Are Lord of the Rings’ elves immortal? What is the Grey Havens? Why do Hugo Weaving, Liv Tyler, Orlando Bloom, and the rest of the LOTR elf cast look so good when they’re supposed to be old?

In Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies— in most Tolkien-influenced fantasy media—elves are portrayed as tall, slim, androgynous figures with pointy ears and long hair. It’s a very ...