This Is What the LOTR: The Rings of Power Cast Look Like in Real Life, and Why They Look So Familiar

The world of popular culture is full of impressive franchises. Whether you’re a fan of Harry Potter or Star Wars, there’s no doubt about the fact that these franchises have the power to take over the world. But when it comes to Lord of the Rings, this franchise has taken over the world AND Middle Earth. Based on the books by J. R. R. Tolkien, this fantasy experience has spawned original movies, spin-off films, and now a television show.

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is a prequel show that takes place during the Second Age of Middle Earth, a whopping two thousand years before The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. And since debuting on Amazon Prime in September 2022, fans have fallen in love with the script, the storylines, the epic special effects, and, of course, the cast. But what do these elves, dwarves, healers, and knights look like in real life? And where have you seen them before?

Markella Kavenagh as Elanor “Nori” Brandyfoot

In every fantasy television show or movie, there needs to be someone who wants more from life. In The Rings of Power, that’s Elanor “Nori” Brandyfoot. This Harfoot isn’t content with just migrating and living a normal life with the rest of her community. She wants to pick blackberries and go on adventures – and a dalliance with The Stranger in this show definitely gives her that. But who plays Nori?

This character was actually made specifically for this television show, and it was Markella Kavenagh who got the chance to bring Nori to life. This Australian actress ditched her accent for this role, and we can understand why. She’s only been a professional actress for four years, landing her first small television part in 2018. There’s no doubt that The Rings of Power is her biggest job to date.

Owain Arthur as Durin IV

Everyone knows that a Tolkien television show wouldn’t be complete without orcs, trolls, hobbits, and dwarves. And in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, we were introduced to the prince of the Dwarven city of Khazad-dûm, Durin IV. Instead of using CGI for Durin IV, the showrunners decided to use prosthetics – even though they took a whopping three hours each day to apply.

The man underneath those prosthetics and all of that hair is Owain Arthur, a Welsh actor who is primarily known for his work on the stage and on the small screen. In fact, anyone familiar with British television might recognize him from popular shows such as Casualty and A Confession. However, his role in LOTR is his first major role that offers worldwide fame.

Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Queen Regent Míriel

While she doesn’t have a huge role in LOTR: The Rings of Power, there’s no doubt about the fact that Queen Regent Míriel has still made her mark. Being the rightful heir of Númenor means that she’s in charge of the island kingdom ruled by Men, and it’s clear that she’s a powerful ruler. But with her crown and her golden robes, were you able to recognize the actress that played this character?

Queen Regent Míriel is played by Cynthia Addai-Robinson, an English-born American actress who has been active in the industry since the early ’00s. Since then, she’s been able to rack up an impressive resume that has seen her shine on the big and small screens. Most notably, she’s taken on the roles of Amanda Waller in Arrow, Nadine Memphis in Shooter, Vicki Glass in Chicago Med, and Romona Garrity in Power.

Maxim Baldry as Isildur

Being a prequel series, we’re already familiar with a lot of the characters in Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. And those who have watched the movies will know Isildur as the man who kept Sauron’s ring after removing it from his grasp. His actions – and his inability to destroy the ring – set in motion a destructive turn of events, but he’s none the wiser in The Rings of Power. After all, he’s much younger.

Isildur’s epic future in this show seems to be very reminiscent of Maxim Baldry’s own future. This young actor only has 10 acting credits to his name, but his role in The Rings of Power is sure to set off a chain of events that thrust him further into the spotlight. In fact, his most prominent role to date was as a recurring character in the British soap opera, Hollyoaks.

Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor

The Elves in Tolkien’s Middle Earth are often adorned with tiaras, crowns, and rings – and many of them are the work of the Elven jewelsmith, Celembrimdor. In fact, this character is the one who actually forges the famed Rings of Power. The showrunners wanted a strong and masterful actor for this role, and that privilege eventually went to the one and only Charles Edwards.

Charles is perhaps one of the most famous actors on the LOTR: The Rings of Power payroll. Over the course of his incredible career, the English actor has put his talents to some of the biggest television shows in the UK; including The Crown and Downton Abbey. He’s also made his mark abroad, though, and in 2020 he starred in the huge Hollywood blockbuster, The Witches.

