The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has introduced a whole host of faces to Middle-earth, both new and familiar. Keeping on top of who's who can be quite a challenge, especially as we meet more and more people in the kingdoms of Númenor, Lindon, and Khazad-dûm, not to mention the Harfoots on their traveling adventure with a mysterious man from the sky.
To help you along the way, we've taken a deep dive into all the key players of this story. We break down who the characters are, who the actors that play them are, and whether they're part of J.R.R. Tolkien's original canon or a new creation for the show. As we get further into the season, we'll keep updating this too with new information and new arrivals to Middle-earth.
The Elves
Galadriel
Galadriel will be a familiar character for anyone who's watched Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Elf was a key part of that story, where she was played by Cate Blanchett as an ethereal ruler who welcomes the Fellowship to Lothlórien. In The Rings of Power, we meet Galadriel centuries prior when she was a young (by Elven standards) woman. This is a very different Galadriel: a fierce warrior who we meet on a mission to find Sauron after her brother died at his hands.
Who plays Galadriel in The Rings of Power?
In The Rings of Power, Galadriel is played by Morfydd Clark. The Welsh actor is best known for her titular role in Saint Maud. She has also starred in the BBC and Netflix co-production of Dracula and as Sister Clara in His Dark Materials. In an interview with Total Film, Clark admitted she passed out when she found out she was cast in The Rings of Power during a Q&A for Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History Of David Copperfield.
Elrond
Another familiar character in the new television series will be Elrond. The future leader of Rivendell, the half-elf was played by Hugo Weaving in Jackson’s films. We meet this version of Elrond when he is a young politician who finds himself kept out of key discussions as he is not yet a lord. However, Elrond is soon tasked with another mission, helping the legendary smith Celebrimbor.
Who plays Elrond in The Rings of Power?
Robert Aramayo plays Elrond in the new series. The star is no stranger to fantasy epics, previously starring as a Young Ned Stark in Game of Thrones. Other past projects include Mindhunter, Behind Her Eyes, and The King’s Man.
Gil-galad
The legendary elf king Gil-galad is the ruler of the realm of Lindon. He’s a level-headed leader who believes Middle-earth should enjoy this period of peace, rather than hunting out evil as Galadriel wishes to do. But even he can sense something is not right as something dark threatens the corner of his kingdom. Lord of the Rings readers will be familiar with his name from the song that Samwise Gamgee sings called 'The Fall of Gil-galad', which hints at his mysterious story. We’ll have to wait and see if this is tackled in The Rings of Power.
Who plays Gil-galad in The Rings of Power?
American actor Benjamin Walker plays Gil-galad in the Prime Video show. Marvel fans will recognise him best as Erik Gelden in Jessica Jones, but he’s also appeared in shows like The Underground Railroad and Traitors. He played Abraham Lincoln in the 2012 thriller movie Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, as well as boasting several plays on Broadway.
Celebrimbor
The legendary elven-smith Celebrimbor plays an important role in The Rings of Power. We’re first introduced to him during a meeting with Elrond, as the young politician joins him for an ambitious plan. His reputation is far-reaching as a descendant of Feanor, who forged the three Silmarils. Of course, Tolkien fans will know how his story ends as evil rises in the kingdom.
Who plays Celebrimbor in The Rings of Power?
Charles Edwards is the acclaimed theater actor behind the role of Celebrimbor. The British thesp has also had notable roles in television shows like The Crown, where he played Sir Martin Charteris, and Downton Abbey, where he played Michael Gregson. Viewers may also recognise him from The Duke, The Witches and, a small part in Batman Begins.
Arondir
Unlike the other elves we’ve focused on so far, Arondir is not one of the influential leaders in Lindon. He is a Silvan Elf soldier stationed in the Southlands. In The Hobbit, Tolkien describes the Silvans as unlike the High Elves, as they're both "more dangerous and less wise". While the race was established in his novels, Arondir as a character was created specifically for the Prime Video show.
Elves have been situated in the Southlands to keep an eye on the humans of the realm, after they allied with Morgoth during the First Age. His battalion has been told they’ll soon be leaving the area when we first meet him, but not before he notices something is awry in the local area.
Ismael Cruz Córdova plays Arondir. The actor has had a long career on television so far, with roles in The Undoing, The Mandalorian, Ray Donovan, and The Good Wife. He even voiced Mando in Sesame Street between 2013 and 2015.
The Harfoots
Elanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot
Elanor is one of the Harfoots, the early predecessors to the Hobbits, who migrate with the seasons. While only mentioned in passing in Tolkien’s works, showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne made them a central part of this story – as a result, all the Harfoots are original creations for the show. Their most important member is Nori, who is always looking for the next adventure – before always finding herself in trouble. With her eyes firmly fixed on the sky, you get the sense she’s always wondering if there’s more to life than her immediate surroundings. However, when she discovers a mysterious man who seems to have fallen from a meteor, it seems Nori might have got in over her head.
Who plays Nori in The Rings of Power?
Australian actor Markella Kavenagh plays Nori. While The Rings of Power is undoubtedly her biggest part yet, she’s appeared in several crime dramas including The Gloaming and The Cry, as well as the acclaimed adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock.
Poppy Proudfellow
Poppy is Nori’s best friend and is often being dragged into her latest antics. Another of the Harfoots, she’s always following behind her pal on her ill-advised adventures. This means she’s on hand when Nori discovers the stranger in the woods, as they team up to work out who he is while keeping the secret from their family. Like the other Harfoots, Poppy is not a character in Tolkien’s books.
Who plays Poppy in The Rings of Power?
The Rings of Power is Megan Richards’ first major television show, but she has appeared in small roles on Pan Tau and Doctors. Back in 2018 she also played Mimi Brookes in Wanderlust, alongside Toni Collette and House of the Dragon star Emma D’Arcy.
Sadoc Burrows
Sadoc Burrows is one of the elders of the Harfoots, keeping track of wanderers who stray too close to their home. There remains a lot of mystery surrounding his character, but it seems he’s the eyes and ears of the Harfoots, plotting their next migration as well as observing everything they’re up to. Tolkien’s texts don’t give us any hints either, as Sadoc is a creation purely for the show.
Who plays Sadoc in The Rings of Power?
Sardoc is played by legendary British comedian Sir Lenny Henry. The actor, writer, and stand-up has been performing since the late 1970s and has appeared in numerous shows across his career, including The Lenny Henry Show and Chef! He’s also one of the main presenters of Comic Relief, a charity he co-founded with Richard Curtis.
The Dwarves
Durin IV
During the Second Age, Khazad-dûm was the home to the dwarven kingdom, long before it falls into ruin. In the Rings of Power, this is ruled over by King Durin III (Peter Mullan), who is supported by his son Prince Durin IV. We meet Durin IV burdened with the responsibility of keeping their kingdom thriving, and protecting it from outsiders (even if they’re old friends). The Dwarven kings were well documented by Tolkien, though their exact antics were only broadly touched upon.
Who plays Durin IV in The Rings of Power?
Welsh actor Owain Arthur plays Durin IV in The Rings of Power. His most notable role was on stage, playing Francis Henshall in One Man, Two Guvnors. However, he’s also had a varied career on screen as well, including roles in A Confession, Casualty and Hard Sun.
Disa
Disa is Durin IV’s wife, who lives with him and their children in Khazad-dûm. She’s the first female dwarf to ever be depicted in Tolkien adaptations. Disa is also noted for her beautiful singing voice – which we heard a snippet of in the series trailer. Unlike her husband Durin IV, Disa was a character created for the show and is not part of Tolkien’s books.
Who plays Disa in The Rings of Power?
Sophia Nomvete plays Princess Disa in the show. She’s an acclaimed theater actor having appeared in several RSC productions, as well as musicals like The Color Purple. Her only other role on television so far was in Swashbuckle, a children’s TV show where she played Captain HeyHo.
The Humans
Bronwyn
Bronwyn lives in the Southlands, the area that Arondir looks after, with her son Theo. She works as a healer in the local area, but her connection with the Elven soldier raises eyebrows in the town. And when it seems like a danger may be lurking nearby, the pair team up to find out what the threat may be. Bronwyn is another new creation for the Prime Video show, and isn’t a part of Tolkien’s texts.
Who plays Bronwyn in The Rings of Power?
Bronwyn is played by Nazanin Boniadi in The Rings of Power. The actor is best known for her role as Leyla Mir in General Hospital, as well as playing Nora in How I Met Your Mother. Other notable projects include Homeland, Hotel Mumbai, and Counterpart.
Theo
Theo is Bronwyn’s young son, who lives with her in the Southlands. We meet him as he’s up to no good with his friends and finds a mysterious dagger of strange origins. It’s not yet clear what this is, but it seems to hold a dark magic. Like his mother, Theo is also a new creation for The Rings of Power television show.
Who plays Theo in The Rings of Power?
Australian actor Tyroe Muhafidin plays young Theo in one of his first major roles. The 16-year-old actor only main project before this was as Brody in the mini-series Caravan, but it seems likely his star is about to rise as the fantasy epic airs.
Halbrand
Halbrand is introduced in the second episode and helps Galadriel after she is found floating out at sea. After abandoning her ship to continue her mission to locate Sauron, she’s left adrift in the Sundering Seas before a broken boat full of humans rescue her. Among them is Halbrand who develops an uneasy alliance with Galadriel as the pair begin their journey to the island of Numenor. Halbrand does not appear in Tolkien’s books at any point.
Who plays Halbrand in The Rings of Power?
Halbrand is played by Charlie Vickers, who is best known for playing Guglielmo Pazzi in Medici and Dan in Palm Beach. He’s got a few projects lined up over the next few years as well, including The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart with Sigourney Weaver.
Elendil
Elendil was mentioned in Tolkien’s novels – in particular The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales – where he was a legendary High King. In Peter Jackson’s films, we see him fighting Sauron in combat for the One Ring that marked the end of the Second Age. However, the Rings of Power show has played with this timeline and introduced him hundreds of years earlier. This iteration of the character is a ship’s captain and an ally to the Elves, helping Galadriel after bringing her to Númenór.
Who plays Elendil in The Rings of Power?
