Orlando Bloom - Legolas
New York, USA, October 2003
What is your character's
defining moment ?
I think it will be in the third movie, with the Mūmakil (elephant-like
creatures). I haven't seen it. Pete loved the audience's response to me
running over the top of the cave-troll, sliding down the stairs and swinging up
onto the horse. But I think the defining moment will be the moment at the end
with the Mūmakil. He wanted to top all of that, so we shot something on the
reshoots which will hopefully do that, and it's a real 'Leggy moment', do you
know what I mean ? It's a real Pete Jackson-Leggy moment, definitely a Pete
jackson-Leggy moment.
Describe Peter Jackson in
three words.
Heart (of a Hobbit). Cool (like and Elf). Mad (as a Wizard).
Are your Rings colleagues
going to be friends for life ?
Absolutely. I mean, Billy (Boyd, Pippin) and Dom (Monaghan, Merry)
just came down to Mexico to come surfing for a week or so. Viggo (Mortensen,
Aragorn) was a mentor and, like, a bit of a hero. He was a real guide and a
real education to be around.
Why do you think Rings has
been so successful ?
I think Tolkien created a world where there were no limits, and I think Peter
Jackson captured the essence of that in the way that he directed the films. And
people have totally bought into it.
Which of the other roles
would you like to have played ?
I don't know, so hard to say, isn't it ? But I suppose Aragorn : going from a
Ranger to a king, starting from nowhere and really assuming the responsability
of becoming a king. I love that character. I think Viggo was the perfect man to
play it, the perfect actor. So if I can be so bold as to say that character,
because I think he's pretty much the man.
What is your favourite piece
of Lord Of The Rings memorabilia ?
Bow and arrow... in terms of the movie stuff, but I was also given the
clapperboard from my final shot. That's serious memorabilia, because that's like
part of the working of the film. It means so much to me.
What was the toughest thing
you had to do ?
Helm's Deep, night shoots. Pretty gruelling. And I wasn't even on call
constantly for the three months, but that whole period was pretty gruelling. And
the last three weeks of fillling sometimes - 18-hour days, mostly six-day weeks
at that point, was really tough.
How does it feel to say
goodbye ?
Very emotional. It's nice, in a way, to lay it to rest. There's a warm feeling
about putting it to bed. And also knowing that it's a film that's part of cinema
history, but it's a very emotional ending, a very sad sort of ending to feel
that this chapter is finally coming to a close. When I donned the blond wig and
pointy ears for the last time in New Zealand, I was really moved at the end of
the last shot, and Pete said a few words and the stunt guys did a haka. It
really brought me close to tears. Suddenly I was re-aware, made re-aware, of how
amazing an experience it really had been, having had now numerous other
experiences which have all been different and new and exciting. I was just
reminded of how special the relationship on this film were.