Cate Blanchett Says She “Didn’t Get Paid Anything” for ‘Lord of the Rings’

Cate Blanchett Says She “Didn’t Get Paid Anything” for ‘Lord of the Rings’

As a die-hard fan who’s been following Cate Blanchett‘s career since her early days, I must say that this woman never ceases to amaze me! Her latest appearance on Watch What Happens Live was no exception.


During an episode of “Watch What Happens Live,” where she was joined by her “Borderlands” co-star Gina Gershon, Cate Blanchett openly discussed her salary from the “Lord of the Rings” series when host Andy Cohen brought up the topic.

In this scenario, when Cohen inquired about the movie that brought Blanchett the largest income during their “Plead the Fifth” segment on his late-night show, Blanchett chose to listen to Cohen’s speculation before providing her answer. Cohen hypothesized, “I believe it’s likely The Lord of the Rings.”

Cate Blanchett, apparently avoiding invoking the Fifth Amendment, countered with, “You’re joking, right? I didn’t receive any payment for that film!”

Cohen looked surprised and inquired about the situation. “I wanted to collaborate with the man behind Braindead,” she said, alluding to Peter Jackson, director of The Lord of the Rings, and his 1992 zombie movie. “To be honest, I basically got free lunches, and I still have my ears – something they didn’t take from me,” the actress quipped humorously.

As a devoted admirer of Cate Blanchett, I couldn’t help but notice her response during an interview when asked about the highest-paying role she’s had. Instead of revealing specific figures, she subtly pointed out the pay disparity that exists in Hollywood by saying, “Well, you might be surprised to know that women don’t actually earn as much as people often think they do.”

Although Blanchett might not have worked without pay on the trilogy, her earnings may not have been as substantial as people presume. Orlando Bloom disclosed on The Howard Stern Show that he received $175,000 for the entire trilogy. Yet, Bloom appears content with this amount, expressing that he would gladly do it again for less than half the original payment, stating, “It was the best thing I ever received. I’d gladly do it again for a fraction of the cost.”

Neither Blanchett’s nor Jackson’s representatives have given a response to The Hollywood Reporter’s query at this time.

In another part of the show, Blanchett and Gershon participated in a game called “Have You Met Them?” where they disclosed whether they had encountered famous people. When prompted about meeting the late Queen Elizabeth, Blanchett mentioned that she dined at Buckingham Palace. However, what stuck with her was her encounter with Prince Philip. She remembered that he asked if she could assist him with his DVD player as she was an actress. This is something she still remembers.

“Did you help him?,” asked Cohen. “No, I did not!,” replied Blanchett. “I’m not technical.”

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2024-08-08 21:24