Ismael Cruz Córdova as Arondir

While LOTR: The Rings of Power showrunners J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay wanted to stay true to Tolkien’s books for this show, they also added their own touch. In fact, they even introduced a brand new character called Arondir – a Silvan Elf whose story focuses on his forbidden love for the human healer Bronwyn. It has been noted that they used Tokien’s stories of Aragorn and Arwen, and Beren and Lúthien as inspiration for Arondir’s existence.

This character was brought to life by Puerto Rican actor Ismael Cruz Córdova, and while he certainly showed off his talent in this show, he’s had a lot of practice. He’s been in the limelight since the early ’00s and worked on major television shows like Sesame Street, Ray Donovan, Berlin Station, and The Undoing. He’s also turned his talent to the big screen, and worked on blockbusters like Miss Bala and Mary Queen of Scots.

Nazanin Boniadi as Bronwyn

We already know that the character of Arondir was made up for the sake of the new television show, but it seems as though she wasn’t the only one. His love interest, Bronwyn, was also created specifically for this new adaptation. This human healer lives in the village of Tirharad with her son Theo, and those who have watched the show will know that her story has no shortage of problems. But it seems as though Nazanin Boniadi is used to playing tough characters.

This Iranian-born British actress has put her talents to good use over the years, and she’s starred in drama shows like Homeland, Scandal, Counterpart, and General Hospital. She’s not all about the gritty storylines, though. Nazanin is also known for her recurring role in the popular American sitcom, How I Met Your Mother.

Charlie Vickers as Halbrand

Not much is known about Halbrand in Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power – even for huge fans of Tolkein’s Middle Earth. That’s because this character is another that was made us for the sake of the television show, but what we do know is that he is a human man from the Southlands who meets Galadriel during a terrible storm on the Sundering Seas. This was a welcome release for him, as he was escaping a past he’d prefer to leave behind.

But just as Halbrand is a new character, so, it seems, is Charlie Vickers the actor who plays him. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is actually just the third acting role of his career, and certainly the biggest to date. In the past, he’s only ever appeared in the 2016 TV series Medici and the thriller movie Death in Shoreditch. However, we have a feeling that you’re going to see more of his face after this.

Lady Amelie Child Villiers as Young Galadriel

As fans waited with bated breath for Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power to come onto their screens, they were first greeted with a little backstory. During this first scene, we are introduced to a much younger Galadriel building an origami boat in Valinor, in a peaceful time before Morgoth’s destruction. Of course, we only got a small chance to enjoy this younger version, but she still made her impact.

The young actress who took on this role was Amelie Child Villiers, whose official title is actually Lady Amelie Natasha Sophia Child Villiers. She’s the daughter of William Child Villiers, 10th Earl of Jersey, who is actually an actor and film producer himself. Now, 14-year-old Amelie is following in her father’s footsteps and starting to make her mark in acting. The Rings of Power was her second acting credit, but she’s just finished filming a new movie called The Machine, where she starred alongside Mark Hamill.

Daniel Weyman as The Stranger

One thing that fans love about Lord of the Rings is that Tolkien linked everything together. All of his books were interconnected in some way or another, and that seems to be the case with the TV show, too. However, at the moment we’re not sure how – especially where The Stranger is concerned. This mysterious character crash-landed on Middle Earth in the form of a meteorite, but nobody knows who he is.

While some have suggested that The Stranger is actually Gandalf, the only thing we know for sure is that this character is played by Daniel Weyman. This English actor isn’t a huge name in Hollywood just yet, but he’s worked on some major television shows in the UK. These include Gentleman Jack, Vera, Silent Witness, and Foyle’s War. His work in The Rings of Power is bound to push his acting career even further.

Robert Aramayo as Elrond

Those who have watched The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies will know that Elrond was played by Hugo Weaving. But before he grew his long hair and became the Lord of Rivendell, he was just Elrond – as seen by Robert Aramayo’s iteration in LOTR: The Rings of Power. Although he is technically a half-elf, Elrond decided to honor his immortal blood, and in this show, he’s the herald of King Gal-galad.

