Why Does The Actor Who Plays Bronwyn On The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power Look Familiar?

"The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" is an ambitious undertaking for Prime Video, but the series is already off to a good start. A blend of old and new ideas, "The Rings of Power" forges its own path to Middle-earth by introducing a set of original (and quintessential) protagonists in the large-scale, overarching narrative. This strategy includes the involvement of several distinct storylines, one of which features a romance between the Silvan Elf Arondir (Ismael Crus Córdova) and a very familiar-looking human, Bronwyn. 

The concept of an elf-human relationship is nothing new to "The Lord of the Rings" (think Aragorn & Arwen, for example), but the Prime Video series looks to tackle it from the jump. And in doing so, the show cast an actress that is more than prepared to carry the torch of that dynamic. No stranger to television, Nazanin Boniadi portrays the human character Bronwyn in "The Rings of Power." There is a good chance you have seen her before, albeit in a supporting role.

Boniadi made a name for herself on the long-running soap opera "General Hospital," but she is arguably most well-known for her work on the award-winning Showtime series "Homeland" after portraying the character Fara Sherazi for 16 episodes. Most recently, she appeared across J.K. Simmons in the Starz sci-fi series "Counterpart." Boniadi can also be seen in a lesser capacity on "How I Met Your Mother," "Scandal," and "Grey's Anatomy." On the big screen, her resume is more limited. She appeared prominently alongside Jack Huston in the ill-received 2015 remake of "Ben-Hur," before starring in the true story-turned-thriller "Hotel Mumbai" with Dev Patel. 

For the time being, Boniadi's future lies firmly in Middle-earth. Her role as Bronwyn in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" is not only a leap in cultural relevance, but it allows her to rekindle a vital part of the original trilogy without feeling derivative.

Boniadi and her co-star Cordova headline their own subplot in "The Rings of Power." While the exact details of their relationship are only implied through their interactions, the human-elf dynamic is engrossing to watch as a longtime fan. In an interview with Inverse, Boniadi comments on the inventive nature of the typical fantasy trope:

"[Bronwyn is] like the poor man's human, and I view Arondir as the poor elf's elf. Our union is one of our common struggle to be accepted by our own, to reach out our curiosity for the other. We're sort of grassroots people in the trenches, if you will. We have zero privilege within our kind. I think that lends itself to exploring this [human-elf romance] dynamic in a whole new way."

The romance in "The Rings of Power" is clearly reminiscent of Viggo Mortensen and Liv Tyler in the original trilogy, but much like the rest of the series, Boniadi and Cordova create their own recipe for success. And the actress is clearly relishing the major role in what could be the most beloved fantasy franchise in cinema history. No doubt a familiar face, perhaps her time on Middle-earth will make her a household name.