‘It’s Unnerving’: The Rings of Power Star Charlie Vickers Opens Up on Playing Sauron

Actor Charlie Vickers said he had no idea he would end up playing the Dark Lord Sauron in Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. In an interview with FilmFare, Vickers said the experience on the show was “humbling.”

Vickers started in Season 1 of The Rings of Power playing Halbrand, and did not know he would eventually go on to portray Sauron on the show. As for coming to grips with playing the iconic J.R.R. Tolkien character, Vickers said he hasn’t yet.

“Sometimes I’m just washing the dishes at home and it hits me. It’s unnerving, unbelievable, and one of the most humbling experiences of my life. You are right, I’ve yet to come to terms with it. I’m most grateful for the love and appreciation coming my way. And I’m ever so glad that people have taken to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power in such a big way.”

It’s unnerving, unbelievable, and one of the most humbling experiences of my life.

It Came as a Surprise for Charlie Vickers

“When I first joined the project, I had no idea I was playing Sauron,” Vickers said. “Since then, my journey with this character has changed immensely. Over the past five years, I’ve had the opportunity to embody this role, which is something I’ve never experienced before. Even when I’m not actively working on the show – whether I’m off doing other projects or just chilling with my friends – these characters remain with me,” he said.

Vickers admitted to feeling “a bit lost” during the early Season 1 episodes “because I didn’t fully understand my character. I had a sense that Halbrand was more complex than he appeared, but as actors, we interpret the circumstances we’re given. At that point, I lacked the full context, which made it challenging. Now, with a clearer understanding of the entire narrative and where it’s heading, I feel much more in command of the material,” he said, adding that he is more comfortable with “the weight of playing Sauron.”

Vickers’s portrayal of Halbrand, and Sauron, who is often disguised as the Elven gift-bearer Annatar, has garnered a lot of attention, with some fans even dubbing him “sexy Sauron” on social media.

As for being called “sexy Sauron”, Vickers laughed and said, “I’m not really sure how to respond. I guess it’s one of those things where people will say whatever they want, whether it’s positive or negative. But hey, it definitely feels cool.” He said the fact that fans are engaging with the show is great and “super exciting.”

“I mean, ‘sexy Sauron’? That’s a new term for me, and it’s got a nice ring to it. But lets not forget about all the other incredibly attractive characters in the series. Honestly, I love the creativity fans bring to the table. The memes, the fan art, the passionate debates about who’s the hottest character…it all adds to the fun,” he said.

Charlie Vickers Has Some Season 3 Ideas

Vickers has some thoughts about his character moving forward in the series, even though Season 3 hasn’t been officially green-lit. He said thus far, his character’s journey has been “the tip of the iceberg.”

There’s so much I’m looking forward to, but I feel like when I watched episode seven and eight I was thinking, ‘Is this what the show is now, full throttle from here on?’ And that’s a really exciting prospect.” He added it’s just the beginning since Sauron had just acquired the nine Rings from Galadriel. “I think task No. 1 is probably: Who am I going to give these nine Rings to, to then enslave them? He’s got a big to-do list.”