While you may have been struck by Robert Aramayo’s depiction of Elrond, you may have also been wondering why you recognize his face. And although Robert doesn’t have a huge acting resume under his belt, he’s appeared in many TV shows of note. This includes the incredible Game of Thrones, where he played a young Ned Stark, and the hugely popular Netflix thriller Behind Her Eyes.

Megan Richards as Poppy Proudfellow

The Harfoots in Tolkien’s Middle Earth are one of the three breeds of Hobbits, and they definitely seem to live a calm and natural existence. Keeping themselves to themselves, they are often forced to leave their own kind behind if they can’t keep up or suffer an accident during their migrations. Poppy Proudfellow knows this firsthand, but did you know that she’s another character who was made up for the sake of The Rings of Power?

This curious best friend of Nori was played by Megan Richards, another newcomer to the acting world. The 21-year-old actress only landed her first professional acting gig in 2018, and only has four acting credits to her name – her most recent, and definitely most prominent, being The Rings of Power. Her other credits include Wanderlust, Pan Tau, and Doctors.

Benjamin Walker as Gil-galad

No Elf kingdom would be complete without a king, and Tolkien gave that honor to Gil-galad. This character is known as the High King Gil-galad, whose sole aim is to keep his kingdom and all of those who live within it safe. This means that he’s especially on guard when it comes to Sauron and The Stranger, and anyone who could potentially harm the harmony of Middle Earth. Thankfully, his foresight normally allows him to feel this evil ahead of the curve.

While we have no doubts that countless actors wanted to take on the role of king, the role was eventually given to American actor and stand-up comedian Benjamin Walker. While Benjamin has really staked his claim on the stage over the course of his career, he’s also landed some pretty big roles on the screen. In recent years, he’s taken on a recurring role in Jessica Jones, and starred in major movies like In the Heart of the Sea and The Ice Road.

Sir Lenny Henry as Sadoc Burrows

Every creature within the Lord of the Rings universe has some kind of leader, and in The Rings of Power this Harfoot is one of them. It’s Sadoc Burrows’ job to keep the Harfoots’ on their migration journey, and it’s clear that he’s a leader for a reason. He can interpret the stars, and he can understand the signs of the universe. But if you watched this Harfoot on the screen and wondered why he looks so familiar, that’s because Lenny Henry is super famous.

In fact, Henry is so popular in the UK that he was knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2015 – and that’s because he’s so much more than just an actor. He’s also a comedian, singer, writer, and television presenter. In terms of his acting portfolio, Sir Lenny Henry has appeared in major television shows like Broadchurch, Doctor Who and The Sandman. He’s also due to star in the upcoming miniseries, The Witcher: Blood Origin.

Sophia Nomvete as Princess Disa

Fans of Tolkien’s Middle Earth will know that his world is made up primarily of men. Aside from Arwen and Galadriel, there are very few women in the main movies – which is why the showrunners wanted to switch things up a bit in The Rings of Power. For this show, they brought in a new character by the name of Princess Disa. This lady is the wife of Prince Durin and a hugely prominent dwarf in Middle Earth.

Taking on this new and exciting female character was Sophia Nomvete, an incredible feat for a woman so new to the acting industry. In fact, Sophia had just two acting credits to her name when she was offered the chance to star in such a huge television show – and these were both for children’s TV. She starred in Swashbuckle and The Tempest, but is now on one of the biggest television shows that Amazon has to offer.

Trystan Gravelle as Ar-Pharazôn

With so many different realms of Middle Earth, it can be hard to keep up. But if you cast your mind back to episode three of The Rings of Power, this was the episode where we were first introduced to the island kingdom of Númenor. And while Ar-Pharazôn serves as the Chancellor of this island kingdom, he’s also the cousin of the Queen Regent – and it’s clear that his love for his family and his realm holds to the whole kingdom together. But without the hair, do you recognize this actor?

