Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Bloom ("The name Orlando Gibbons was floating around when I was younger," he said, apparently referring to the long-ago 17th-century English composer) was born on January 13rd, 1977 in Canterbury (Kent-England). Orlando moved to London where he joined the National Youth Theatre. He is graduated from the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, in London (for details, he has three A levels, two at grade A (one was art and sculpture, one at A level for Photography) and one at Grade C which was Religious Studies. He also has 8 'O' levels and also he has a BA (Hons) Drama degree from Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is then Orlando Bloom BA (Hons)).

+ Nicknames : Orli, OB, called "Elf boy" by Viggo Mortensen while shooting LOTR.

+ Family : a two years older sister, named Samantha. Mother named Sonia Bloom, former teacher. His father was said to be Harry Bloom, who passed away when Orlando was only 4 years old in 1981, he was a professor of law at Kent University and a famous novelist, who wrote the tome Episode In The Transvaal. Harry Bloom was a legendary figure in antiapartheid circles in South Africa and was jailed for his beliefs. He also worked alongside Nelson Mandela. However, in the August 2003 issue of The Face magazine, Orlando confessed that Harry Bloom was not his biological father. In reality, a family friend long-thought to be only the actor's guardian, Colin Stone, was his father. Orlando's was told the truth by his mother when he was 12. "I found out that Colin was my father – not Harry, but Colin. When my father (Harry) died, Colin Stone was made my guardian. He was always a close family friend but I always thought Harry was my biological father."

+ Particularity : an elvish tattoo (representing the number 9) on his right forearm which eight of the cast of the Fellowship got ("I got mine on my forearm, because I'm an archer.") + a sun on his torso  | see OB's elvish tattoo | He fell off a roof and broke his back : "For a few days it looked as though I would never walk again. Then they operated on me and I got up and walked out." Voted Britain's Sexiest Actor by Sky Movies poll and topped magazine People's annual 50 Sexiest Bachelor list in June 2004.

+ Awards : 2002 Empire Award, won the 2002 MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Male and a Hollywood Film Festival award for Breakthrough Male (October 2003).

+ Casting on LOTR : Originally auditioned for Faramir's part (the brother of Boromir who first appears in TTT). He said : "There was a huge casting process that went on with this project and I went on tape for it, probably like a hundred thousand other actors across the world. I tried out initially for a character called Faramir, but my agent got a call to say that Faramir wouldn't be available to me and would I read for Legolas ? So I went on tape again for Legolas and, after they'd checked out how tall I was and everything, I got the call to say I was in. A couple of months later, I met Pete and his partner, Fran."

+ Becoming Legolas : Orlando Bloom left England on august 28th, 1999, almost two months before filming. A make-up session of two hours was needed each morning. OB shaved his hair into a Mohawk to better fit his elven wigs (one priced $3000 !) and weared blue contact lenses. He has learnt the Elvish language one month before filming began with coaches Andrew Jack and Roísin Carty.

Orlando Bloom, c/o ICM, Oxford House, 76 Oxford Street, London W1D 1BS, England. (NB : 2 official International reply coupons for those living in Europe)

Orlando Bloom, c/o Artists Management Group, 9465 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, USA