Rings of Power: Who plays Sauron in season 2 of Lord of the Rings series?

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 trailer

Sauron is set to play a major role in Rings of Power season two after he was uncovered in a stunning season finale twist. Sauron had posed as a rugged Southlander named Halbrand who claimed he was the King of Southlands. 

Galadriel uncovered the truth when she discovered the line of the King of the Southlands had been broken. After attempting to tempt Galadriel to his cause and manipulating her, Sauron fled to the dark land of Mordor.

Sauron will continue to control key figures in Middle-earth during season two, with Sauron set to use the unsuspecting elf Celebrimbor, played by Charles Edwards, for his bidding and create more Rings of Power to corrupt and control everyone in Middle-earth.

With a new form as Annatar, known as the Lord of Gifts, viewers will watch from Thursday (August 29) to see how Sauron will plot to take over Middle-earth. But what do we know about the actor behind Sauron?

Who plays Sauron in Rings of Power?

Actor Charlie Vickers is enjoying his breakout role in Rings of Power (Image: Getty)

Sauron is played by Australian actor Charlie Vickers in what is the actor's breakout role. He was born in the Melbourne beach suburb of St Kilda in 1992 and enjoyed taking part in amateur theatre while he studied for an arts degree at RMIT University in Melbourne.

This love for acting grew and he moved to London to join the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Vicker's first role was as Guglielmo Pazzi in the television series Medici alongside Sam Neill, Matilda Brown, Greta Scacchi and Richard E. Grant.

He later appeared in the films Palm Beach and Death in Shoreditch before he secured the role of Sauron and Halbrand. Vickers told the Evening Standard that he had no idea about his secret role until he was filming episode three.

“The showrunners [J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay] said ‘Let’s go for a walk’ and they took me onto a set,” Vickers recalls. They arrived on a shadowy, unseen set that is due to appear in season two. “Then they said, ‘Welcome to your lair.’”

Vickers will also portray Annatar during season two. 

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Sauron is the main antagonist in not only Rings of Power, but also the Lord of the Rings series. The Dark Lord wants to rule Middle-earth by controlling Elves, Dwarves, men and all beings.

He seeks power and control by creating Rings of Power - three rings for the Elves, seven rings for Dwarves, and nine rings for those corrupted by Sauron's power. Sauron would later secretly forge the One Ring - to rule them all - and control the wielders of the sixteen rings owned by Dwarves and Men. 

Sauron was one of the angelic beings who was made by The Creator before joining in the evil Morgoth against him. After acting as a spy in Valar's home of Valinor and Morgoth's chief lieutenant in the great war of the First Age, Sauron soon took on the form of a beautiful elf named Annatar, the "Lord of Gifts".

He helped Lord Celebrimbor in the creation of the Rings of Power, which we saw in season one, and he will later help make the remaining rings. Sauron's rise would trigger a great war during the Second Age and saw The Last Alliance of Men and Elves battle Sauron and his army of Mordor. 

Isildur, the son of Elendil, cut the ring from Sauron's finger and would destroy him. He would appear as disembodied fiery Eye of Sauron during the Lord of the Rings trilogy. 

Rings of Power: Who plays Sauron in season 2 of Lord of the Rings series?

Rings of Power: Who plays Sauron in season 2 of Lord of the Rings series?

Rings of Power: Who plays Sauron in season 2 of Lord of the Rings series?

Rings of Power: Who plays Sauron in season 2 of Lord of the Rings series?

Rings of Power: Who plays Sauron in season 2 of Lord of the Rings series?