The character of Ar-Pharazôn is played by Welsh theatre, movie, and television actor Trystan Gravelle. Like many of the other actors on this list, Trystan is a relative newcomer to the world of big-budget productions. While he’s appeared in various British television series like Mr Selfridge, The Aliens, and A Discovery of Witches, this is his first major project across the pond.

Lloyd Owen as Elendil

Lord of the Rings fans will certainly be familiar with the character of Elendil. Portrayed by Peter McKenzie in the movie trilogy, we learn so much about this character in the movies – but the TV show allows us to learn a little more about his earlier life. In The Rings of Power, Elendil is a human warrior from Númenor who saves Galadriel and Halbrand from the ocean, and from the get-go, we see his loyalty to the elves.

This legendary character was brought to life by Lloyd Owen for the sake of the television show, but you might have realized that already. That’s because Lloyd Owen is a hugely popular name in the acting world, especially as the British-Welsh actor has been able to make his mark across the pond. In recent years he’s put his name to shows and movies like Apollo 18, The Originals, You, Me and the Apocalypse, and The Man with the Iron Heart.

Morfydd Clark as Galadriel

The Elves in Tolkein’s Middle Earth are naturally immortal, which is why it was important to keep this character involved in LOTR: The Rings of Power. And while actress Cate Blanchett took on this role in The Lord of the Rings movies, the actress Morfydd Clark was given the chance to bring this younger iteration of the beautiful elven warrior to life. But where have you seen her before?

Morfydd’s loved playing the strong and often quite stubborn Elf, and the Welsh actress even stated that her ability to speak fluent Welsh allowed her to pick up the Elven language extremely quickly. However, this isn’t Morfydd’s first foray into the world of fantasy. The young actress is also known for her roles as Sister Clara in His Dark Materials, as well as her character of Mina Harker in the 2020 television series Dracula.

Tyroe Muhafidin as Theo

The Rings of Power sees a chain of events that seeks to destroy Middle Earth as a whole, and Theo finds himself to be a part of that chain. Theo is Bronwyn’s son and a resident of Tirharad – but things go topsy-turvy when he finds a weapon boasting Sauron’s sigil in a barn. He then finds himself hiding from an Orc he unwittingly unleashes.

Thankfully, it seems as though Tyroe Muhafidin’s life is a lot less complicated outside of the show. His character was created specifically for The Rings of Power, and this show serves as his biggest acting role to date. Before this, the Australian actor had only appeared in five shorts and miniseries’ in his home country. As he’s just 16 years old, we have a feeling that this show will catapult him to stardom.

Sara Zwangobani as Marigold Brandyfoot

A general rule of thumb in most television shows is that there needs to be some kind of matriarch, and you’ll be glad to know that LOTR: The Rings of Power has one. Marigold Brandyfoot may not have the biggest role in the show, but she’s the one who brought Nori into the world – and we know all the mischief that Nori got up to. It’s Marigold’s job to keep Nori in check, but she often struggles to keep her independent Harfoot daughter on the straight and narrow.

This character is played by the one and only Sara Zwangobani, who has been in the acting game since the late 1990s. During that time, she has put her name to television shows like Love My Way, Monarch Cove, The Starter Wife, and Home and Away. As you can probably tell by those credits, Sara is an Australian actress from Down Under.

Ema Horvath as Eärien

The Rings of Power showrunners decided to bring a whole new selection of characters into the new series, and Eärien is one of them. She’s not only the daughter of Elendil, but also the sister of Isildur – and as she’s a new character, her storyline contains a chunk of mystery. Two things we do know so far, though, is that Eärien dreams to become an apprentice within the Builder’s Guild, and that her character was played by Ema Horvath.

American actress Ema Horvath may have shown off her acting skills in this show, but it seems as though she has so much more to offer. In fact, before dipping her toe into the acting world, Ema graduated from the Ivy League Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature. Since then, she’s landed a leading role in the web series Don’t Look Deeper, as well as the movie What Lies Below.

