CULTURE
ELF RESPECT
ISMAEL CRUZ CORDOVA
His life has been a struggle worthy of Middle Earth itself, but, says the Lord of the Rings star, he’s found his happy-ever-after with his latest role
As one of the most successful film series hit the big screen, The Lord of the Rings featured a host of A-list actors including Sir Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom and Liv Tyler. Now they can add up-andcoming star Ismael Cruz Córdova to their ranks after he has thrilled fans with his role as Arondir in the TV series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
The Puerto Rican-born actor grew up without money or prospects, but was captivated with the fantasy saga as a teenager and saved to buy the DVD of the first of the trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring, when he was 14.
‘I’m able to play Arondir because he’s a warrior and I’m a warrior. I’ve sacrificed everything for this’
More than 20 years later, he has made history as the first person of colour to play one of Middle Earth’s elves on screen.