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In full Bloom

Orlando Bloom - known for his swashbuckling style and scandalous snogging (think Sienna Miller) is really a down to earth family man (honest, he says!) Here he talks about the cost of his big star status, and working with Kirsten Dunst on his new film Elizabethtown

In Elizabethtown, Bloom plays Drew Baylor, a designer whose blunder costs his bosses millions and costs him his girlfriend, his home and almost his life. Only the sudden death of his father sees Baylor venture back into the real world to attend the memorial and make things up to his now all-too-distant family while figuring out how to win the heart of a new woman on the scene, played by Kirsten Dunst.

Swords or slacks?
It was great for me not to have a sword or an arrow! It was also the first time I played an American character and to get to do it with Cameron Crowe, who is such a quintessential American director, was great - he really takes people on a journey of the heart. For example, he liked to play music on set, so you can hear the melody of the story; it all moves with the music. It was amazing to have music on set, he'd play a song and then you listened to it and then play the scene. Then, in the middle of a scene, he'd play another song, because he wanted something different. That was very cool.

Work or play?
The movie opens with this guy who is being this huge success, the top designer, he is defined by his career and suddenly it all gets taken away from him - his friends, his girlfriend, they're all based in his work. It shows how, when we get so absorbed in work, we don't find time for our family. So when it all goes away the guy I play in the film becomes like a baby, with nobody. Then all of a sudden he gets this phone call about his father which forces him to go and deal with life. He does not want to have any part in this - he just wants to go back on that bike, you know?

All you need is love?
Kirsten's character draws him into life. It's such an uplifting movie, it's so about the joy of life, and the happiness you can have in the simplest of things. We are all caught up in the technology of the world; the this and the that.

The Press: friend or foe?
It is what it is, there is so much talk. There are certain things that can blow you around. People honour you, or they disgrace you, it's pleasure or suffering, but I don't want to be blown around by anything. Is doesn't help who I am, it does not help my career, it doesn't help me develop a character so it doesn't help my work.

Mistakes in the past?
Kingdom of Heaven was such an intense movie and I had so much invested in it. It was the first time I had a big leading role and I can honestly say I never worked so hard. I love my job and I work really hard, but I realise now that that is all you have control over - your work, the rest of it is in the hands of the universe, you can't control it. I realise that now and I don't worry anymore.

...and Johnny?
Johnny (Depp) is a true gentleman, and it was great working with him. Authenticity, that's what I learned most from him. He is himself. He is not afraid of whom he is or being who he is, but he is a real gentleman; that is what I learned most from him.

Bloom is a Buddhist
I work really hard to try and be the best actor I can be. I accept some people will like it, some people won't and I know people will always want to know what I'm doing in my private life. But the truth is, it's not half as interesting as the work I'm doing. I'm just an average guy trying to make something of his life and I live this great life of movie-making but the rest of it is not important. What is important is hopefully people enjoy the work I do. But I must say I'm really happy, I'm really lucky, I'm fortunate with my friends and family. What else can I say - I have a great life!

A Family man?
Yeah, it is difficult to hold down relationships, and it's difficult as you don't have your friends and family around as much, and they're a great support system. A big moment for me working on this movie was the realisation that family is really important to me. We all have those members of the family we don't know. How many people actually spend time to learn who their parents are and who their family is? It's so important and so easy to overlook it.

Women can wait?
It is difficult as you spend so much time and energy working that when it comes to having any sort of personal life outside your job, you're a bit of an empty shell. But ultimately, I think that right now I'm riding this really big wave and I'm just trying to hold on tight for dear life, and not fall off.

Success: a double edged sword?
I try not to let fear control my life, otherwise it's all over the place. Right now, everything is going in a very positive direction, but I never assume anything. I auditioned for every role I got, I like that, that makes you feel you are working for it.