Orlando Bloom
IFQ sits down with Orlando Bloom as he promotes his latest film Kingdom of Heaven. Bloom discusses his own spiritual journey, Buddhism and epic films.
IFQ: What pressure did you feel carrying an epic like this?
Orlando Bloom: (Big sigh) To be honest I felt so lucky, because I got to do my first big Hollywood motion picture lead with Ridley Scott in an historical epic, no less. But ultimately, the responsibility on me was obviously great. The film was shot over a period of 130-something days, six days a weeks, of which I was in front of the camera for 130 days. Ridley Scott inspires greatness as a director. He’s an incredible man. He threw me out of a helicopter in Black Hawk Down and I didn’t hold that against him. But in truth, when I read this script I’d just finished playing Paris, the cowardly younger brother in Troy and I sat down with Ridley and said, “Dude, whatever it takes.” Well, I didn’t call him “dude,” I said, “Sir, whatever it takes.”
IFQ: Was it good to balance the ledger, having been the craven coward?
OB: Of course, yes, are you kidding! I was so lucky.
Legolas was a real hero, and so was Will Turner. But people only think of that last thing.
IFQ: Yes, of you crawling towards Eric Bana.
OB: That was one of the most intense moments I’ve ever had to do in a movie. I thought, I’ve just got to get as low as I can because it was a real low point in the character’s life. And if you’re going to make it real, you’ve really got to do it. So, I got to do the complete opposite… although, this isn’t a hero like Russell Crowe was in Gladiator. This isn’t that hero.
Don’t go to this movie and think you’re going to see Russell Crowe in Gladiator. It’s just not a Gladiator. This is a very different movie. It’s very balanced. You don’t have a typical hero. Balian is a reluctant hero, a man with inner conflict, who is ultimately on a journey of spiritual discovery. He doesn’t have an arch rival.
But the hero moment is a moment of huge humanity. He never doubts. He’s in a nihilistic state of disillusion, this is how I think of it. He’s lost his wife, he’s lost his child and he’s looking to God. What God could allow this to happen? And I think anyone who’s lost a loved one in life can relate to that question, “Who is God that he could take that person away from you?”
So he goes off on this journey to discover that question, and it becomes a coming-of-age story. He meets his father, he becomes a knight, he assumes his father’s lands in the Holy Lands, he falls in love with a queen and he becomes the defender of Jerusalem. In that process his motto is: “What man is a man can make the world better?” and the Knight’s Code of Conduct: “Be without fear in the face of your enemy. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless.” And he follows that creed to the end.
IFQ: Is telling the truth important to you?
OB: It’s hugely important. I think lies bring down so much goodwill in the world.
IFQ: So, you’ve never lied?
OB: I never said I’ve never lied. I’m 28, I’m a kid. Well, not that much of a kid, but I’m trying to be a man of integrity and live a good life. I’m very grateful for all the opportunities I’ve been given and if there’s anything you can give back in some form or other you try to.
IFQ: What’s the worst thing anyone ever took away from you?
OB: I’ve had a lot of things that have influenced my life.
Not so much things that have been taken away, but things I’ve been given. I broke my back and nearly died. I was going to be in a wheelchair, but I managed to escape that life. There are plenty of things.
IFQ: You said before that Balian makes a spiritual discovery. What about your own spiritual journey?
OB: I think life is about humanity. If it isn’t about humanity, I don’t know what it’s about. It’s about respect for human life, all life. It doesn’t matter who you are, or what your religious beliefs are, or what the color of your skin is, or what your sexual preferences are.
IFQ: Why did you choose Buddhism?
OB: The philosophies behind it are very current today and are a way of finding some sort of peace.
IFQ: Do you chant?
OB: Yes.
IFQ: Who introduced you to it?
OB: A friend of mine named David. I was studying for my A Levels and I had very little experience with painting and drawing, and I had to do a huge art exhibition for my sculpture exam which I hadn’t realized. He’d talk about the philosophies of Buddhism and chant and I’d sit there watching and then I’d go and do these incredible paintings. Eventually, I started getting involved and over the years it’s been a real anchor for me. I grew up in the Church of England and having those ideas. I understand faith, but religion I find can be confusing to everybody. Faith, I understand, gives people that unshakeable sense of self to go about their life and be a good person.
