The first part of the film was released in 2001. That was 20 years ago, as you can easily calculate. Accordingly, the actors have also changed in the last 2 decades. Let this article surprise you!

Galadriel was the " Lady " of the forests of Lothlórien, which she ruled together with her husband Celeborn. She was one of the greatest Elves in Middle Earth, surpassing almost all others in beauty, knowledge and power. She has aged absolutely magnificently.

Cate Blanchett at the age of 34 vs. 50 years

Aragorn II, son of Arathorn II and Gilraen, also known as Elessar and Strider. He was a great ranger and warrior, and as Isildur's heir he carried the shards of Narsil, which were reforged in the War of the Ring and renamed Flame of the West. He has grown a little grayer!

Viggo Mortensen at the age of 43 vs. 61 years

Boromir was a brave warrior from Gondor, known for his fighting ability and skill on the battlefield. He was the eldest son of Denethor II, who was steward of Gondor during the War of the Ring. Today clearly older.

Sean Bean at 42 vs. 61 years old

Gandalf the Grey, later known as Gandalf the White and originally called Olórin, was an Istar (wizard) sent to Middle Earth in the Third Age to fight the threat of Sauron. He was very old by then, but apparently he is still fit.

Ian McKellen at the age of 62 vs. 80 years

Legolas was a Sindarin elf who belonged to the Fellowship of the Ring in the Third Age. Son of the Elven King Thranduil of Mirkwood, Legolas was the Prince of Mirkwood, a messenger and a master marksman. without his long hair, he is hardly recognizable.

Orlando Bloom aged 24 vs 43

Samwise Gamgee, also known as Sam, was a hobbit from the Shire. He was the gardener and best friend of Frodo Baggins. Sam proved to be Frodo's closest and most reliable companion. It is not at all easy to recognize him today.

Sean Astin at age 35 vs. 49

Mauhúr was sent to reinforce Uglúk and the Uruk-hai scouts when they returned to Isengard with Merry and Pippin. He found them surrounded by Éomer's Rohirrim at the edge of Fangorn Forest, from where he led his Uruk-hai on an attack. So this is what he really looks like.

Robbie Magasiva at age 32 vs. 49

Gríma was the most important advisor to King Théoden of Rohan before he was exposed as an agent and spy of Saruman. He ends up being the assassin of Saruman in the final chapter of The Return of the King. He has grown considerably older.

Brad Dourif at 52 vs. 70 years old

Pippin Gardner was a hobbit from the Shire and one of the thirteen children of Samwise Gamgee. With his new hairstyle, he is nevertheless visually somewhat different than before.

Tommy Flanagan at the age of 34 vs. 51

Gimli was a respected dwarven warrior in Middle-earth during the Great Years. He belonged to the Fellowship of the Ring and was the only one of the dwarves willing to fight alongside the elves in the war against Sauron at the end of the Third Age. Would you still recognize him today?

John Rhys-Davies at the age of 59 vs. 76 years

Sharku was an orc veteran from Isengard who led Saruman's warg riders. He only appears in the film version of The Two Towers. This is what he looks like in real life.

Jed Brophy at age 38 vs. 56

Théoden was the seventeenth king of Rohan and the last of the Second Line of the Royal House of Eorl. At that time he was already 58 years old - today he is already 72!

Bernard Hill at the age of 58 vs. 72 years

Merry Gardner was the fourth child and second son of Samwise Gamgee and his wife Rosie (née Cotton) Gamgee. He had nine younger siblings. Because of his old hairstyle, his ears never stood out!

Dominic Monoghan at 25 vs. 43 years old

Saruman, also known as Saruman the White, was the first of the Order of Istar (Wizards) to come to Middle-earth in the Third Age as an emissary of the Valar. He was also the leader of the wizards and the White Council who opposed Sauron. He has not changed that much.

Christopher Lee at the age of 80 vs. 93 years

Gamling, sometimes referred to as "Gamling the Old," was a man from Rohan and may have been Erkenbrand's second-in-command. This is what he looks like by now.

Bruce Hopkins at age 47 vs. 64

Frodo Baggins, son of Drogo Baggins, was a hobbit from the Shire in the late Third Age. He was and still is Tolkien's most famous character, as he plays the main role in the quest for the Ring. He looks unchanged!

Elijah Wood at the age of 20 vs. 39 years old

Elrond half-elf, Lord of Rivendell, was one of the powerful Elven rulers of ancient times who lived in Middle-earth from the First Age to the beginning of the Fourth Age. He was the father of Elladan and Elrohir and Arwen Undómiel, later wife of Aragorn II. With beard a very different man!

Hugo Weaving at the age of 41 vs. 60 years old

Of course, Sauron has never been seen without his mask in the film adaptations, but here you can see how the actor behind Sauron looks in reality. Did you imagine him like this?

Sala Baker at 25 vs. 43 years old

Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit from the Shire, the main character in The Hobbit and a minor character in The Lord of the Rings. He is one of the oldest actors and you can clearly see that now.

Iam Holm at the age of 70 vs. 88 years

Gollum, originally named Sméagol (or Trahald), was initially a Stoor, one of the three early Hobbit types. The name Gollum was derived from the sound of his disgusting gurgling, retching cough. This is what he really looks like.

Andy Serkis at age 37 vs. 56.