INT: Orlando Bloom

Strike Back below!

by: Chris Gaede May. 4, 2005

To say that Orlando Bloom is a major movie star is an understatement. He exploded onto the scene just a little over three years ago as the elf Legolas, in the first of the LORD OF THE RINGS films, THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. However, for all this attention, he still hasn’t played the lead in a film. That will change on May 6th, when director Ridley Scott’s new film KINGDOM OF HEAVEN opens. In the film, Bloom plays Balian, a simple blacksmith, who will reluctantly become a knight during the Crusades, and be charged with defending the people of Jerusalem from being attacked by the Muslim general Saladin.

JoBlo.com recently had the chance to sit down with Orlando, and talk about the film, as well as his other upcoming projects such as Cameron Crowe’s ELIZABETHTOWN, and of course, the sequels to PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. Orlando seemed to be a very spiritual, compassionate person, there’s no doubt why he responded to the role of Balian.

ORLANDO BLOOM

What would you go on a crusade for today?

Happiness. Humanity. Life is…if it isn’t about human beings living in harmony, then I don’t know what it’s about…it doesn’t matter what color you are, it doesn’t matter what religion you are, it doesn’t matter what your beliefs are, what sex you are, what sexuality you are, we’re all equal in the eyes of your god, whoever that may be. Religion shouldn’t come into it.

What was it like fighting a Jedi? (Note: Refers to the scenes where Balian is trained by his father, played by Liam Neeson)

You mean being trained by a Jedi? It was an honor…Liam Neeson inspired me beyond belief and I felt very blessed to have him be my father and lead me through the first act of the movie and graciously guide me as that role. He’s a remarkable actor and a very dear man, and I was very fortunate. I think I’ve been lucky in my career to work with the actors that I’ve worked with because I’ve learned so much from all of them.

Are you sick of playing blacksmiths yet?

Brush up the old andirons again! You know what, when I read this script, I was coming back from TROY and I was leaving Mexico, and I read this script on the plane and I turned to my friend and said “Wow. This is the polar opposite of Paris, who was the cowardly younger brother.” This is a reluctant hero in the sort of spaghetti Western, cowboy movie style of a hero.

I had no idea what would happen. I sat down with Ridley for two hours in a meeting, and we talked about what the movie was. And then he said “Why don’t you come in tomorrow?” So I had like nine hours to learn three of the biggest scenes in the movie. I had like two hours sleep, I had a stick on beard the next morning, I had blood on my face, chain mail on my back, and I was standing in front of the camera with Ridley Scott directing me. This is the guy who threw me out of a helicopter in BLACK HAWK DOWN, you know what I mean? I admire him and respect him.

Did you ever think to yourself “F*ck, what have I jumped into?”

Believe me, the whole way through this movie. If it weren’t for Ridley, who made what was a 140 million dollar movie, which was the biggest set that I’d ever been on, and I’ve been on some big sets in my short career, which I’m very grateful for, he really made it accessible to me and he really guided me through.

Was it difficult for you as actor, to say this is a very controversial subject, how am I going to address this?

When you sit down with someone like Ridley and you talk about the opportunity of working with him, and you know his history of making movies, and the integrity with which he delivers a movie, there were really no questions. Obviously, this is a sensitive topic with the Crusades as the backdrop. But I think it’s very balanced the way he displayed the chivalry and courage of Saladin…it was a sensitive subject, but I feel that it has been handled with kid gloves.

Were you ever apprehensive about having trouble dropping your flaxen haired Elvish image?

Legolas was an incredible character for my first movie. In a way, I was lucky that I didn’t have too much to do or say because I might’ve messed it up being straight out of drama school. And I still feel like I’m in the first chapter of my life really as an actor and my career and I’ve still got mistakes to make and things to learn…I was very happy to lose the blonde wig and have my own look. That was a choice made by Peter, and I was really glad of it because it totally transformed me, and it made the leap to being that elf-like character a lot easier.

You’ve worked with a lot of different directors: Gore Verbinski, Peter Jackson, Ridley. What are some of the differences you’ve noticed between them?

I think it’s like anything, it’s like an artist, it’s like an actor…there is no one director who’s the same from another.

Who do you think you’ve learned the most from?

Honestly, I’ve learned so much from each of them individually and in different ways. I couldn’t say that I’ve learned more from one than the other. Ridley is an inspirational director. He knows how to shoot a movie and I learned a lot form being on that set. But, equally with Peter, which was my first experience, or with Gore, who’s got a really great sense of comedy as well as drama. They’ve all been very different in my experience.

Do you think audiences are ready to see a balanced treatment of Islam?

Well, I hope so. I think what you see today, is what’s been happening, it says in the end title, it’s been going on for a 1000 years. When are we gonna realize that we share this planet as one? Ultimately, there has always been war over religion, money, power, land, water, oil, whatever. It’s futile. The message of this movie is one of humanity and Balian is a man who reluctantly assumes the position of being a knight, but he follows his creed right through to the end, defending the people.

Orlando also spoke about his upcoming projects.

Regarding Cameron Crowe’s ELIZABETHTOWN:

Cameron Crowe is an amazing man, and director…he really knows what he wants, and he really goes for what he wants, and he’s particular about character. It was an amazing experience for me…This is a guy who’s got his hand on his heart and one finger on the pulse of America as far as I can tell. He just knows how to take a moment and just make it such a real sublime moment.

I had an amazing experience working in the heartland of America, which is something I’d never been to before, being in Kentucky, being in Louisville, being embraced by the people and seeing how that side of America really exists, and it’s such a strong presence that I was never really aware of because I’d always only ever been in New York and LA. There’s a real sense of community and family. Then I drove back from Scottsbluff, Nebraska to Los Angeles, on my own, just me and the dog in the car, it was amazing to see how much expansive land I’d passed without seeing anyone.

His thoughts on the sequels to PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN:

As you know, Johnny’s the pirate to end all pirates. So Will is the straight man…he’s the straight man who moves the story forward as he did in the first movie, and he continues that. Obviously, he becomes more of the pirate. Piracy isn’t in his blood in the same way that it is for Jack Sparrow. It’s gonna develop. The third movie, I still haven’t read the script, but there are plans to sort of darken Will up a little and make him a little bit more questionable, and that will resolve themselves. But I love the character. I love the opportunity to work with Johnny again, with Gore again, with Keira again.

We’ve just started shooting. We’re about… four weeks into shooting. We’re gonna shoot the second movie and a little bit of the third movie, just cause of the locations, and then we’re gonna be shooting the third movie.

As for the rumors of Keith Richards making a cameo as Johnny Depps’ father?

You know, I’ve heard the rumors as well as you. I think if he makes an appearance it will probably be in the third movie. We’ll see what happens.

And what does he have planned after PIRATES 2 and 3?

No plans after that. I may take a break depending on what happens. I may try and do some theatre. In truth I’m about due for probably some downtime.

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN OPENS MAY 6TH

Source: JoBlo.com