Dylan Smith as Largo Brandyfoot

Anyone who is up to date with The Rings of Power will know that the name Largo Brandyfoot is pretty ironic. After all, it was his injured foot that put his whole family of Harfoot’s in jeopardy. Nevertheless, Largo isn’t the kind of Harfoot to take “no” for an answer, and he proves to his whole family that he has what it takes to be their patriarch and to keep them all safe.

We wouldn’t be surprised if you were a little distracted by this character, though. That’s because actor Dylan Smith is extremely famous and therefore extremely recognizable. Over the course of his impressive acting career he’s appeared in major movies like The Mummy, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, and Murder on the Orient Express.

Bridie Sisson as The Dweller

You don’t need to be a hardcore Lord of the Rings fan to know the show wouldn’t be complete without a few bad guys. And while we all know that Sauron ultimately becomes Tolkien’s main baddie, The Rings of Power has also presented us with The Dweller. In this spin-off, The Dweller is a non-canonized mystic who believes The Stranger to be the reincarnated form of Sauron. And she’ll do anything she can to get to him…

This intriguing character was played by an equally as intriguing new actress on the scene. Yes, while Bridie Sission may be a relative newcomer to the acting world, her unique and unusual acting style and appearance have already allowed her to stand out from the crowd in the TV shows Cowboy Bepop and Shortland Street.

Joseph Mawle as Adar

Even in Middle Earth, there’s a power ladder to climb. Every being and creature in this land has a master and a leader, and it’s no secret that Adar is the leader of the Orcs. But Adar isn’t exactly one of them. He was one of the first Elves to be captured, tortured, and brainwashed by Morgoth. He then made it his mission to destroy the Southlands, a move that had disastrous consequences.

Joseph Mawle was almost unrecognizable in the show, but his other roles have seen this actor front and center of the action. In fact, the English actor has taken on major roles in shows like Ripper Street, and Sense8. But he’s best known for becoming the character of Benjen Stark in the hugely popular HBO show, Game of Thrones. So, he’s gone from one major fantasy franchise to another.

Anthony Crum as Ontamo

While there’s no doubt about the fact that The Rings of Power is based on Tolkien’s Middle Earth, some fans prefer to call it the “Amazon show” rather than the “Tolkien show”. That’s because many characters were made up for the sake of the show, and Ontamo is another one of them. This character was introduced as Isildur’s friend from Númenor, and a former trainee of Númenor’s Sea Guard.

Because we have no canonical work written about Ontamo, we had no expectations of his appearance or how he would be portrayed. This gave Anthony Crum a clean slate to make this character as his own. It also gave the actor the chance to show off his acting skills for the first time in a major production. Until this show, the Australian actor had only appeared in three shorts and one episode of the TV show The Wilds.

Thusitha Jayasundera as Malva

Up until this point, the Harfoots in The Rings of Power haven’t been given the screen time they deserve – but we have a feeling that we’ll be seeing even more of them soon. In fact, you’ll probably get to know Malva even more. This Harfoot was created for this show specifically, and eagerly follows her tribe leader Sadoc Burrows on their quest to migrate. But where have you seen Thusitha Jayasundera before?

Those in the UK may be more familiar with this Sri Lankan actress than others across the pond. That’s because she’s starred in popular television shows like Holby City, The Bill, Doctor Foster, Midsomer Murders, and Silent Witness. She hasn’t quite yet found her place as a leading lady, but as a supporting actress she’s absolutely nailed it.

Beau Cassidy as Dilly Brandyfoot

While there’s no doubt about the fact that she hasn’t had a major role in The Rings of Power, Dilly Brandyfoot’s appearance in the show has allowed us the chance to learn a little more about the Harfoots. After all, we learned that Harfoots are particularly scared of wolves – especially when they are lurking around blackberry bushes. As the sister of Elanor, Dilly is certainly the more sensible sibling.

What’s so impressive about Beau Cassidy’s Dilly, though, is the fact that this role was her first professional acting job. The young Australian actress has been interested in acting since she was much younger, and while she originally starred in her school’s stage productions, she landed The Rings of Power as her breakthrough in 2020. Since then, she’s also scored two more professional jobs.

