Robert Aramayo on Rings of Power season 3, a double role and his Basque roots

Robert Aramayo is having a very good run. The 33-year-old from Hull, England, is back as Elrond in season 3 of The Rings of Power, this time playing a second character too. And he has plenty to say about Tolkien, Sauron and his Spanish grandfather.

What happened?

In an interview, Aramayo said the new season is darker. Sauron is no longer hiding, he explained, and there is a sense of paranoia across Middle-earth. People are scared, and everyone will have to team up to fight him.

Elrond's role grows, too. Aramayo calls Rivendell, the elven refuge Elrond rules, an extension of the character himself: a welcoming home where history is preserved. His bond with Galadriel has also shifted. He still admires her, but they now stand on more equal terms, like teammates.

Two brothers, one actor

Aramayo also plays Elros, Elrond's brother, who chose to become human while Elrond chose to be an elf. Elros appears in flashbacks, and so does a younger Elrond, more idealistic and naive than the one we know. Aramayo calls the double role a huge challenge, and says the cast and crew helped him a lot.

Asked about fans who say the show strays from Tolkien's books, he pointed out that the author wrote far more about the First and Third Ages than the Second. In his view, showrunners Jerry Payne and Patrick McKay had to fill in the gaps. He says he keeps reading the books, including The Silmarillion and The Fall of Gondolin.

He would also return as young Ned Stark from Game of Thrones, a role he says he loved.

Why the Spanish angle?

Aramayo was born in England but has Spanish roots, with a grandfather from the Basque Country. "I'm very proud of my Spanish heritage," he said. "I love San Sebastián and I love my grandfather," whom he described as an interesting, tough and incredible man. He visited the city recently and says he always likes going back.

What came before?

The Rings of Power premiered on Prime Video in September 2022 with Aramayo as Elrond. In February 2026 he won the BAFTA Rising Star award (voted for by the public) for I Swear, and he also appeared recently in Palestine 36.