Orlando Bloom was born in Canterbury, England and struggled with dyslexia as a child. He discovered his passion for acting and moved to London as a teenager to study drama. Bloom's breakthrough role came in 2001's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He became an international star and leading man known for roles in blockbuster franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean. Though finding fame, Bloom has remained down to earth and maintains a passion for acting on stage and screen.

1. Orlando BloomOrlando Bloom
Made by SergeyMade by Sergey
KnyazevKnyazev

2. Orlando Bloom was bornOrlando Bloom was born
in Canterbury, Kent,in Canterbury, Kent,
England on January 13,England on January 13,
1977. The man he briefly1977. The man he briefly
knew as his father, Harryknew as his father, Harry
Bloom, was a legendaryBloom, was a legendary
political activist whopolitical activist who
fought for civil rights infought for civil rights in
South Africa. But HarrySouth Africa. But Harry
died of a stroke whendied of a stroke when
Orlando was only fourOrlando was only four
years old. After that,years old. After that,
Orlando and his olderOrlando and his older
sister, Samantha Bloom,sister, Samantha Bloom,
were raised by theirwere raised by their
mother, Sonia, and familymother, Sonia, and family
friend, Colin Stone. Whenfriend, Colin Stone. When
Orlando was 13, SoniaOrlando was 13, Sonia
revealed to him that Colinrevealed to him that Colin
was actually his biologicalwas actually his biological
father.father.

3. Orlando attended St.Orlando attended St.
Edmunds School inEdmunds School in
Canterbury but struggled inCanterbury but struggled in
many courses because ofmany courses because of
dyslexia. He did embrace thedyslexia. He did embrace the
arts, however, and enjoyedarts, however, and enjoyed
pottery, photography andpottery, photography and
sculpturing. He alsosculpturing. He also
participated in school playsparticipated in school plays
and was active at his localand was active at his local
theater. As a teen, Orlandotheater. As a teen, Orlando
landed his first job: he was alanded his first job: he was a
clay trapper at a pigeonclay trapper at a pigeon
shooting range. Encouragedshooting range. Encouraged
by his mother, he and hisby his mother, he and his
sister began studying poetrysister began studying poetry
and prose, eventually givingand prose, eventually giving
readings at Kent Festival.readings at Kent Festival.
Orlando and Samantha wonOrlando and Samantha won
many poetry and Biblemany poetry and Bible
reciting competitions.reciting competitions.

4. Orlando Bloom's plans of becomingOrlando Bloom's plans of becoming
an actor developed quite early whenan actor developed quite early when
he realized that the characters on TVhe realized that the characters on TV
and in the movies weren't real, thatand in the movies weren't real, that
they were actors. "Once I realizedthey were actors. "Once I realized
that I could be Superman or I couldthat I could be Superman or I could
be The Hustler or I could be Danielbe The Hustler or I could be Daniel
Day Lewis's character inDay Lewis's character in The Last OfThe Last Of
The MohicansThe Mohicans - I was like, "Man, I- I was like, "Man, I
can become an actor and becan become an actor and be allall ofof
those things." In 1993, he moved tothose things." In 1993, he moved to
London to improve his career, doingLondon to improve his career, doing
bit parts in TV series like "Casualty".bit parts in TV series like "Casualty".
Orlando spent two years at theOrlando spent two years at the
National Youth Theatre beforeNational Youth Theatre before
getting a scholarship to train withgetting a scholarship to train with
the British American Dramathe British American Drama
Academy. His first memorableAcademy. His first memorable
appearance, a cameo in the criticallyappearance, a cameo in the critically
acclaimed movie Wilde in 1997,acclaimed movie Wilde in 1997,
earned him various film offers,earned him various film offers,
which he all turned down in favor towhich he all turned down in favor to
play theatre. After Wilde, Orlandoplay theatre. After Wilde, Orlando
attended the Guildhall School ofattended the Guildhall School of
Music and Drama for 3 years. OnMusic and Drama for 3 years. On
stage, he appeared in plays like "Thestage, he appeared in plays like "The
Seagull", "Twelfth Night", andSeagull", "Twelfth Night", and
"Trojan Women"."Trojan Women".

5. Orlando's first major movieOrlando's first major movie
role was in The Lord of therole was in The Lord of the
Rings trilogy, playing theRings trilogy, playing the
ethereal elf Legolas Greenleaf,ethereal elf Legolas Greenleaf,
a role he received only daysa role he received only days
before graduating dramabefore graduating drama
school in London. Two yearsschool in London. Two years
later, when The Fellowship oflater, when The Fellowship of
the Ring premiered, audiencesthe Ring premiered, audiences
were in instant awe of thewere in instant awe of the
blonde haired, blue eyed elfblonde haired, blue eyed elf
with killer cheek bones, whowith killer cheek bones, who
was also handy with a bow andwas also handy with a bow and
arrow. It didn't take long forarrow. It didn't take long for
Orlando to become a fullOrlando to become a full
fledged teen heartthrob,fledged teen heartthrob,
hailed by magazines as "Thehailed by magazines as "The
next big thing". In interviewsnext big thing". In interviews
and magazines, fansand magazines, fans
discovered that off-screen,discovered that off-screen,
Orlando was quite differentOrlando was quite different
than his movie counterpart.than his movie counterpart.