Geoff Morrell as Waldreg

The Rings of Power proves that age is just a number, especially in terms of the elves. But this is also the case for Tirharad resident Waldreg. While many people passed him off as just an old man who works in the town pub, we soon realized that there was a much darker storyline lurking beneath the surface; the surface of his skin, to be exact. Thankfully, the actor who plays Waldreg is much nicer in real life.

Geoff Morrell is an Australian actor you may have seen before. He’s been in the acting game since 1985 and has used his talent on the stage, on the small screen, and on the big screen. However, most people will know him for starring in Australian television dramas like Home and Away, Harrow, The Code, Deep Water, and so much more.

Luke Hawker as Magrot

The Rings of Power wouldn’t have been a Lord of the Rings spin-off without the inclusion of the Orcs. And while it’s safe to say that the show is full of hundreds of extras who have all been covered in prosthetics for the sake of the show, there is one particular Orc who stands out from the crowd. That’s Magrot, the Orc Chief serving directly under Adar. For this role, Luke Hawker had to step into Magrot’s dirty shoes.

Although you probably don’t recognize Luke, that’s not to say that he’s not famous and incredibly good at his craft. In fact, he’s best known for being an actor who specializes in stunts and special effects – which means that he’s normally covered in blood, prosthetics, or CGI wires. Over the course of his career, Hawker has put his name to major movies like Thor: Love and Thunder, King Kong, Elysium, and Krampus.

Peter Mullan as King Durin III

We’ve already seen one Durin on this list, but every prince needs a king, and that honor falls upon King Durin III. But while Durin III may be the father of Prince Durin IV, there’s no doubt about the fact that these two are very different. The King is traditionally minded and protective over his dwarf folk, and we also saw this when this king made a small appearance in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

In The Rings of Power, though, this character had a lot more to give – which meant that actor Peter Mullan had to push himself even further in front of the cameras. Luckily, he’s a veteran in the acting industry and has a huge amount of experience. In the past, this Scottish actor has appeared in the likes of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, War Horse, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle and The Vanishing.

Alex Tarrant as Valandil

While each character in The Rings of Power has their own storyline and their own place within the show, it’s fair to say that Valandil and Ontamo had very similar stories. They were both friends with Isildur, and it was their closeness to the character that ultimately saw them banished from their training to become part of Númenor’s Sea Guard. We bet Alex Tarrant isn’t too upset about that, though.

After all, this is just another addition to the New Zealand actor’s ever-expanding resume. At the start of his career, this actor landed roles mostly in his home country. But in recent years he’s been able to make his mark across the pond, and he’s currently playing the leading role in NCIS: Hawai’i.

Augustus Prew as Médhor

The team behind The Rings of Power certainly put their heads together to bring an epic show to life, and they did this by adding new characters that weren’t originally in Tolkien’s canon. Another newbie to the franchise is Médhor, a Silvan Elf who makes a small but mighty impact on the show. After all, he’s stationed to watch over the settlements of Men in the Southlands.

If you don’t recognize this man, though, don’t worry. That’s because Augustus Prew looks pretty different in real life compared to his Rings of Power character. But while his appearance can change, his talent has maintained its impressiveness. Over the years, this English actor has worked on major movies like Kick-Ass 2 and Charlie St. Cloud. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s landed recurring roles on TV shows like The Morning Show, Prison Break, and Pure Genius.

Fabian McCallum as Thondir

All those who watched the first episode of The Rings of Power will know that Thondir only appeared in that one episode. But he still made a serious impact. After all, he was one of the eight elves who followed (albeit a little unwillingly) Galadriel into Forodwaith and Morgoth. Their efforts were celebrated when they returned to Lindon, and Thondir was eventually allowed the privilege of returning to Valinor. But where have you seen this guy before?

Although Fabian McCallum isn’t quite famous enough to have his own Wikipedia page, we have a feeling that it will only be a matter of time before he does. He’s a hugely talented actor who has only really had the chance to appear in shorts and TV mini series before, and anyone who has watched You, Me and the Apocalypse might recognize him as the actor who played Spike.

