Lord of the Rings star cast as Lennon's wife in Beatles biopic

The Rings of Power actress Morfydd Clark is one of the latest stars to join the cast of Sir Sam Mendes' four-part Beatles biopic.

Clark, who grew up in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, will portray Cynthia Lennon, the first wife of John, who is played by Harris Dickinson in the films based on the famous bandmembers.

Starring Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan and Joseph Quinn, the four films will follow the lives and careers of the Liverpool band from each member's point of view.

The newly announced cast members also include Harry Lawtey, who recently played Welsh actor Richard Burton, and Bohemian Rhapsody star Lucy Boynton.

John and Cynthia, who died from cancer in 2015, met at art college in Liverpool, and were married from 1962 until 1968.

Their son, singer-songwriter Julian Lennon, was born in 1963, but the pair split after Cynthia discovered her husband's relationship with Yoko Ono.

Clark is best known for her role in Amazon Prime's The Rings of Power, playing warrior Galadriel in the Lord of the Rings spin-off series - even sneaking a Welsh word into a scene.

Industry and Mr Burton star Lawety will play Stuart Sutcliffe, the band's original bassist before he left in 1961, while Farhan Akhtar will portray famous Indian composer Ravi Shankar.

Boynton, best known for her role in Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, will play Paul McCartney's fiancée Jane Asher, who famously broke off their engagement during an interview on national TV.

They join James Norton and Harry Lloyd, with both actors already announced to play The Beatles' manager and producer.

The four-part project was officially announced by Sony two years ago, with Sir Sam revealing the four stars of The Beatle biopics at CinemaCon in April 2025.

Normal People actor Mescal will play Paul McCartney, with fellow Irish actor Keoghan as Ringo Starr.

John Lennon, who was murdered outside his home in New York in 1980, will be played by Dickinson and Quinn completes the set as George Harrison.

Sir Sam told the event: "Each one is told from the particular perspective of just one of the guys.

"They intersect in different ways, sometimes overlapping, sometimes not.

"They're four very different human beings. Perhaps this is a chance to understand them a little more deeply.

"But together, all four films will tell the story of the greatest band in history."

Saoirse Ronan, Anna Sawai, Aimee Lou Wood and Mia McKenna-Bruce have all been announced to play the wives and partners of the four.

The four films are due for release on the same day in April 2028.