Actress Cate Blanchett disclosed minimal payment for "Lord of the Rings" trilogy cast.

Actress Cate Blanchett, famous for her role as Galadriel in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, revealed that she and her fellow cast members received minimal payment for their work on the films. During an appearance on "Watch What Happens Live" with Andy Cohen, Blanchett stated that "no one got paid anything to do that movie." The trilogy, which grossed nearly $3 billion, was Blanchett's first major role in a big-budget film. She explained that her motivation for joining the project was to work with director Peter Jackson and that her pay essentially amounted to free sandwiches and the chance to keep her elf ears.