Maxine Cunliffe as Vilma

Like Malva, Vilma also stands by Sadoc’s side in The Rings of Power. And while she can often be seen questioning the motives and the decisions of the tribe leader, she ultimately does everything Burrows asks of her and the rest of the Harfoots. After all, Harfoots always stick together! In The Rings of Power, the character of Vilma is played by Maxine Cunliffe.

Although Maxine was born in London, she’s actually been living in New Zealand for over 20 years. However, she’s only been acting professionally since 2013, and during that time she’s only really landed small parts. On her resume, she has roles in TV shows like Power Rangers Megaforce, My Life Is Murder, and Reset. Her role in The Rings of Power is by far her most impressive role to date.

Leon Wadham as Kemen

Just like in other fantasy shows like Game of Thrones, many of the characters in The Rings of Power are born into their status. And this is certainly the case for Kemen, who is the son of Pharazôn and therefore a Númenórean nobleman. It’s his job to keep his father and the crown in check, but there’s no doubt about the fact that he also has a soft spot for Eärien.

The character of Kemen was made up for the sake of the show, but Leon Wadham still put in a huge amount of work to bring the authenticity of Lord of the Rings to life. That’s because he’s used to working not only as an actor in front of the cameras but also as a writer and a director. He’s perhaps best known for writing and directing the documentary series Alice Snedden’s Bad News.

Kali Kopae as The Ascetic

We all know that The Dweller made it her mission to seek out Sauron, but she didn’t do so alone. Following the mystic in her quest was The Ascetic. Not much is known about this specific character, but we do know that the trio journeyed from Rhûn to Rhovanion, searching for the man they believed to be the ultimate warrior. We also know that this character was created for the sake of the show, and was played by the actress Kali Kopae.

Although this New Zealand actress only had the chance to star in three episodes of The Rings of Power, it’s still a huge achievement. After all, she’s a relatively unknown actress, only ever starring in small productions that have largely been filmed in her home country. However, if you watched the New Zealand Idol back in 2006, you may remember that Kali is also a singer who made it to the grand final of the talent show!

Ken Blackburn as Tar-Palantir

Queen Regent Míriel may have been the overriding power in Númenor, but she didn’t get to have the final say. That privilege went to her father, Tar-Palantir. As the 24th King of Númenor, he was still the man in charge. However, he wasn’t well, and spent his days in his tower, trying to keep death away for another day. And while Tar-Palantir is largely incapacitated, it’s clear to see that this king knows more than he lets on… and he wants to warn those around him.

Like many other characters on this list, Tar-Palantir is played by a New Zealand actor – this time by the name of Ken Blackburn. But you might be familiar with this guy. Over the course of his impressive career, Ken has worked on some major productions. He’s perhaps best known for his work on the TV shows like The Brokenwood Mysteries and The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson, as well as the movies King Kong and Rest for the Wicked.

Ian Blackburn as Rowan

While the Southlands were ultimately destroyed, fans of The Rings of Power still remember what happened to the village of Tirharad. And we even know what happened to Rowan, a young man from the village who resents the Elven occupation of his home. Like Theo, he was adventurous… but only up until a point. And when he was confronted with the Orcs, he felt he had no option but to return to the safety of the Elven watchtower.

Like many of the other characters on this list, Rowan was a new addition to The Lord of the Rings universe, and Ian Blackburn had the pleasure of bringing this character to life. This young New Zealand actor is just 18 years old and only at the start of his career, so he only has five credits to his name. The Rings of Power is by far his most impressive so far, but we can only assume that he has a lot more in his locker.

Edith Poor as The Nomad

No trio would be complete without the third member, and starring alongside The Dweller and The Ascetic was The Nomad. This third member of the gang was also set on finding The Stranger, and in doing so she also showcased some of her powers and her innate ability to understand the mystic arts. So, who took on this role? It was none other than Edith Poor.

Although Edith has been in the acting world since 2011, it seems as though she has struggled to get her career off the ground… until now. She’s another New Zealand actress who has largely worked in her home country, but 2021 really saw her work go in global. That’s because she had the chance to star alongside the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst in the blockbuster movie The Power of the Dog.

