December 27, 2023 | Stephanie Kelsey

Deadly-Accurate Facts About Legolas


"...for Legolas was fair of face beyond the measure of Men". The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

 The origins of Legolas the Elf remain mysterious, and J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings don’t put too much focus on him. His background may be murky, but these facts will shed some light on the blonde beauty.


1. His Age Is A Mystery (But We Have Some Clues)

J.R.R. Tolkien never actually specifies how old Legolas is, but the Elf calls Aragorn (87 to start) and Gimli (140) mere children compared to his own age, and says that he’s seen many oak trees go from being just an acorn to a “ruinous age".

English oak trees can live for more than 1,000 years, and Legolas’s has been estimated at anywhere from 500 to 2,000 years old.

Legolas

2. His Senses Are Stunning

As evidenced in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Legolas can hear what rocks are thinking, and can sense what trees are feeling.

Legolas facts LOTR: The Two Towers (2002), New Line Cinema

3. What He Did After The Battle Of The Ring

After all the battles are won and the ring is destroyed, Legolas founds an Elf colony in Ithilien, helping to restore all of the devastated forests in that area.

Legolas facts LOTR: The Return of the King (2003), New Line Cinema

4. Maybe He’s a Vampire?

Cold temperatures don’t bother Legolas, he doesn’t need to sleep as he’s never tired, and he has very good vision and hearing.

Legolas facts LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), New Line Cinema

5. Daydreamer

Because sleep isn’t really a necessary thing for Elves, Legolas can actually dream while awake.

Legolas facts LOTR: The Two Towers (2002), New Line Cinema

6. A Prince Among Elves

Legolas is a Sindarin Elf. Though we know nothing of his mother, his father, Thranduil, was the King of the Elves of Northern Mirkwood. Legolas’s surname is Greenleaf.

Legolas factsThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013), MGM

7. The Messenger

Thranduil sends his son to the Council of Elrond to report on Gollum’s escape. It is there that Legolas chooses to be a member of the Fellowship of the Ring.

Legolas factsThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013), MGM

8. Gravity Schmavity

Elves don’t sink in snow, so Legolas can run right across tundras (like the Redhorn Pass during a magically-induced blizzard).

Legolas facts LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), New Line Cinema

9. He Ain’t Afraid of No Ghosts

When Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn must past through the Haunted Mountains, Legolas is unafraid—Elves have no fear of the ghosts of men. He is, however, pretty scared of Balrogs, ancient fiery monsters that were created by Morgoth, an evil demigod.

Legolas facts LOTR: The Return of the King (2003), New Line Cinema

10. Behind the Fair Appearance

Legolas is portrayed on screen in all three Lord of the Rings movies and in The Hobbit movies by Orlando Bloom. Jude Law was also considered for the role.

Legolas facts Getty Images

11. No Pain, no Gain

While filming The Two Towers, Bloom fell off his horse and broke several ribs.

Legolas facts LOTR: The Return of the King (2003), New Line Cinema

12. He Gives Katniss a Run for Her Money

Legolas has an uncanny accuracy with his bow and arrow. He also carries with him two long Elvish knives, which have vine-like designs running over the blades.

Legolas facts The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013), MGM

13. Sing Us a Song!

Legolas is known for expressing himself through song in the books, and when Boromir dies, he and Aragorn sing together in their friend’s honor.

Legolas facts LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), New Line Cinema

14. A Handy Gift

Upon leaving Lothlórienthe members of the Fellowship are given gifts from Galadriel and Celeborn. Legolas receives a new longbow, which he ends up using to end an evil beast with just one shot. Typical Legolas.

Legolas facts LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), New Line Cinema

15. Extra Screen Time

Tolkien didn’t write Legolas into The Hobbit, but its screen adaptation adds him into two of the three films.

Legolas facts The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013), MGM

16. Blue or Brown?

Bloom found the blue-tinted contacts lenses he wore as Legolas uncomfortable, so you may notice his eyes are Bloom’s natural shade of brown in some scenes throughout The Lord of the Rings.

Legolas facts LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), New Line Cinema

17. The Silent Type

In the film series, the only time Legolas speaks to Frodo Baggins is in The Fellowship of the Ring, when the Elf says “and you have my bow".

Legolas facts LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), New Line Cinema

18. Where the Ocean Meets the Sky

When King Aragorn eventually dies, Legolas decides to leave Middle-earth for the Undying Lands, taking Gimli with him across the sea.

Legolas facts LOTR: The Return of the King (2003), New Line Cinema

19. He Likes His Earth Tones

Legolas is more often than not dressed in green and brown, except for when he is in Lothlórien. There, he dresses in a blue tunic.

Legolas facts LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), New Line Cinema

20. Almost Never Was

While Legolas is one of the most beloved characters in The Lord of The Rings, most fans don't realize he almost wasn't in the Fellowship of the Ring at all, and was instead replaced by another elf. That's right, in early drafts, Tolkien had that space filled by a different Elf, Glorfindel, but changed his mind during the final draft.

J R R Tolkien.Getty Images

21. Just a Little Friendly Competition Between Friends

Gimli and Legolas keep a running tally of how many orcs they end during the Battle of the Hornburg. Though Legolas is beaten by just one (42-41 is the final count), the two gain a mutual respect for each other.

Legolas facts LOTR: The Two Towers (2002), New Line Cinema

 

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5


READ MORE

Adare Manor

The Top Three Resorts In The World

Any resort can ensure a good time, but the truly remarkable ones want you to experience the vacation of a lifetime. Here are the best resorts in the world.
July 9, 2023 Kaddy Gibson
The Royal Plaza

The Three Most Beautiful Hotel Rooms In The World

Offering peaceful seclusion, world-class customer service, and spectacular views, these are three of the most beautiful hotel rooms in the world.
July 8, 2023 Kaddy Gibson
St. George's Church

The Creepiest Abandoned Attractions

Despite their ominous origins, these abandoned attractions have become some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.
June 13, 2023 Kaddy Gibson
internal

Four Tips For A Successful Vacation

Vacations are great but it’s also easy for them to turn stressful. Keep these travel tips in mind to get the most out of your next adventure.
July 7, 2023 Kaddy Gibson
internal

Five Must-Have Travel Accessories

If you're going on a trip, there are some things that you should pack with you every time. You can’t go wrong with these must-have travel accessories.
July 6, 2023 Kaddy Gibson
internal

The Most Visited Tourist Attractions In The World

The world is full of great tourist attractions, but have you ever been curious about which ones are the most popular? The list might surprise you.
June 21, 2023 Kaddy Gibson