Sigh… does anyone else feel sorry for Orlando Bloom? These photos just gave me second-hand embarrassment for him. Orlando has been in New York for several months now, rehearsing the new Broadway production of Romeo and Juliet. Orlando is 36 years old. Romeo was supposed to be a teenager. So, on that alone… I feel sorry for him. He’s much too old to play Romeo, but his acceptance of this role speaks volumes about the state of his career these days. Stuck in this sort of juvenile forever-heartthrob Teen Beat sort of thing.
Orlando’s Juliet is an actress named Condola Rashad. She’s really pretty, although I question her insistence on wearing high-top sneakers to the photocall. She’s 26 years old – again, Juliet was supposed to be a teenager, although I’m giving this mid-20s actress a pass because I could see her pulling off “teenager”. I guess it’s also notable that Juliet is being made into a woman of color. Is that notable? Eh. It speaks to the larger themes of Romeo and Juliet and the power of love in the face of societal, racial and familial norms, I suppose.
All that being said, just from this photocall alone, I fear that this production is going to be a MESS. You know someone was like “We’ve got to youth it up! I know, put Orlando on a motorcycle! Get him some leather pants!!” Even Orly looks embarrassed. Poor Orly. I guess the production is going to be super-modern. Maybe Mercutio will be a Hell’s Angel.
He would have made a half-decent Hamlet though… I wonder why no one thought of him for that?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Oww. I just strained an eye, while giving it a particularly belligerent roll.
Ha!
I will always have a soft spot (or several) for Orly. He was my Hemsworth before Hemsworth was anything.
i remember when he was young and pretty. The sad truth is that he’s *so* much better than this. His voice is lovely, too.
Hiddles needs to regard this debacle as a cautionary tale.
Yes.
As much as i dislike hiddlestons persona. Hiddleston will be fine, he can act and he is nowhere near as pretty as orlando was when he was young so he is not riding on looks, he has more of a character actors face. Orlando has the better personality of the two but sadly he is not much of an actor.
Hm. Orly was never as much of a publicity whore as Hiddles. He flew under the radar unless promoting POTC/LOTR and then retired from the public eye with the exception of an occasional outing with his much more PR-friendly wife. He was always more of an alterna-dude. But I think Hiddles is legitimately a better actor, deeper, with more range, dramatic and comedic alike.
Yes, he is not very good. Like i said i think he is far more likeable than hiddleston. So i wish him the best. But at this point he is like an ageing starlet who isnt rated for his acting but for his looks. It can be as hard for this type of male actor to get older as for a woman almost.
@ T.Fanty. Hiddles is not a pretty boy wooden actor. Its the likes of Robert Pattison who should take note.
Emma, I think the RPatz comparison is spot-on. Both are camera-shy pretty boys with accents, both have more money than gods thanks to mega franchise success, and can now lay low or engage in in off-beat projects and not care about their reception.
Heh. It’s too late for Sparkles. If only a budget Broadway Shakespeare would have him. He should be so lucky.
He can do a lot worse than being a Cronenberg’s muse, even if it doesnt pay in the literal sense.
Anna – me too. I like him. So this is cringe factor twentylotsbazilliongoogolsuchabignumbericantsayit.
Poor Orly…he’s definitely in a rut.
Isn’t Condola Phylicia(?) Rashad’s daughter?
yes ,she is (i google her , weird name )
Oh, is she? She’s very pretty.
She’s also a two time Tony nominee.
I firs saw her in that Lifetime Steel Magnolias remake. She was good, although I didn’t like the movie all that much. Probably because the original was hard to top. But Alfre Woodard was amazing. I love her so much.
Lol, he is covered in her lipstick. This does look like a mess, but OMG Orly as Hamlet would be PERFECT!
I swear that is a cold sore, not lipstick :O
My first thought too but too obvious – they’d cover it up w/makeup. I think if you zoom in you see the lip print.
His co star is beautiful but this whole photo call is giving me so much second-hand embarrassment.
When a film star does Broadway it’s usually for one of two reasons: a lark or the end of the line. I think we’re looking at the end of the line here.
Not entirely true anymore. But this *definitely* oozes desperation.
I think it depends on the project. ScarJo raised her artistic credentials with the quality of her performance in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Nobody looks down on Helen Mirren or Hiddleston’s stage gigs. But this particular actor-project combo is not good for anyone.
Uh not really. Tons of film stars do Broadway. ScarJo. Andrew Garfield. Deniro. Phillip Seymour Hoffman. etc etc
Andrew and Phillip seymour hoffman started out in theatre though. I think they will always want to do that. Orly was never a theatre actor. I think he did one play years ago in london.
It’s also the gimmicky vehicle. He might as well be wearing a sandwich board that says “REMEMBER WHEN I WAS HOT?” and ringing a bell.
@t.fanty
Lol! Amazing visual.
You’re right I was making a generalization and wasn’t really considering actors who were known for theatre before doing movies or people who turned out to be surprisingly good onstage, like ScarJo.
While not on the level of the revolving door of CHICAGO, this just reeks of something an actor does hoping to revive enough interest to at least get offered a pilot script.
