Cate Blanchett Reveals She Was Paid Nothing for ‘The Lord of the Rings’

Cate Blanchett, who famously portrayed the elven queen Galadriel in “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” has revealed a surprising detail about her compensation for the role.

In a recent appearance on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” Blanchett was asked about the film for which she received the highest paycheck. When Cohen suggested it might be “The Lord of the Rings,” Blanchett responded with a laugh, saying, “Are you kidding me? No. No one got paid anything to do that movie.”

Cohen then inquired whether she received a percentage of the film’s profits, known as a “backend deal.” Blanchett confirmed she did not. “That was way before any of that,” she explained. “No, nothing.”

Blanchett, who took on the role to work with director Peter Jackson, added with a touch of humor, “I wanted to work with the guy who made ‘Braindead.’ I basically got free sandwiches. And I got to keep my ears.”

Despite the lack of financial reward, the film was a massive success, earning nearly $900 million worldwide. Blanchett is currently promoting her new film, “Borderlands,” which hits theaters this Friday.