Tauriel

Tauriel, a Silvan Elf of Mirkwood, is a character created for the upcoming films of The Hobbit. She is a warrior and the head of the Elven guard of Mirkwood. She knows how to wield any weapon, but the primary weapons that she uses are a bow and arrow and two daggers in battle. She is described as lethal and deadly and able to kill. Tauriel has been confirmed to be a high ranking and combat-ready member of Mirkwood's army of Elves.

Behind the Scenes

 * Itaril was the original name for Tauriel.
 * Evangeline Lilly will play Tauriel in the upcoming The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug film adaptations by Peter Jackson.
 * Peter Jackson has confirmed that she will have no romantic connection to Legolas. However, it is hinted that there will be romance between Tauriel and Kili the dwarf.
 * Lilly describes Tauriel as: "She has no problem killing. She's a killing machine."
 * Evangeline Lilly has stated that she knows that people do despise Tauriel but other people would come to really like her.
 * In the official trailer for the Desolation of Smaug, Thranduil states, "Legolas has grown very fond of you, do not give him hope where there is none." This could mean that Tauriel and Legolas are close but Tauriel's feelings for Legolas are purely platonic while Legolas's feelings are romantic but one-sided.

Video games
Tauriel appears in The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age as a hero in the Elven faction.

Etymology
Tauriel means 'Woodland daughter' (S. taur [forest, great] + -iell [pat. fem. suffix; daughter]).