IFQ: How has Buddhism been an anchor?
OB: Ultimately, to have an unshakeable sense of self. You just have to keep focused on living life, being good to the people around you, and respecting all life.
IFQ: How do you reconcile that very superficial side of your life in which you’re one of the world’s biggest sex symbols?
OB: A friend of mine once explained to me that there’ll always be the new boy band, the new young actor. There’s a small window that passes while you’re maybe that for them, for a moment. So just enjoy it. Get on with it. Don’t think it’s a big deal because it passes. In truth, if you can excite or inspire someone at home when they’re going through a good time or a bad time, or whatever, you should just be grateful.
IFQ: Do you feel a responsibility?
OB: We all have a responsibility in life. It’s just whether you choose to be aware of that.
IFQ: Balian comes of age in the film. Did you too while making it?
OB: Yes, in many ways. I was 27 when I made this. I was six or seven years out of drama school, very much the beginning of my career, still learning everything as I go, still trying to learn a huge amount. I was in this huge movie just trying to make the best of it and be good at what I’m doing. It was certainly a coming of age period, but I’m still coming of age. If I ever stop learning I’ll be in serious trouble.
IFQ: How do you want your career to develop?
OB: I want to keep working on different things. I’m definitely a director’s actor and want to work with great and interesting directors. I want to keep making choices that aren’t based on what people necessarily think I should or shouldn’t do, but on what I think will keep my creative juices flowing.
IFQ: Do you have any inner demons?
OB: Do you?
IFQ: Is there any break coming up for you?
OB: In terms of a hiatus, there’s supposed to be one of about two months between Pirates 2 and 3, although I’ll probably be doing press for Elizabethtown. But, I will try and have a break.
IFQ: What would you like to do?
OB: I’ve been thinking that after Pirates I’d love to do a play. Maybe New York would be interesting because it would be different. Ultimately, I imagine I’d do it at home in London. Then I’d love to just travel.
IFQ: Could you do a Broadway musical?
OB: No. I’ve only got an actor’s singing voice.
IFQ: Now that you’re single, are you more restless in a sense?
OB: I’m not more restless. I’m always restless though.
That will never change. Well, maybe one day it will change when I have grandchildren.
IFQ: So you couldn’t just go and lie on a beach for a week?
OB: No. I’d have to have something else going on, more than just a beach.
IFQ: What’s your perfect Saturday night?
OB: Dinner and a movie (laughs). No, a perfect Saturday night would be just hanging out with my friends and family, cooking and eating.
IFQ: Are you a good cook?
OB: No, but I like to help wash up.
IFQ: What makes you happy?
OB: Contentment.
IFQ: What makes you content?
OB: My friends and family. My work. My hobbies and my faith.
IFQ: Do you read a lot?
OB: I study and I read. Right now, I’m reading The Fountainhead which is fantastic. There are really cool characters in that book. I think they made a film of it a while ago. Another great book is Human Evolution.
IFQ: Looking back, was Troy like a rehearsal for this?
OB: Certainly. Watching Brad Pitt and Eric Bana carry themselves were really interesting, as was watching Peter O’Toole and studying him. But ultimately, everything is a rehearsal for the next thing and being the cowardly brother and then playing the opposite was great.
IFQ: Elizabethtown is a bit of a change for you.
OB: Yes, it’s contemporary, I play an American, and it’s a romantic comedy.
IFQ: There’s been a story that you came into it late in the piece because Ashton Kutcher had been cast but didn’t work out. Is that true?
OB: I met Cameron on that project really early on. He hadn’t finished writing the script and he honestly said to me he always had me in mind for that project, but due to scheduling I was never available and then…
IFQ: Of course, he (Kutcher) says he wasn’t available either.
OB: Well, we’re all just trying to make our way aren’t we?
I can tell you I had an amazing experience making the movie with Cameron and I’m so happy it happened because it was touch and go for a while.