Will Fletcher as Finrod

Although many of the characters in The Rings of Power were created for the sake of the show, Finrod is part of Tolkien’s original canon. And while he’s only seen in the first and the very last episode, he still made his mark. In fact, his life, legacy, and death impacted every move that his little sister Galadriel made throughout the series. After all, he was killed by servants of Sauron, and she wanted to avenge his death.

Despite his short stint on the show, Will Fletcher showcased his talent in The Rings of Power, a feat that is very impressive considering he has just three acting credits to his name. In 2021, he also appeared in the short film Conversations at Dusk and the movie The Road Dance. With The Rings of Power as his third acting credit, it’s believed that he has a huge career on the horizon.

Virginie Laverdure as Abigail

The introduction of Halbrand served as a major turning point in The Rings of Power, but he didn’t turn up as a castaway by himself. He also shared the remnants of his boat with a few other people, one of them being Abigail. While not much is known about this woman from the Southlands, we do learn that Abigail has a warm heart, as she was the one who took pity on Galadriel and helped her up onto the boat.

Being able to be part of such a momentous show must have been a real achievement for Virginie Laverdure, but that’s not to say that she hasn’t achieved a lot already. This actress may not be an A-lister, but she has over 16 acting credits to her name and is perhaps best known for her roles in the likes of La Brea, Wakefield, The Gloaming, and more.

Antonio Te Maioha as The Sail Master

Sometimes the smallest of decisions can have a big impact, and Isildur, Ontamo, and Valandil realized that for themselves when they were dismissed from the Sea Guard. Of course, someone has to make that decision, and that was down to the Sail Master from Númenor’s Sea Guard. While he does not have a specific name, he still played his part. And you might have recognized him.

While Antonio Te Maioha hails from New Zealand like many other actors on this list, this actor has been able to make his mark across the world – largely thanks to his muscles. In fact, fans of Spartacus: Blood and Sand and Spartacus: Gods of the Arena might recognize him from these two shows. In 2016, Antonio was even cast in a minor role in the popular movie Zoolander 2.

Jed Brophy as Vrath

While there’s no doubt about the fact that The Rings of Power is full of extras dressed up like Orcs, there are a couple that stands out from the crowd. And Vrath is one of them. Serving under Magrot’s command, Vrath helped to cause the destruction of Tirharad, but he didn’t survive the ordeal. What you might not have realized, though, is that Vrath was played by a legendary Lord of the Rings alumni.

Fans of Peter Jackson’s work will know that New Zealand actor Jed Brophy is a regular in his projects. Over the years, Jed has worked on the likes of Heavenly Creatures, King Kong, and Braindead. He’s also starred in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy as multiple different creatures, and he starred as Nori in The Hobbit movies.

Jane Montgomery Griffiths as Astrid

Just like Abigail, Astrid was also on the capsized boat with Halbrand… but she wasn’t quite as calm as Astrid. Faced with the sea serpent, she was terrified of what was to come – especially as she was the first one to spot “the worm.” This character was made up for the show, but that was lucky for Jane Montgomery Griffiths, who got the chance to star in a brand new project. But where have you seen her before?

In recent years, Jane Montgomery Griffiths has made the transition into television and film, and she now has three credits to her name – including The Rings of Power. But she’s primarily known as an actress on the stage, having appeared in countless plays. In fact, she’s such a big deal on the stage that she’s also the Director of Monash University’s Centre for Theatre and Performance.

Simon Merrells as Watchwarden Revion

The showrunners of The Rings of Power certainly put their heads together to bring new characters to life, and they did that again with the character of Watchwarden Revion. This Silvan Elf was stationed in the Southlands during the Second Age, but as fans of the show will know, he was eventually captured by the Orcs. And while these evil creatures wanted him to cut down a sacred tree, Revion ultimately refused.

As Revion was created for the sake of the show, Simon Merrells could make this character truly his own. But where have you seen this actor before? This English actor is actually pretty famous, having worked on movies like Spartacus: War of the Damned and Dominion over the years. If you’re a fan of TV shows, you might have even spotted him in Good Omens, Knightfall, and Legends of Tomorrow.