15 Best Lord Of The Rings Characters, Ranked

There are many characters in Peter Jackson’s epic, award-winning fantasy trilogy but the best Lord of the Rings characters rise above the rest. Adapted from the classic novels by J.R.R. Tolkien, the three Lord of the Rings films tell the story of Frodo Baggins and his quest to destroy Sauron’s ring of power in the fires of Mount Doom. The movies went on to earn nearly $3 billion dollars at the box office (via Box Office Mojo) and earned 30 Academy Award nominations, winning 17, including Best Picture for the final film, Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, a rare feat for a fantasy movie.

The best Lord of the Rings characters are excellent adaptations of their counterparts who appear on the pages of the novels. There are hundreds of names in Tolkien’s legendarium and Jackson makes an effort in his movies to include the most significant figures to paint the important motivations in the plot while not bogging down the storytelling. Every character who appears in the movies is well-acted, explained, and depicted. Even so, there is a distinct set of characters who make the biggest impact and bring the most action, heart, and drama to the Lord of the Rings franchise.

15 Galadriel

Played By Cate Blanchett

While her story was expanded on significantly in Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, she didn’t appear all that much in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, despite her relatively short screen time, Galadriel still managed to be one of the most memorable characters in the movies. From providing the voice-over to the exposition-filled opening to The Fellowship of the Ring to providing Frodo with his all-important Phial to light the journey to Mordor, Galadriel served an important role despite not being overly prominent.

However, what makes Galadriel among the best Lord of the Rings characters is that she is clearly incredibly wise and powerful, rivalling even Gandalf and Saruman. Cate Blanchett managed to bring a suitable sense of Gravitas to the character which let audiences know that, while she wasn’t directly intervening in the fight against Sauron, she could probably have turned the tides of the conflict in favor of either side should she have wanted to (especially when she warned Frodo what would happen if she took the One Ring herself).

14 Grima Wormtongue

Played By Brad Dourif

While the majority of the best Lord of the Rings characters are heroes, no good fantasy is complete without a roster of memorable villains. While Sauron and the armies of Mordor are the undisputed chief antagonists, the main villain doesn’t have much of a personality on-screen (as stark and unforgettable a visual as the Great Eye is). Saruman is also an undeniable villainous presence, especially in The Two Towers. However, an incredibly underrated Lord of the Rings villain is Grima Wormtongue.

While he’s nowhere near as powerful as his master Saruman, Brad Dourif’s performance as Grima makes him impossible to look away from. He is every bit as cunning and slimy as his name suggests, and how easily he was able to corrupt King Théoden of Rohan speaks volumes about his aptitude for cunning and trickery. What’s more, as the Lord of the Rings extended editions show, Grima has something of a redemption arc, as it is he who stabs Saruman after feeling remorse for his part in the attack on Helms Deep.

13 Elrond

Played By Hugo Weaving

Elrond is the Elven Lord of Rivendell, and it is he who first draws the Fellowship together in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. He is a shrewd yet wise ruler of his people, both qualities played to perfection by Hugo Weaving. Ultimately, Elrond’s main flaw in the eyes of many viewers is his hesitance to get more involved in the fight against Sauron, instead choosing for him and his people to allow the fate of Middle-earth to be in the hands of the race of men. Admittedly, this was partly due to his faith in Aragorn, but his decision still managed to raise more than a few eyebrows.

However, while Elrond’s judgment in the darkest hour of the Third Age of Middle-earth may have been questionable, he more than proved himself as a warrior over the millenia, and has fought Sauron more than once in the past. As the opening to The Fellowship of the Ring showed, Elrond was right there with Isildur when Sauron was vanquished for the first time. He also provided invaluable assistance to Aragorn multiple times throughout the trilogy, even if he did not get directly involved in the battle.

12 Faramir

Played By David Wenham

Boromir’s little brother, Faramir (played by David Wenham), would have arguably made a much better addition to the Fellowship than his older sibling. The Captain of the Rangers of Ithilien proved himself to be absolutely fearless on multiple occasions, whether it was scouting through the ruins of Ithilien while it was still under siege to gather vital intelligence for Gondor, or riding out in defense of Minas Tirith even when he knew it would likely end in his death. What’s more, unlike Boromir, he was never once tempted by the One Ring.

Faramir is something of an unsung hero in The Lord of the Rings, as he wasn’t directly involved with Frodo’s quest to bring the One Ring to Mordor. However, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t an incredibly captivating character. He was also one of the most easy to sympathize with, as his mistreatment at the hands of his father Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, was incredibly heartbreaking at points. It was also clear through their interactions that Gandalf had a great respect for him, which speaks volumes for his value as a warrior and the caliber of his character.

11 Théoden

Played By Bernard Hill

Théoden is perhaps one of the few humans of Middle-earth that Aragorn seems to respect as an equal, and also one who suffers significant emotional loss early on when he awakens from Saruman’s spell to discover that his son, Théodred, had died. He holds himself responsible for this, blaming himself for not having a strong enough will to resist the poisonous words and influence of Saruman and Grima. However, what makes Théoden one of the best Lord of the Rings characters is how he overcomes his grief and leads the Rohirrim to victory at Helms Deep and beyond.

