Orlando Bloom: The unexpected star of MSC Cruises

Legolas, Will Turner or Paris. Just a handful of the characters Orlando Bloom has brought to life on the screen. MSC Cruises is soon to set sail on a brand new ship MSC World America and they've included the famous British actor in their spots. But what you may not have known about Orlando Bloom?

Childhood in Britain

Orlando Bloom was born in Carenbury, in the British county of Kent, on 13 January 1977. However, his full name isOrlando Jonathan Blanchard Copeland Bloom. He was given that first name after the British Renaissance composer Orlando Gibbons, which only refers to the art that has accompanied him since childhood. His mother had always been an avid admirer of literature and the house was full of books.

He also had dramatic moments in his childhood. At the age of four, his father, Harry Bloom, a respected journalist who, among other things, lived in what was then Czechoslovakia, died. As an adult, he discovered that Harry was not his biological father. It was a family friend, Colin Stone.

In addition, it was discovered at school that he was dyslexic. His mother therefore encouraged him to try the drama club and gave birth to a peasant at first sight. He decided to study acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and gained experience in small roles.

The fateful role of the elf

Imagine the situation: you are a fresh graduate of acting school, graduation was 2 days ago and you get one of the most beautiful and biggest roles on the movie screen. Peter Jackson chose Orlando for his Lord of the Rings trilogy to portray Legolas, the elven archer. However, to play such a role, he had to undergo special training in horse riding, sword fighting and archery, but still managed to injure himself during filming. After falling off his horse, he suffered a couple of broken ribs. Fortunately, it didn't affect his ability to shoot down goblins and say iconic lines. The role of the elf also accompanies him thanks to his tattoo - in elvish, he has the word nine on his wrist.

Legolas became so popular that Peter Jackson brought him back years later in The Hobbit trilogy, even though his character did not appear in the original books. Yes, once you're a popular elf, fans just want you back!

But did you know that his career might not have been a thing at all? When he was 19, he fell out of a window and injured his spine. For three days, they didn't know if he was gonna walk. But everything worked out fine, and after 12 days, he walked away on crutches and underwent a long rehabilitation.

Pirate on the waves of infinity

The next megahit didn't wait long and Orlando played Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean. His character, a slightly naive but dedicated blacksmith who turns into a tough pirate, was a perfect match for the madcap Captain Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp.

The funny thing is that when Orlando was making the first film in the franchise, he already had experience with swords, horsemanship and action scenes thanks to Lord of the Rings. However, during filming, he admitted that he had a problem with seasickness at times.

In addition to his pirate roles, he has also starred in historical films and was seen alongside Brad Pitt in Troy. He has also made his debut on the stage and on Broadway. In recent years, he has spent a lot of time in the Czech Republic, filming the series Carnival Row in Prague, and has grown to love the capital. He has fallen in love not only with Czech people but also with Czech beer, and recently shot a commercial for Staropramen.

UNICEF Ambassador

Orlando has been a UNICEF Ambassador and actively involved in charity projects for several years. He has helped children in need in Niger or Nepal and was even awarded the BAFTA Britannia Humanitarian Award in 2015.

As for his personal life, he was married to model Miranda Kerr, with whom he has a son, Flynn. After his divorce, he met singer and pop star Katy Perry and the couple's wedding is still pending. However, in 2020 they will welcome a daughter, Daisy, into the world.

An unexpected adventure on MSC World America

Although Orlando suffered from seasickness while filming Pirates of the Caribbean, he has now become the face of MSC Cruises. With actress Drew Barrymore, he is in fact promoting the new ship MSC World America and has starred in various TV spots! Fans fell in love with Orlando at first sight and he became an unexpected star of the shipping company.

The MSC World America will be launched and christened on April 9, and the aforementioned Drew Barrymore will be the ship's godmother. Orlando will not be absent from everything and will enjoy the christening together with her. The christening of the new ship will take place at the new World's Largest Cruise Terminal in Miami and will welcome guests from around the world - and the Riviera Tour will of course be there (for more on the plans for the christening, read zde).

The travel and adventure lover will greatly appreciate the dynamic blend of European style and American comfort found on this ship:

"MSC World America has something for everyone, whether you like thrilling attractions, world-class dining or entertainment. It's an incredible way to travel and makes it easy and accessible for people to discover new places and create unforgettable memories. I've always thought the best kind of vacation combines adventure, discovery and comfort, which is exactly what you get at MSC World America. Imagine soaring over the ocean on a cliffhanger swing or indulging in a gourmet experience at Eataly Restaurant, as well as a great program at the theater. Every moment is unforgettable," said MSC World America Orlando Bloom about the new ship.

Helena Chovancová, Riviera Tour