Orlando Bloom

Orlando Bloom is a British actor, who became famous playing Legolas in the The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He also had major roles in Black Hawk Down, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Troy.

He was born in Canterbury, Kent. Although he carries the name of novelist and political activist, Harry Bloom, Orlando's biological father is actually Colin Stone, a reported friend of the family. He attended St Edmunds School in Canterbury, but struggled in many courses due to his dyslexia. In 1993, he moved to London and joined the National Youth Theatre, spending two seasons there and earning a scholarship to train at the British American Drama Academy.

He earned a few television roles to further his career, including his film debut in 1997 in Wilde, opposite Stephen Fry, before entering the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. However, in 1998, he broke his back in a three story fall, and it was briefly feared that he would never walk again, but he made a complete recovery. Orlando Bloom - Movie poster for Troy (2004)

His first major role (he was still in drama school during the casting) was in the movie version of The Lord of the Rings (2001–2003), where he played Legolas; the ensemble cast of The Fellowship of the Ring (including Bloom), and a year later that of The Two Towers, was nominated for Best Ensemble Acting at the Screen Actors' Guild Awards. This high-profile role made an unknown British actor one of the hottest Internet celebrities. IMDBPro's StarMeter reported that Orlando Bloom was the most searched for actor in January 2002, one month after the Fellowship of the Ring was released; that year, he was also chosen as one of Teen People Magazine's "25 Hottest Stars Under 25". In 2004, Orlando was named People Magazine's hottest bachelor in the magazine's annual list of Hollywood bachelors.

In 2003, the ensemble cast of The Return of the King won a Screen Actors' Guild Award for Best Ensemble Acting, after having been nominated for the previous two movies in the trilogy. Additionally, Bloom has won various Empire Awards and Teen Choice Awards, and been nominated for many others.

Filmography

Elizabethtown (2005) (filming) – Drew Baylor
Kingdom of Heaven (2005) (post-production) – Balian of Ibelin
Pirates of the Caribbean 2 (2005) (announced) – Will Turner
Haven (2004) – Shy (also co-producer)
Troy (2004) – Prince Paris
The Calcium Kid (2004) – Jimmy
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) – Legolas Greenleaf
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) – Will Turner
Ned Kelly (2003) – Joe Byrne
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) – Legolas Greenleaf
Black Hawk Down (2001) – Pfc. Todd Blackburn
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) – Legolas Greenleaf
Wilde (1997) – Rent boy