While he may have suffered a tragic death at the end of The Return of the King, Théoden is still both an incredibly skilled warrior and a noble leader, with the people of Rohan looking to him for guidance even after it became clear he’d been under Saruman’s sway for some time. On top of this, Théoden was also clealry committed to his family, as he adopted his sisters orphaned children and raised them as his own, with Aowyn’s love for him clear when she’s with him during his final moments.

10 Saruman

Played By Christopher Lee

Sauron may have been the chief antagonist of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but he’s not exactly a character audiences can warm to since he has no speaking lines and doesn’t appear much in the trilogy at all. Saruman, on the other hand, is the total opposite, and is one of the best Lord of the Rings characters because he puts a human face to the evil plaguing Middle-earth. Saruman is beloved villain in Lord of the Rings because of Christopher Lee’s menacing performance as the powerful wizard.

Saruman the White was once the head of the White Council, but his mind was eventually corrupted by Sauron, and he turned against those he was supposed to protect. Saruman is exceedingly intelligent and his ability to control the minds of others with his words is a sinister and unique power. Lee’s booming voice and formidable gravitas serve the character exceptionally well, making Saruman one of the best Lord of the Rings characters. It’s never hard to understand why the forces of good fear his turn to evil so much.

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9 Éowyn

Played By Miranda Otto

If there’s one criticism of both the original Lord of the Rings books and film trilogy it’s that there’s a distinct lack of female representation, which is a key reasons that Éowyn (Miranda Otto) stands out. Not only is Éowyn one of the few female Lord of the Rings characters in the franchise, she also more than proves she’s one of its most capabale warriors too. In Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Éowyn dresses as a man to join in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and strikes the killing blow on the Witch-King of Angmar.

Éowyn is one of the purest examples of bravery in the Lord of the Rings, as she fights against evil on the field and even in her own hall against Saruman. As shieldmaiden of Rohan, Éowyn represents stability, strength, and an unwillingness to bend in the face of evil, a particularly admirable trait as she has every opportunity to stay behind and avoid the threats.

8 Merry And Pippin

Played By Dominic Monaghan And Billy Boyd

The four Hobbits are essential to the story of Lord of the Rings, as it’s through them that the core themes of bravery in the face of insurmountable odds are best personified. While Frodo and Sam are ultimately responsible for the destruction of the One Ring, this doesn’t at all detract from their two companions when they initially set off from The Shire. Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) are a double act in Lord of the Rings and their separation in The Return of the King serves to show their closeness by revealing how lost they are without each other.

They have one of the greatest bromances in Lord of the Rings, starting the journey setting off fireworks and ending it as the first to follow Aragorn at the Black Gates. The hobbits also serve as much-needed comic relief throughout the movies. Their arc, from vegetable thieves to warriors in great battles, is important to show that everyone who left the Shire changed, not just Sam and Frodo.

7 Frodo

Played By Elijah Wood

Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) is arguably one of the most important Lord of the Rings characters. He has to carry the burden of the Ring throughout the trilogy and the balance of good and evil hangs on the completion of his task. The weight of his quest nearly overcomes him at multiple points, but he still soldiers on. Few characters in Lord of the Rings willingly take on as heavy a burden as Frodo, and he shines as an example of unflinching bravery in the face of almost insurmountable evil.

One of the major themes of Lord of the Rings is that even the smallest person can have the most profound effect on their world. Frodo exemplifies this and also serves as the crucial statement that even succeeding in a dangerous task can leave scars that are not easily healed. He ends the story sailing to the Undying Lands for a peaceful life with Gandalf and his uncle, Bilbo, a reward he more than deserved for his sacrifices.

6 Gimli

Played By John Rhys-Davies

The only dwarf in the Fellowship is both an essential source of humor in The Lord of the Rings and one of its best characters. Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) the Dwarf is one of the fiercest Lord of the Rings characters and a loyal friend, particularly to Legolas, whom he begins at odds with before eventually softening to him. Their back-and-forth is a joy to watch and helps bring some much-needed levity to the Lord of the Rings films.

Gimli is more than just comic relief, however, and is as fearsome as any warrior. He threatens horse lords, cave trolls, a king of the dead, and more, all in the name of saving Middle-earth. His crudeness is a welcome change of pace from the occasionally stifling gallantry of his fellows. Gimli also has several surprisingly emotional moments in the movies too, especially when he learns of the fate of the dwarves in Moria.

5 Samwise

Played By Sean Astin

Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) stands out as one of the greatest hobbits in Lord of the Rings. He might not be among the wisest or the strongest Lord of the Rings characters, but what he does bring is heart. Sam is a hero in the truest sense of the word, facing much larger dangers and standing up to enemies far beyond what is expected of him.

He’s arguably the most trustworthy character in the franchise, and one of the few to resist the temptations of the One Ring. Sam is Frodo’s rock and therefore the rock of the Middle-earth people. There’s no question that, without Sam, Frodo would never have made it to Mordor. Not only does Sam literally save Frodo more than once, but he also emotionally (and, at one point, literally) carries him on his journey to Mount Doom. If Frodo’s gardener hadn’t escorted him on his journey from the Shire, Middle-earth may well have been doomed.

