Orlando Bloom Looks Back on Landing Legolas Role

Many of us can barely remember what we were doing at age 20. But, Orlando Bloom? He was stepping into elf ears and launching one of the most iconic fantasy roles of all time: Legolas. Yep, you read that right. At Awesome Con 2025 in D.C., Bloom reunited with his “Lord of the Rings” castmates Liv Tyler, Sean Astin, and John Rhys-Davies, and gave fans a peek behind the curtain of his early days in Middle-earth.

And it was just as magical as you’d expect.

Bloom on Being a Newbie

During the panel, which People first reported on, Bloom took a moment to reflect on joining the “Rings” trilogy straight out of drama school; still green in every way that wasn’t elf-related. “I remember sitting there coming out of drama school with all of these legends. And thinking, ‘What am I doing here? How did this happen? This is unbelievable.’” he said.

That wide-eyed awe? Totally relatable. But Bloom also recalled  “that feeling that your whole life is beginning and you’re beginning this remarkable journey” and said he was “just like an open vessel.” It seems like that vulnerability (and a whole lot of archery practice) helped him carve out a space among the fantasy greats. No pressure, right?

Found Family and Filming Fears

The panel wasn’t just Bloom nostalgia, though. Liv Tyler opened up about the challenges of playing Arwen, since her character wasn’t as fleshed out in Tolkien’s books. “The whole experience was so exciting and terrifying just to be a part of the whole world, the vastness of the material,” she said, also admitting she felt a lot of pressure to get it right. (Also, big horses = terrifying. Glad we’re all on the same page there.)

Sean Astin remembered how Tyler’s arrival broke up the boys’ club vibe, and John Rhys-Davies couldn’t stop praising her performance. Honestly, it sounds like the set was one big lovefest; with a little terror sprinkled in, because, again: epic trilogy, massive scale, lots of horses.

Still Fellowship Goals

Even decades later, the cast’s chemistry hasn’t faded. Bloom’s reflection wasn’t just about humble beginnings… it was a reminder of how once-in-a-lifetime “Lord of the Rings” movies really were, both on-screen and off.

For fans, it’s comforting to know the cast still holds these memories close. And for Bloom, stepping into Legolas’ boots wasn’t just a breakout moment; it was the start of something legendary.

See the full panel below: