To live in the shadows of those who have left a legacy behind is not an easy task. This is exactly how Morfydd Clark felt in the role of a younger Galadriel. While the success of Prime’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has made the star synonymous with the Elven warrior, the person first seen in this role in Peter Jackson’s reenactment of the Tolkien universe was the two-time Academy-winning actress, Cate Blanchett.
Over the years, Blanchett has solidified her position as one of Hollywood’s most versatile and talented performers, meaning that Clark was faced with the task of filling in some big shoes. In an interview with ComicBook, she opened up about being a fan of someone she’s now sharing a role with.
“I was just obsessed with her in it and knew all her lines off by heart, I couldn’t unlearn those films. They were huge part of my childhood. I wasn’t in contact with her, the queen herself, I just still can’t believe that my name is ever said in a sentence with her because I do see her as a goddess, so it’s still very surreal.”
This isn’t the first time Clark was overwhelmed by being related to Blanchett, either, as we get to hear more on this subject from her in an interview with Glamour last year, where in responding to the question of playing an older version of Galadriel, she said that the only motivation that kept her going strong is that one day her character is “going to be Cate Blanchett”.
She also disclosed the copious amount of physical training that she underwent to do justice to the role which includes swimming, climbing, and use of armor. All of this make Clark the perfect younger Galadriel one would wish to see onscreen. Not to mention, the show’s success certainly merits her part as a key aspect of the series.
Season one of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is available to stream on Prime Video.