Lloyd Owen plays Elendil in The Rings of Power. He’s best known for playing Indiana Jones's father in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles in the 1990s. Owen has also appeared in the Monarch of the Glen and Miss Potter.
Eärien
We haven’t seen much of Eärien in The Rings of Power yet, but we do know she is Elendil’s daughter. In episode 3, we find out that she’s a skilled builder as she’s been accepted as an apprentice into the guild. The character was specifically created for The Rings of Power as Elendil only has two sons in Tolkien’s novels.
Who plays Eärien in The Rings of Power?
Eärien is played by American actor Ema Horvath in The Rings of Power. Viewers might recognize her from playing Liberty Wells in the 2020 horror What Lies Below. She also starred in The Gallows Act II and The Mortuary Collection.
Isildur
Those familiar with their Tolkien lore will know exactly how important Isildur is to the story of Middle-earth. In the books, he is the one who takes the One Ring from Sauron during the War of the Last Alliance. His reluctance to destroy it is what allows Sauron to rise once again in the Third Age. Here, we meet Isildur long before this, when he is still a young man grappling with his future. He’s torn between whether to pursue his father’s dreams of him becoming a sea captain or deferring his entrance to explore Middle-earth.
Who plays Isildur in The Rings of Power?
The young Isildur is played by Maxim Baldry. Baldry has been acting since he was a child, appearing alongside Rowan Atkinson in Mr. Bean’s Holiday. Other roles have included Liam Donovan in Hollyoaks, Ed in Last Christmas, and Viktor in Years and Years.
Queen Regent Míriel
Queen Regent Míriel is the ruler of the island kingdom of Númenor. Traditionally a home for humans of half-Elven heritage, by the time it’s introduced in the Rings of Power, Númenor has become fearful and hostile to Elves. Míriel is at the heart of this, attempting to maintain some stability in her rule of the kingdom. Unlike some of the other characters in the show, she’s a character from Tolkien lore.
Who plays Míriel in The Rings of Power?
Arrow star Cynthia Addai-Robinson plays Míriel in the series. She played Amanda Waller in The CW series, who as Suicide Squad fans will know, is a DC villain. She’s also appeared in USA Network Shooter and Starz show Spartacus.
Pharazôn
Pharazôn is an influential member of the court of Númenor and an adviser to Míriel. We haven’t seen much of him in the show so far, but it seems like he could have a big role in pulling the political strings in the kingdom. In Tolkien lore, Pharazôn is Míriel’s cousin and plays a big role in her life later on. Although, it’s not clear whether the series will follow along this route.
Who plays Pharazôn in The Rings of Power?
Trystan Gravelle is the actor behind Pharazôn in The Rings of Power. Some of his most notable roles include Victor in Mr. Selfridge, Tom in Utopia, and Derog in Britannia. Most recently, Gravelle appeared in the Apple show Trying and Sky series A Discovery of Witches.
Kemen
Kemen is a Númenorean nobleman and Pharazôn's son in the Prime Video series. Although, unlike his father, Kemen is a character created especially for The Rings of Power. We haven't seen too much of him so far, but he's been lingering in the background of key scenes and looks set to be a key political player in the kingdom. He's also taken an interest in Eärien as the pair went for dinner in episode 4 so we'll have to see how that storyline plays out.
Who plays Kemen in The Rings of Power?
Leon Wadham plays Kemen in the series. Wadham is an actor and director, best known for appearing in shows like The Bad Seed and The Brokenwood Mysteries. He also helmed shows like Alice Snedden's Bad News and Golden Boy.
Unknown
The Stranger
As is clear from his name, we know very little about this mysterious character at the moment. Nori spots him after a meteor lands in the woods where she lives with her fellow Harfoots. But the tall man doesn’t speak their language and is like no one they’ve ever seen before. It seems the mystery surrounding his character will only be revealed as the series goes on. Could he be a wizard? Could he be evil? Is he maybe another character from Tolkien’s lore entirely? It seems we’ll just have to wait and see.
Who plays The Stranger in The Rings of Power?
Daniel Weyman plays the mysterious character in the new series. He’s previously played Dr Kenny in Gentleman Jack, Adam Wainwright in Foyle’s War, and Max Thorndyke in Silent Witness. He also recently voiced Rick Madoc in the podcast series for The Sandman.
Adar
There's still a lot of mystery surrounding Adar in The Rings of Power. So far, we know he's got a scarred elf-like visage, is the leader of a legion of Orcs, and is referred to as their father for some reason. What is clear is the character is an antagonist after he threatened to wage war on the Southlands if they don't pledge fealty to him. While his motivations – and origins – seem a bit murky right now, he's back in the episode 5 trailer so we won't have to wait long to find out more.
Who plays Adar in The Rings of Power?
Game of Thrones star Joseph Mawle plays the mysterious Adar in the show. In the HBO fantasy series, he was Benjen Stark, the First Ranger of the Night's Watch and Jon Snow’s uncle. Mawle has also appeared in Ripper Street, Birdsong, The Passion, and Troy: Fall of a City.
For what else to watch on Prime Video, check out our guides to the best Amazon shows and the best Amazon movies
