The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brings a multitude of new faces to the lands of Middle-earth, with many familiar actors taking on the roles of some of J.R.R. Tolkien's most iconic fantasy characters alongside a number of unknown figures from the literary franchise. Their untold stories unfold across the Second Age of Tolkien’s coveted world, some 3,000 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings. From Men to Elves, Dwarves, Harfoots, and more, The Rings of Power introduces a staggering array of heroes and villains with parts to play in the fate of Middle-earth.
Prime Video’s Lord of the Rings prequel series has built up high levels of anticipation, awe, and fear through its marketing campaign. The Rings of Power's trailers and posters offered promising looks at showrunners J.D. Payne’s and Patrick McKay’s vision for the beauty of the Second Age, the forging of the rings of power, and Sauron’s subsequent rise to dominion.
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The characters inhabiting Tolkien’s world are as integral to a faithful adaptation of Middle-earth as its visualization. Keeping track of who’s who can be tough in a work with as many names as this one. Here’s a guide to the actors who make up the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and descriptions of the characters they play.
Morfydd Clark - Galadriel
Morfydd Clark, whose previous work includes starring roles in Saint Maude, Crawl, and The Personal History of David Copperfield, leads the series as Galadriel, the legendarily beautiful Elf who goes on to wear a Ring of Power. Clark’s version of the iconic character is a rebel and a warrior, armed for battle. She’s a very different Galadriel in The Rings of Power compared to Cate Blanchett’s in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies, and it will be fascinating to see how the showrunners connect these two seemingly disparate portrayals of the character.
Ismael Cruz Córdova – Arondir
Arondir, a new character introduced for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, is played by Ismael Cruz Córdova. A Silvan Elf, or Wood-elf, Arondir is in love with Bronwyn, a woman from the village of Tirharad. The actor's prior work includes recurring roles on The Undoing, Sesame Street, and Ray Donovan.
Robert Aramayo - Elrond
Playing another recognizable Elf is Robert Aramayo, known for his roles on Game of Thrones, Behind Her Eyes, and The King’s Man. Technically a Half-elf, Elrond was given the choice between his Elven and human heritage, and he chose his immortal blood. Elrond is younger in The Rings of Power, not yet the lord of Rivendell as he is known in The Lord of the Rings.
Charles Edwards – Celebrimbor
Charles Edwards, an actor recognizable from The Crown, The Terror, and Downton Abbey, plays Celebrimbor, the mythical Elven jewelsmith. Celebrimbor is a Lord of Eregion and the one who ultimately forges the rings of power. He cares very much for his city, and because of this, he seeks out an alliance with the Dwarves of Khazad-Dûm.
Benjamin Walker - Gil-galad
The High-King of the Elves is portrayed by Benjamin Walker in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. He holds suspicion that evil persists in Middle-earth, and together, Gil-galad and Elrond maintain vigilance over the land from their realm of Lindon. Walker’s previous credits include roles in Jessica Jones, The Choice, and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
Cynthia Addai-Robinson - Queen Regent Míriel
Cynthia Addai-Robinson, known for her roles in Power, Chicago Med, and Arrow, plays the rightful ruler of Númenor, Queen Regent Míriel. The character's leadership over the greatest kingdom of Men is challenged by an opposing faction led by Pharazôn. Míriel’s predecessors were loyal to the Valar, and she intends to maintain that allegiance.
Maxim Baldry – Isildur
Isildur is widely known as the Man who kept Sauron’s ring and set the stage for the events in The Lord of the Rings to unfold, but in The Rings of Power, he has not yet become that person. Maxim Baldry, who has acted in Doctor Who, Strike Back, and Rome, plays Isildur as he progresses toward his fateful decision on Mount Doom. He and his father, Elendil, hail from the kingdom of Nûmenor, though unlike many other men from their home, they have remained faithful to their longstanding Elven allies.
Nazanin Boniadi – Bronwyn
Nazanin Boniadi is known for roles in Homeland, Counterpart, and How I Met Your Mother. She plays Bronwyn, a new character in the world of Tolkien. Bronwyn is a human and the village healer of Tirharad, and she has developed a romance with Arondir, the Silvan Elf.
Charlie Vickers - Halbrand
Halbrand is another new human character created for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. He’s a Man from the Southlands with a past he’d prefer to leave behind, and a storm on the Sundering Seas brings him and Galadriel together. Halbrand is played by Charlie Vickers, whose previous roles can be found in Medici: Masters of Florence and Palm Beach.
Owain Arthur - Durin IV
Actor Owain Arthur plays the Dwarven prince Durin IV in The Rings of Power. Arthur is also known for his work in Causality, A Confession, and The One and Only Ivan. His character, Durin IV, is the short-tempered heir to Khazad-dûm, descended directly from the legendary Dwarven king Durin I.
