to watch.
6Elijah Wood
Frodo Baggins
The movies' Frodo is not as much of a fan-favorite as many otherThe Lord of the Ringscharacters, but this does not make Wood’s performance any less exceptional. When Frodo is first introduced, Wood makes it clear that Frodo has a good heart, along with emphasizing how much he adores his Uncle Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf. Even as Frodo faces seemingly insurmountable obstacles and is tasked with the burden of carrying the One Ring,Wood never loses the character’s sense of heart and innate goodness.
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As Frodo travels to Mordor,Wood has the difficult task of maintaining those initial traits while also showing the inner conflict and tormentthat grips the Hobbit due to the One Ring. He has to walk a fine line demonstrating the negative effect the One Ring has on him while also illustrating that, unlike Gollum, Boromir, Isildur, and countless others, his unique strength is that the One Ring cannot fully corrupt or control him. Wood strikes this balance well, helping Frodo feel more nuanced and compelling than a standard fantasy hero.
5Viggo Mortensen
Aragorn
If Aragorn had been played by a different actor, the character may have amounted to little more than a brooding action hero. Viggo Mortensen ensures that this is not the case and that Aragorn is a more layered character to watch, clearly communicating his inner struggles as he wrestles with his own self-doubts and the larger destiny that he fears to embrace. In his scenes with Arwen and in his final scene with Frodo duringThe Fellowship of the Ring,Mortensen displays sensitivity and vulnerability.
Of course, Aragorn does have plenty of opportunities to be an action hero as well, with Mortensen making him inspiring to watch as he wields his sword. This being balanced out with sensitivity and vulnerability helps Aragorn rise above the toxic masculinity ingrained in the archetype that a character like him often serves. By theending ofThe Return of the King,Aragorn’s arc feels satisfying and earned, largely because of Mortensen’s outstanding performance.
4Cate Blanchett
Lady Galadriel
Despite not having as much screentime as many other characters, Lady Galadriel always commands a scene when she appears.It is Cate Blanchett’s mesmerizing Galadriel voice that sets the tone for the entire trilogywith her opening monologue about the history of the One Ring and how Bilbo came to possess it. She is equally mesmerizing when she appears onscreen later on inThe Fellowship of the Ring, conveying a regal air and power that makes her distinct.
A younger Galadriel is played by Morfydd Clark inThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
During the scene where Frodo offers her the One Ring, she makes Galadriel feel truly terrifying, offering a glimpse of how devastating it would be for Middle-earth if one as powerful as Galadriel took it for herself. Blanchett is able to seamlessly follow this by returning to Galdriel’s usual wise and controlled nature, making it believable that she could pass the test and resist the One Ring’s temptations. Whether it was narration or a physical appearance,any scene that features Galadriel immediately carries more weight to itdue to the presence Blanchett brings.
3Sean Astin
Samwise Gamgee
Sean Astin’s performance is one of the key reasons why Samwise Gamgee is considered to be the ultimate friend and traveling companion. Sam’s words and his actions are always filled with sincerity, making it impossible to dislike him as he stays loyal and helps Frodo through the most difficult parts of their arduous journey to reach Mordor and destroy the One Ring.Astin is responsible for bringing many of the trilogy’s most iconic scenes to life, including Sam’s hopeful monologue duringThe Two Towers' ending.
Perhaps more than any otherThe Lord of the Ringscharacter, it is impossible to see Astin in another role now without thinking about how he played the lovable, compassionate, and courageous Sam.
Between his roles inThe Goonies,Rudy, andStranger Things, Astin has played many memorable characters throughout his career, but none of them are able to rivalThe Lord of the Rings' Sam. He provides much of the story’s heart and soul,making it fitting that the trilogy’s final scene features him returning to the Shireas he is joyfully greeted by his loving family. Perhaps more than any otherThe Lord of the Ringscharacter, it is impossible to see Astin in another role now without thinking about how he played the lovable, compassionate, and courageous Sam.
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2Ian McKellen
Gandalf
Ian McKellen not only has one of the best performances inThe Lord of the Rings, but delivers one of theall-time best fantasy movie performances.When Gandalf is first introduced in the Shire, he brings a grandfatherly warmthto the character that instantly makes him likable. That warmth always remains within Gandalf, but McKellen brings far more to the character than that in moments of great seriousness and when he must wield his immense power to help others.
Ian McKellen received an Academy Award nomination forThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
McKellen plays bothGandalf the Grey and Gandalf the Whitein a way that makes the character feel consistent while also emphasizing how he has changed. He is the rare actor who is equally adept at drama and comedy, and is able to make Gandalf shine in scenes that are both dramatic and comedic.There is a fantastical quality to McKellen’s presencethat makes the character’s magic and the fantasy setting of Middle-earth feel authentic as well.
1Andy Serkis
Gollum/Smeagol
The most impressive performance inThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy is Andy Serkis and his portrayal of Gollum and Smeagol. In addition to the wide range of emotions that Serkis expresses,his performance is incredibly physical due to the way that Gollum and Smeagol crouch and move. The motion capture work that Serkis did was revolutionary and paved the way for how it would be used in many future movies, including Serkis' performance as Caesar inRise of the Planet of the Apesand its critically acclaimed sequels.
Playing Gollum and Smeagol requires a demanding blend of motion-captured movement, voice work, and emotional actingthat Serkis executed better than anyone else could have done. Gollum is grotesque and conniving in many ways, but the character also has to be worthy of pity and sympathy to truly work, and Serkis made sure these vital aspects of the characters are also felt. Much ofThe Two Towers,The Return of the KingandThe Lord of the Rings' storyhinges on Serkis' exemplary performance.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several movies and a TV show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The franchise is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series that began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings saw mainstream popularity with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
