Lord of the Rings: How Each Character Is Supposed To Look

Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings remains one of the greatest achievements in genre filmmaking. This three-part epic trilogy took the stories set forth by J. R. R. Tolkien and brought them to life through the power of cinema.

In terms of casting, the films made their cast international superstars, bringing in some perfect talent to bring these characters to life. While their performances were outstanding, did they actually look how Tolkien envisioned the characters?

10 Frodo

The lead of the story, Frodo was the heir to Bag End and nephew to Bilbo Baggins. A more reserved Hobbit, Frodo lead a life before his journey yearning for an adventure like his uncle, but also craving the safety and security of the Shire.

In terms of physical appearance, he is actually not often described in the books. Gandalf, in his letter to Barliman Butterbur, states that Frodo was a “stout fellow with red cheeks, taller than some, and fairer than most” He is also said to have a cleft chin and bright hopeful eyes.

9 Sam

Sam is often seen as the real hero of the story. He is the sidekick that every hero needs. Through his many heroic acts, Sam becomes the greater protagonist of the story, standing as the sole survivor of the legacy of Bag End.

In terms of appearance, Sam’s is often the most consistent in adaptations. He is said to be shorter and rounder than most hobbits (which is saying something) with curly brown hair and worn hands from working in his garden. The live-action Samwise is far more accurate than the animated versions.

8 Merry

Merry was one of the four hobbits that made up the Fellowship of the Ring. Alongside his friend Pippin, the pair were often found getting into trouble and pranking friends. Like their companions though, the two become exceedingly more heroic and mature.

Merry’s description is often lacking from the novels. Obviously, like most hobbits, he is shorter than most humans. But, compared to others of his kind, Merry is actually taller. He is a rare Hobbit who could’ve surpassed the 4ft mark.

7 Pippin

Pippin might be one of the more naive Hobbits in the party. Clinging to the innocence of childhood, the realities of the world come as a rude awakening to Pippin. But he soon finds his place among his fellow heroes of Middle Earth.

Sadly, Pippin is also rarely described outside the usual hobbit description. He is short, with flat feet and fair hair. But, one defining factor of his appearance is his hair. Tolkien describes him as having nearly golden locks, more fair than the brown hair of other Hobbits.

6 Gandalf

Few characters of Lord of the Rings are more iconic than Gandalf. Perhaps the greatest fictional wizard of all time, Gandalf is an icon not only of this series but of the entire fantasy genre. He is the pinch point for nearly any quest in Middle Earth.

In terms of book appearance, Gandalf is described as being strongly built, but somewhat shorter than mortal men, considering his stooped back. His hair was long and white, with a silver beard to match. In silhouette, his wide-brimmed hat marked the top of his head with a thick rough staff in hand.

5 Aragorn

Aragorn is the representative of the race of men, standing as the solitary figure after Boromir’s death. Aragorn comes from a long line of noble leaders, heir to the line of Gondor. But, outside of this role, he also plays the figure of Strider, a hooded man of the road.

His appearance is described as lean and tall, with dark shaggy hair speckled with gray strands. His eyes match that of these strands, piercingly silver. The books describe him as the tallest member of the company standing at over 6 1/2 feet tall.

4 Gimli

Gimili is the sole dwarf of the Fellowship. Son of Gloin, Gimili comes from a respectable line in Dwarf society. Standing shorter than half of the fellowship, Gimili only towers over the halflings. His height is made up by his courage though, as he is always ready to rush into battle.

Gimli in the films might be the most accurate representation of a character from page to screen. Described as being “as stout as any dwarf,” with brown hair and beard, topped off with a helmet. When it comes to Dwarves, Gimili is picture-perfect.

3 Legolas

Legolas is the only elf in the Fellowship. Hailing from the woodland realm, Legolas is one of the rare members of his race to travel alongside dwarves and men. His stark contrast in comparison to Gimili provides tactical diversity in the Fellowship.

Tolkien described Legolas in loving ways, as elves were his favorite creation. He stated that like a young tree, Legolas was “lithe, immensely strong, able swiftly to draw a great war-bow.” Legolas’ tall thin figure was offset by his speed and lightness.

2 Sauron

Sauron is the figure of pure evil in Middle Earth. A fallen god of sorts, the dark lord resided in his land of Mordor. Before the time of the War of the Ring, Sauron took many shapes. He appeared often as a commanding foe, full of regal and military might.

Later, he is only seen as the iconic evil eye, but in the books only in the moment where Frodo witnesses him in the Mirror of Galadriel. It is described as “a window into nothing” resembling the predatorial eyes of a snake.

1 Gollum/Smeagol

Sméagol or Gollum, depending on how you describe him, was a former hobbit turned evil being. After he stole the ring, Gollum’s physical form altered into a broken figure, with flat webbed toes, thin paper skin, large soulless eyes, and nearly toothless.

Throughout many iterations, this is the character that might appear with the most variance. In the films, he is far more human-like, but in animated versions, he appears as more amphibian. Some middle ground between this Hobbit and lizard beast would be the most accurate representation.

About The Author

Matt Berger
(214 Articles Published)

Matt Berger is a writer, comedian, actor, Paddington enthusiast, and Corgi dad. He currently writes for Screen Rant, has written for Bloody Disgusting, hosts the Film School Sucked podcast, and co-hosts the Macabre podcast. Matt is an alumni of Portland State University with a degree in English and Film Studies.

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