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To listen to the full interview click here: The Orlando Bloom Files

We managed to catch up with Lord Of The Rings stars Ian McKellen and Orlando Bloom as they hot-footed it to the Empire Awards in London town. Find out what they had to say here

Sir Ian, you're up for Best Actor at the Empire Awards for playing Gandalf so spectacularly, was it a fun part to play?

Yeah, that's one way of putting it. It was a year's work for me in New Zealand, a country that I had not been to before and which I fell in love with. I was working with some really spectacularly friendly people, local New Zealanders as well as visitors like Orlando, and others from around the world. And I was working on the most ambitious film ever made, three films in fact! The first of which came out at Christmas and has been so well received that it makes all our efforts seem worth while. It was very hard work, very intense, but 'fun' sums it up I think.

And Orlando, you're up for Best Debut for playing Legolas. Interestingly you're up for this category against the three Harry Potter kids...

Am I really, oh great! They just want to keep that competition going between the two films don't they. But I don't think you can really compare the two. It will be interesting to see how that pans out. I'm quite excited now that you mention it.

There are so many award ceremonies around these days, do they all still mean something?

Ian: Well I hope you win Orlando, because the first prize you win is always the sweetest. You'll see those 'Harry Potter' kids off, they've got lots of years to have awards and you're getting on now aren't you!

Orlando: Yeah, I've just turned 25!

Ian: Well it is a spectacular debut, and he's got fans all over the world, quite rightly, as one of the fellowship. I know about the Empire Awards because I've been to them before and very jolly occasions, and nice and relaxed, partly because I think they're not broadcast on television like a lot of other awards. Basically whatever the motives of the magazines, TV companies or the organizations who arrange these awards, for the actors it's a very good way of drawing attention to their latest film. In the case of 'Lord Of The Rings', I'm very happy to be encouraging people to go and see it, because I think it's a wonderful movie and the awards are part of that. The Empire Awards, I think, are unique in this country because they are actually voted for by the public. So if you get their approval then it really is something worth caring about.

And of course you've got another two movies in the can already. A lot of actors would love to be in your shoes...

Orlando: Yeah, it's incredible really. I graduated from drama school three years ago and I just walked in to this job and it's just been probably one of the most life changing, exciting and memorable experiences of my life, ever. My cousin said to me the other day "Whatever happens in the next three years, you've got a movie out for the next year", I could do anything and not have to worry.

Ian: I though it was rather cheeky of you when 'Lord Of The Rings' finally slipped from being No.1 in the world after about a month. It was kicked out marginally by a new movie called 'Black Hawk Down', and guess who was in it? Orlando Bloom! Anyway, I've got 'X Men II' coming up. We're going to start filming that in the Summer.

Orlando: I can't wait to see it.

Ian: It's great that we have done these three films. But I talked to Peter Jackson, the director of 'Lord Of The Rings' the other day, and we are going to have to go back because there are pick-ups to do, little extra shots. We were also working in studios that weren't properly soundproofed and so all the dialog had to be dubbed in the first film. You can't tell, but it's true, and we're going to have to do that with the other two films, so we haven't finished. But the basic shooting is done.

Orlando: I'm quite looking forward to going back for those pick-ups. Really hard work - surfing, snowboarding, skydiving, alongside filming 'Lord Of The Rings'.