by Jem Gedwing

Created on: May 09, 2008

Cate Blanchett and Liv Tyler are without doubt two of the most stunningly beautiful actors of our time. Both tall, both slender and both quite capable of grasping the Elvish language at a moments notice. Both are also rather Elfish in looks and demeanor. It is obvious why Victoria Burrows approached them and then put them forward for the roles of Galadriel and Arwen Evenstar. One is tall, slim and fair as Galadriel is described and the other is tall, slim and dark, as Arwen is described. Both accomplished actors. Both not known for their Diva proclivities. Both women fit the requirements for both roles. But comparing them to each other? This is a toughy!

The lovely Cate has an ethereal quality with haunting overtones that keeps us glued to her face while she's on-screen. Her roles in films such as Elizabeth (here she was a powerful and controlling monarch), The Missing (here she was steadfastly committed to regain her families safety) and The Gift (here she had the gift of second sight, sometimes third and fourth too) held most of us mesmerised. She has an otherworldly beauty that defies conventional standards and stereotypes. Galadriel shines from her every pore. She is queenly and has a dignified air that very few actors can attain. For me, Cate was the perfect choice for Galadriel. A long time ago I compiled a list of actors that I wanted for lead roles in LotR. It was a long time ago, 1985 to be exact, and the person I had in mind for the role was Alexander Bastedo of The Champions fame. For those of you who aren't aware of The Champions it was a television series about 3 people with supernatural powers. Alexandra had the same quality then as Cate has now, a pale beauty, an almost opaque and reflective quality.

Liv Tylers bone structure and bearing is undoubtedly what Peter Jackson saw and recognised as his Arwen first. Her forays into acting started in a music video called 'Crazy' by Aerosmith fronted by Steve Tyler her father. Then Liv went on to star in some of the top earners of recent years: Armageddon, in which she played a feisty daughter to Bruce Willis and a loyal and courageous lover to Ben Affleck. There was Plunkett and Macleane, where she was cast once again as a women with her own mind, brave and sexy. Then there was That Thing You Do, when she was required to act outrageously overt and sexually centered. Arwen Evenstar above all other female characters in LotR has her own mind, she knows what she wants and knows also that she will one day get it. Livs ability to ease into the role of the beautiful, intelligent and yet desired has given her kudos in her most famous role as an Arwen Evenstar. Liv makes Arwen and Middle-earth shine brightly amidst destruction, devastation and cruelty and she does this with loyalty and love.

Cate or Liv? It is not as if we are comparing roles. What we are trying to compare, and in truth not succeeding in the slightest, are the actors acting out the roles. And I for one cannot do it. They are both accomplished Elves in LotR and both could not have garnered more of a fan base from anything else they have ever acted in.

Cate. Wonderful, frighteningly ethereal and dedicated.
Liv. Bone-structured up to the max and a home town girl toboot.

To compare these two would be like comparing kittens and puppies. Impossible. One would have to have a preference before the decision took place.

And on that note I will now go and watch The Return of the King....just to see if my observations need any fine tuning.

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