Let’s not forget Sir Ian and Sir Patrick together in a play. Sometimes those trained in the classics like to get back to it and hone their acting chops, which theater does. Can’t be Magneto and Prof X forever.
Daniel Radcliffe is another actor who does West End and Broadway! He’s only had one movie come out since Potter ended so far but has been working away steadily on various different projects including film, television and theatre!
I love Daniel.
I noticed that, in the first HP movies, Emma and Rupert were much better than Daniel, but as the movies progressed he could act circles around them. Especially Emma. He is really good.
Denzel is doing Broadway this fall. ‘Nuff said.
You seriously comparing him to Denzel? Geez!
Daniel Radcliffe (and Jon Hamm) had a go at Bulgakov for Sky Arts last year. And it didn’t come off too badly at all. Big up to Radcliffe, say I. He is making his own choices, it seems.
@Emma; No! I’m chiming in on the point that good people do Bway.
@Sixer; don’t you love Daniel Radcliffe’s post-potter career moves? He’s making such good choices. He’s not a great actor, but he’s making moves to ensure real longevity.
Also: Rupert Grint and Ben Wishaw in Mojo this year – !!!!!!!!!!!! *happyface*
@Emma; No! I’m chiming in on the point that good people do Bway.
@Sixer; don’t you love Daniel Radcliffe’s post-potter career moves? He’s making such good choices. He’s not a great actor, but he’s making moves to ensure real longevity.
Also: Rupert Grint and Ben Wishaw in Mojo this year – !!!!!!!!!!!! *happyface*.
@ Fanty – I love it that he is using his brain and picking things that will establish a big range and a career. He isn’t the world’s greatest actor but I like that he’s picking roles for work and not for money or populism. He doesn’t need the money, we know this, but plenty of people who don’t need the money want the big money roles and the headline films and the continued devotion. (See points you made earlier, up thread).
Her outfit is just as embarrassing as his motorcycle lol
WTF was she smoking with those shoes?
Those sneakers (hidden wedge heel) are really popular with the 20 something girls in NYC. My guess is that’s who they are trying to appeal to with the casting and costuming.
@t.fanty I think it’s worth making a distinction between movie stars who do theatre when their career falters and the guys who start out in theatre and are actors before movie stars and would do theatre even when their career is on the up and up. Both Ben whishaw and andrew Garfield made their name in theatre here in London. Prior to doing movies. Both have won awards for their work in the theatre. Seymour Hoffman has run a theatre company for many, many years. Even when he won his Oscar he was directing and acting in plays. Same for denzel even cumberbatch and hardy made their name on the London theatre scene. As much as I like Orlando he has not shown much interest in honing his skills in the theatre in the way of say a Daniel rattcliffe who at the height of Harry potter fever was appearing in plays in the west end and broadway. So I dont feel the comparisons are apt. Those actors appear to see theatre as an equal medium to film, another example is Ethan hawke. That said I wish him and the production the best.
I doubt Orlando is supposed to play a teenager. It’s probably a modernization of Romeo and Juliet. Condola looks really stupid with those huge sneakers.
I was going to say the same thing, that it is probably a modernized spin on it.
Either way, it’s a horrible story when really looked at properly and I’ve never understood why it was so romanticized.
Two angst riddled, spoiled teens committing suicide because they couldn’t be together.
Yep. I hated reading it in high school. You read the play during your freshmen year and I just could not understand the reasoning behind their actions. I loved Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, and King Lear during my senior year though.
Orlando is not a good actor never was he was a pretty boy and thats why he is struggling as he gets older, because his contemporaries, the men in his age group are fassbender and hardy etc. He was probably cast in this because of his name but he is not a natural shakespearean actor even. The actress who plays juliet i believe is a tried and tested theatrical actress, a tony winner or nominee. So i believe she is the one with the artistic cred of the two.
Condola is a twice Tony nominee, and she is known to have serious acting chops. It’s a shame she doesn’t get more press notices while minimal/no talent, tabloid magnets like Kristen S., Miley, and Selena get all the ink. I agree Orlando is too old to play Romeo. Looks like a downward spiral of a career. Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and other teen heartthrobs take note: looks and coasting on film franchises will only get you so far.
I know you will eye-roll at my defense of Rob, but he is hardly trying to coast on Twilight. He has sought out and signed on to indie/artsy projects with respected directors, and is NOT going the Nicholas Sparks/rom com route. I really don’t think he needs your warning on the pitfalls of a heart throb.
Aquarius, yours are words of wisdom.
I hope RPattz is watching this. Rabid fangirls do not a career make. Uglyfy yourself (see DiCaprio) and take acting classes, like tonight.
+1
Sanaa, at the risk of being annoying, I will point out that in The Rover, Rob will have disgusting broken yellow teeth, and is dirty and gross the whole movie. Is that ugly enough? He is not seeking or taking pretty roles, and is working with directors who will develop him as an actor. Your criticism is misplaced.
Rob Patz is a good comparison. When Orlando was at the height of his fame he also did work in indie movies and great directors were willing to cast him. Unless Rob Patz significantly improve his acting i cant see going past teen hearthrob status either.