4 Gollum

Played By Andy Serkis

The motion-capture performance from Andy Serkis alone makes Gollum one of the greatest Lord of the Rings characters in the trilogy. His finding of the Ring twisted him into a low and vile creature, obsessed with “his precious”. Gollum’s role in the story is to be a mirror held to Frodo. All throughout his journey, Frodo has to confront what could happen to him if he refuses to let go of the Ring at Mount Doom.

Gollum is the living testament of how a bearer’s willpower is sapped by the evil within, and Frodo’s hopes of saving him are a reflection of his hope to save himself. He’s also easily among the most quoted characters in the entire Lord of the Rings franchise, and scenes where he and his alter-ego, Sméagol, converse with one-another through their reflections are some of the finest acting throughout all three of Peter Jackson’s movies.

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3 Gandalf

Played By Ian McKellen

The most intelligent member of the LOTR Fellowship, and also one of the kindest, Gandalf (Ian McKellen) is the leader of the Fellowship of the Ring and as a wizard, its most powerful ally. Gandalf is known throughout Middle-earth for his smarts, leadership, and advice. When Gandalf the Grey perishes and Gandalf the White resurrects, the Lord of the Rings character becomes an even more potent force against evil.

It’s safe to say that Gandalf was essential in the war against Sauron, as without him many key moments would have gone incredibly differently, be it the battle of Helm’s Deep or even the Ringwraiths traveling to the Shire to find the One Ring once they learned it was in the possession of Bilbo Baggins after torturing Gollum. Gandalf’s effect on those who trust him is immediately apparent — he inspires kings and brings hope to the forlorn. Without him, Frodo may not have had the strength to continue on and Minas Tirith may have fallen.

2 Legolas

Played By Orlando Bloom

Legolas (Orlando Bloom) is one of the most beloved Lord of the Rings characters by fans of the trilogy. While he may not have the most memorable dialogue or most bearing on the plot, it’s inarguable that he has some of the most impressive moments in the many Lord of the Rings battles throughout the trilogy. Hailing from the Woodland Realm, Legolas is a legendary warrior and perhaps the most dangerous member of the Fellowship, save Gandalf. Legolas rarely speaks but when he does, it’s to inspire his friends or simply ease tension with his barbs towards Gimli.

Lord of the Rings takes place during the Third Age of Middle-earth, where Men rule, and the Elves are leaving for the West. Legolas serves as a reminder of the once-great power of the Elves and how they defeated Sauron in the first place.

1 Aragorn

Played By Viggoe Mortensen

While the movies are ostensibly about Frodo, Aragorn’s (Viggo Mortensen) story is nearly as important. Aragorn is the closest thing Lord of the Rings has to an archetypal hero, and at no point in the story does he waver or falter, charging headlong into battle against the forces of evil no matter the odds. This Lord of the Rings character is from the line of Kings of Gondor; his blood is royal, and yet he suspects there’s weakness in it because of his ancestor Isildur’s mistake.

Sauron wants to end the Age of Men, and Aragorn is the last person who can unite Men against him. Frodo’s victory is one of good over an “other” evil. Aragorn’s is a victory over the base evil present in humans themselves, and his ability to overcome his own doubts and inspire others to overcome theirs is critical to the story.

The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several movies and a TV show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The franchise is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series that began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings saw mainstream popularity with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

Created by

J.R.R. Tolkien

Cast

Norman Bird , Anthony Daniels , Elijah Wood , Ian McKellen , Liv Tyler , Viggo Mortensen , Sean Astin , Cate Blanchett , John Rhys-Davies , Billy Boyd , Dominic Monaghan , Orlando Bloom , Christopher Lee , Hugo Weaving , Sean Bean , Ian Holm , Andy Serkis , Brad Dourif , Karl Urban , Martin Freeman , Richard Armitage , James Nesbitt , Ken Stott , Benedict Cumberbatch , Evangeline Lilly , Lee Pace , Luke Evans , Morfydd Clark , Mike Wood , Ismael Cruz Cordova , Charlie Vickers , Markella Kavenagh , Megan Richards , Sara Zwangobani , Daniel Weyman , Cynthia Addai-Robinson , Lenny Henry , Brian Cox , Shaun Dooley , Miranda Otto , Bilal Hasna , Benjamin Wainwright , Luke Pasqualino , Christopher Guard , William Squire , Michael Scholes , John Hurt

Character(s)

Frodo Baggins , Gandalf , Legolas , Boromir , Sauron , Gollum , Samwise Gamgee , Pippin Took , Celeborn , Aragorn , Galadriel , Bilbo Baggins , Saruman , Aldor , Wormtongue , Thorin Oakenshield , Balin Dwalin , Bifur , Bofur , Bombur , Fili , Kili , Oin , Gloin , Nori , Dori , Ori , Tauriel , King Thranduil , Smaug , Radagast , Arondir , Nori Brandyfoot , Poppy Proudfellow , Marigold Brandyfoot , Queen Regent Míriel , Sadoc Burrows

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