Cate Blanchett revealed that she and the rest of the cast of the Lord of the Rings trilogy were not paid substantial salaries, despite the franchise grossing nearly $3 billion worldwide. During an appearance on 'Watch What Happens Live,' Blanchett stated that she essentially worked for 'free sandwiches' and did not receive any backend profits. She highlighted that women in the industry often do not get paid as much as people think. Orlando Bloom, who played Legolas, corroborated this by stating he earned only $175,000 for all three movies. Blanchett's primary motivation was to work with director Peter Jackson, known for 'Braindead.' The franchise’s success has nonetheless significantly boosted the careers of its cast members.