Bloom-ing Marvellous

There were two possible interpretations for the unwary traveller walking within a mile of Leicester Square last night. The cacophonous roar that erupted and shook surrounding buildings to their foundations could have indicated that England had just won the world cup or that Orlando Bloom had alighted from his limousine. Since the highlight of the footie calendar is still some time off, rendering the first option unlikely, it could only be the arrival of the Pirates of the Caribbean star that was causing such a stir. And what a stir it was, Leicester Square has played host to Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and a host of other A-list stars but this 26 year-old boy from Kent made their appearances seem like a particularly laid-back village fete by comparison. Arriving to send-off his latest film, Pirates of the Caribbean Bloom was visibly thrilled by the reception (and let's be honest who wouldn’t be?) and did his utmost not to disappoint by signing as many autographs as possible, bestowing kisses upon the lucky few and even returning to the crowds after he had gone inside in response to their plaintive screams. “I think he’s arrived,” said co-star Keira Knightley, upon hearing the ruckus from inside the cinema. “It’s mental, Orlando is a one-man boy-band.” Indeed, and the hormone-fuelled unrest that heralded his arrival left no one in doubt who the (predominantly female) crowds had turned out to see. “I can’t believe it,” Bloom confided to Empire Online as the fans continued to belt out declarations of love. “It’s a little bit nerve-wracking. It’s great to see the fans though, it’s about the only time I get to say hello to them.” “The film was a lot of fun, to work with Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush and the gorgeous and beautiful Keira Knightley, I mean it was a great, great project to do and I’m really lucky.” Though ask any of the girls at the barriers outside and it’s Knightley they would call the lucky one, being the one to lock lips with Bloom during the film. “He’s got nothing to worry about,” she declared knowingly. Accompanied by director Gore Verbinski, Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and co-stars Jack Davenport and Mackenzie Crook, Bloom and Knightley were finally forced to enter the screen despite pleas from the hordes outside. Having been catapulted from out of nowhere to become the hottest man in Hollywood, does Bloom ever stop to wonder how it happened? “All the time, mate,” he told us, “all the time.”