Who narrates the opening prologue of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring?

Cate Blanchett narrates the opening prologue of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Blanchett provides the voice of Galadriel, the Elven Lady of Lothlórien, for the film’s opening account of the Rings of Power and the rise of Sauron. The prologue explains how the Rings were made, how Sauron forged the One Ring, and how the alliance of Elves and Men fought him in the Second Age.

The narration gives viewers essential history before the story moves to Bilbo’s birthday party and the Shire. It also frames the trilogy as the continuation of an ancient conflict rather than an isolated adventure beginning with Frodo.

Cate Blanchett later appears on screen as Galadriel when the Fellowship reaches Lothlórien. Because Galadriel narrates the prologue but is also a character in the main story, audiences sometimes remember the voiceover simply as “Galadriel’s narration.” The performer, however, is Blanchett.