Ten fun facts about Orlando Bloom

Fact 1
He had his break-through roles in 2001 as the elf-prince Legolas in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy and in 2003 as blacksmith Will Turner in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series.

Fact 2
He subsequently established himself as a lead in Hollywood films, including Elizabethtown and Kingdom of Heaven.

Fact 3
Bloom made his professional stage debut in West End's In Celebration at the Duke of York's Theatre, St. Martin's Lane.

Fact 4
Bloom was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Fact 5
Bloom's first appearance on the screen was in a small role, as a rent boy, in the 1997 film Wilde.

Fact 6
He had originally auditioned for the part of Faramir, who does not appear until the second movie, but the director, Peter Jackson, cast him as Legolas instead.

Fact 7
In 2002, he was chosen as one of the Teen People “25 Hottest Stars Under 25” and was named People's hottest Hollywood bachelor in the magazine's 2004 list.

Fact 8
Bloom is a cousin of photographer Sebastian Copeland.

Fact 9
He was encouraged by his mother to take art and drama classes.

Fact 10
He joined the National Youth Theatre, spending two seasons there and earning a scholarship to train at the British American Drama Academy.

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