6. With brown eyes, dark hair,With brown eyes, dark hair,
olive skin, and a keen yet quirkyolive skin, and a keen yet quirky
fashion sense, he looked right atfashion sense, he looked right at
home on the cover of GQ. Unlikehome on the cover of GQ. Unlike
the quiet Legolas, Orlando wasthe quiet Legolas, Orlando was
full of energy and infectiousfull of energy and infectious
enthusiasm, charming everyoneenthusiasm, charming everyone
he worked with, along with thehe worked with, along with the
fans. In interviews, he describedfans. In interviews, he described
himself as an adrenaline junky;himself as an adrenaline junky;
skydiving, bungee jumping,skydiving, bungee jumping,
surfing and snowboarding in hissurfing and snowboarding in his
spare time. This live life to it'sspare time. This live life to it's
fullest concept seems to comefullest concept seems to come
partly from a brush with deathpartly from a brush with death
that Orlando had while in dramathat Orlando had while in drama
school. Falling 3 stories from aschool. Falling 3 stories from a
friend's roof terrace, Orlandofriend's roof terrace, Orlando
faced the possibility of neverfaced the possibility of never
walking again, but was able towalking again, but was able to
walk out of the hospital 12 dayswalk out of the hospital 12 days
later.later.

7. A walking miracle, OrlandoA walking miracle, Orlando
seemed to be on the road toseemed to be on the road to
mega-stardom. Releasedmega-stardom. Released
shortly after The Fellowshipshortly after The Fellowship
of the Ring was the grittyof the Ring was the gritty
war drama, Black Hawkwar drama, Black Hawk
Down, directed by RidleyDown, directed by Ridley
Scott. Orlando playedScott. Orlando played
Private First Class ToddPrivate First Class Todd
Blackburn, and showed theBlackburn, and showed the
enthusiasm, excitement andenthusiasm, excitement and
nervousness of an 18 yearnervousness of an 18 year
old soldier new to the worldold soldier new to the world
of war in Somalia.of war in Somalia.
Shadowing a real lifeShadowing a real life
experience, his characterexperience, his character
falls from a helicopter andfalls from a helicopter and
breaks his back.breaks his back.

8. Next came the swashbucklingNext came the swashbuckling
blockbuster Pirates of theblockbuster Pirates of the
Caribbean: The Curse of theCaribbean: The Curse of the
Black Pearl, which cementedBlack Pearl, which cemented
Orlando's place as the actionOrlando's place as the action
movie "It Boy". Playing themovie "It Boy". Playing the
dashing yet straight-laceddashing yet straight-laced
blacksmith, Will Turner,blacksmith, Will Turner,
Orlando won even moreOrlando won even more
hearts by showing off hishearts by showing off his
sword fighting skillssword fighting skills
alongside his idol, Johnnyalongside his idol, Johnny
Depp, while romancing theDepp, while romancing the
film's heroine played by Keirafilm's heroine played by Keira
Knightley. In 2004 cameKnightley. In 2004 came
another period action movie,another period action movie,
Troy. Although the role ofTroy. Although the role of
Paris saw Orlando againParis saw Orlando again
using a sword and bow, it wasusing a sword and bow, it was
a departure from his pasta departure from his past
roles.roles.

12. Paris was an anti-hero,Paris was an anti-hero,
young and foolish at times,young and foolish at times,
sacrificing all for love. Alsosacrificing all for love. Also
released in 2004, althoughreleased in 2004, although
only limited in Europe, wasonly limited in Europe, was
the indie film The Calciumthe indie film The Calcium
Kid, a mockumentaryKid, a mockumentary
comedy about a milkmancomedy about a milkman
who becomes a boxer.who becomes a boxer.
Orlando was able to show offOrlando was able to show off
his comedic skills whilehis comedic skills while
playing a modern character,playing a modern character,
with no weapons orwith no weapons or
costumes. The indie filmcostumes. The indie film
Haven also made its debut atHaven also made its debut at
the 2004 Toronto Filmthe 2004 Toronto Film
Festival. Orlando bothFestival. Orlando both
starred in and co-producedstarred in and co-produced
the film. It has yet to bethe film. It has yet to be
released into theaters.released into theaters.

13. Orlando's first starring role in aOrlando's first starring role in a
major production was inmajor production was in
Kingdom of Heaven, released inKingdom of Heaven, released in
2005. Although the film was2005. Although the film was
considered a box officeconsidered a box office
disappointment, the reviews ofdisappointment, the reviews of
Orlando's acting were positive.Orlando's acting were positive.
He was able to convey the innerHe was able to convey the inner
turmoil of a man on a journey ofturmoil of a man on a journey of
spiritual and selfspiritual and self
discovery. Orlando's nextdiscovery. Orlando's next
starring role will be that of Drewstarring role will be that of Drew
Baylor in Elizabethtown. ABaylor in Elizabethtown. A
modern comedic drama writtenmodern comedic drama written
and directed by Cameron Crowe.and directed by Cameron Crowe.
A sequel to Pirates of theA sequel to Pirates of the
Caribbean titled Pirates of theCaribbean titled Pirates of the
Caribbean: Dead Man's ChestCaribbean: Dead Man's Chest
will be released in Summerwill be released in Summer
2006.2006.

14. Although Orlando has grownAlthough Orlando has grown
since his premiere in The Lordsince his premiere in The Lord
of the Rings, he still has theof the Rings, he still has the
same genuine love of life andsame genuine love of life and
work. He likes to keep hiswork. He likes to keep his
family and friends out of thefamily and friends out of the
limelight, and tries to staylimelight, and tries to stay
grounded even in the face ofgrounded even in the face of
mega-stardom. He always has amega-stardom. He always has a
smile and a hug for his fans,smile and a hug for his fans,
even delaying movie premiereseven delaying movie premieres
so he can spend more timeso he can spend more time
signing autographs and takingsigning autographs and taking
photos. Orlando's onscreenphotos. Orlando's onscreen
presence, along with his downpresence, along with his down
to earth attitude and likeabilityto earth attitude and likeability
will continue to attract new fanswill continue to attract new fans
while sustaining the old ones.while sustaining the old ones.