It appears you've had a bit of bad luck during the filming of The Lord Of The Rings!

Shit, yes. During horseback riding the creature made an unexpected move, I fell off and broke a rib. What happened afterwards? Nothing much. Just took a lot of painkillers and the next day I was on the set again.

 

And is it true you once plummeted from a balcony when your were 21?

Sheesh, you really do know everything, haha. Yeah, right again. I saw as much as three floors flashing past before my eyes. And then I woke up in a hospital with a broken back. The doctors took a very gloomy view of things. They thought I'd never walk again. Meanwhile I've completely recovered. I truly have a guardian elf that protects me. Any more gossip?

 

Erm... yes we do. Do really all of you have a tattoo as a memory to The Lord Of The Rings?

Yes, yet again more gossip I have to confirm. Except for John, who plays Gimli, everybody has had an Elvish symbol tattooed. I had it tattooed on my upper arm. I already had one: a sun symbol on my stomach.

 

Everybody knows a lot about your character Legolas, but who in fact are you?

I've lived in the vicinity of London for years. Though I've moved to Los Angeles, I still come back often. My family still lives there. I moved to America because I wanted to act. At first, I followed all kinds of workshops, after that I signed up with all kinds of casting agencies and in 1999, when I was 22, I was offered a part in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. Eventually, it took us two years to make it.

 

You do have a dashing role!

I found my role SO cool, you don't wanna know. Legolas is not only cool, his movements are also smooth, a bit catlike. I was almost doing ballet. Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf, called me "the best elf ever made". Well, it meant walking around for 18 months in a magnificent and tight costume, but with hindsight I'd say: I'd do it all again!

 

Eighteen months hard work and now surely a bit more time for a girlfriend?

Ha! You didn't think I could have a rest? There's still a lot of promotion work to do for this movie. By the way, I had a girlfriend during the shoot of the movie. But the distance was too much. She came from England and we shot the movie far away in New-Zealand. The relationship is over and now I am happy single.

 

Together with Frodo you have become THE hunks of the movies. In real life you look a lot different than in the movies. With whom are the fans in love?

With both I think. I notice from the letters I receive that those who have been engrossed in the movie, are taking my role rather serious. "Shoot me, Legolas" someone wrote recently, because they think that I walk around with a bow and arrow on my back in my spare time as well. But it is still a fantasy movie. The best one ever, in my opinion. And if someone has the need to fantasise about me, go ahead!