My criticism is based on the fact that RPattz cannot act. No amount of great directors can help there. Perhaps an acting coach may salvage something.
Is it my PC or is something wrong with his mouth?
I enlarged the pic and it appears to be her lipstick. I thought it looked strange as well. He has really lost his pretty. Bless him.
Thought it was a cold sore:O
Then I thought; ok, lady is gonna have it now too
Bloody hell Condola is SO pretty…. wow! and out of nowhere, in my fan fiction head I just imagined Irish dude Colin Farell going crazy for her 😀
Sorry wait who? Oh yes Legolas… always worked with the best directors, never been a good actor nor had charisma… went to see him on stage years ago in the play “In Celebration” and he was meh at best.
Yes. Colin Farell or Michael Fassbender. Someone please write that fanfic coz I would read the ishh out of it.
LOL that would be epic! Colin would teach her some his newfound peace in yoga in bed and Michael would teach her a thing or two about animal sex…
I like the photos. he looks cute. If I was in NY, I’d go see the play.
I am all for modernizing older plays, I think many interesting takes have come about by adding modern situations.
However, whereas the conflict of Romeo and Juliet can play across many lines, the love story was easier to accept because they were so young, naive and not as engrained in the families’ rivalry. With Romeo in is late 30s, it is less about the beauty of pure love and more about him getting a sidepiece where he shouldn’t.
It’s funny/sad, but I look at Orly and still see the 18-21yo Will Turner. And swoon…
See, I am all about Legolas.
Mr. Rochester and I could never remember his name back then so we nicknamed him Freakishly Attractive Elf Guy. And that is how I still refer to him.
Ha, I actually didnt even ‘see’ him in LOTR. Then POTC1 came out and I was with my BFF and went OMG WHO IS THIS DREAMY WILL TURNER? And she looked at me like I was nuts, and said ‘that blonde elf in LOTR I’ve been raving to you about for years, and you were telling me he is ugly?’
Legolas does it for me too. Actually, is it ok to say I had a girl crush on Galadriel? I like me some elf.
I love Orlando, and almost rented “The Good Doctor”, but looked a bit predictable. But he is way too old to play Romeo! Don’t see this being treated too kind by NY theater critics.
And those motorcycle pics look to be recycled from the Harper’s Bazaar photo shoot of the Twilight stars a few years ago!
She is gorgeous.
Bloom needs to dump that fameho of a wife.
I don’t get how some of the nicest people (in hollywood and real life) marry some of the nastiest people. How does that work? Self esteem issues?
Who put this photo call together? Its like they decided that the play won’t do well and they just threw together an effort to accompany the upcoming production. Hopefully, they will deliver. I’ve seen Orlando’s work and have only heard of Condola. I think they are serious about this work, but did the photos just to go along with it, I am sure the production will speak for itself and be great!
Other than that, I always have to put in an effort to get into movies and plays that are a modern adaptation of an original work. “10 Things I hate about You” was good enough to keep me from being thirsty enough to watch the original “Taming of the Shrew” with Liz Taylor. And the latest “Romeo and Juliet” coming to the screen is a relief after that abomonation with Claire and Leo some years ago.
next ex-wife.
I was at the photocall yesterday an it was actually very cute. They had great chemistry and were having a lot of fun. The show is getting great buzz here so I will def. be there.
Aww that’s nice to hear.
I think they look cute together, which makes me buy into the attraction/chemistry they’ll need to capture an audience. I’d like to see this. She’s cute and he’s here, well, also cute.
This is awkward and makes me feel weird…
Oh please. He could never play Hamlet. The guy practically has “sidekick” stamped on his forehead.
Lol! That “sidekick” comment caught me off guard!
They did a remake of Working Girl?
He’s starting to remind me of Keanu. Darn it he’s so cute but I agree totally stuck in a spot he shouldn’t be. Overcome Orlando, Overcome!
Stage is different.
Actors should be able to play any age if they can get away with it. It’s a dying art as it is. There is no reason why Romeo and Juliet have to remain as teens when you take the liberty to CHANGE THE RACE OF JULIET! I wonder how many noble black families there were in Italy when Shakespeare was alive. Hell, how many wealthy black people live in Italy today? Like two?
Joan Sutherland, Maria Callas and any other high-soprano worthy of a substantial reputation spend their entire lives singing the iconic teens or 20-something soprano roles well into their 50s or even 60s, because who else is gonna sing them? Miley? Now opera is a completely different ball-game obviously, but Orlando is the type that I imagine when I think about Romeo: dreamy eyes and all that.
This girl? Juliet? Ok…
Casting a black Juliette enhances the story because it helps underscore their families differences. Casting an overage Romeo undermines the story because it eliminates the vulnerability and innocence of youth.
This entire comment is wrapped in ignorance. That is all.
You do know that Romeo and Juliet aren’t real people right? Do you know anything about art? Or are you as ignorant about that as you are about race? Art by its very nature is open to interpretation. Therefore anyone is free to take the story of Romeo and Juliet and re-interpret it however they please, contrary to your ignorant beliefs, they have done nothing wrong or inappropriate.
Honestly, he looks too old.
She on the other hand still looks like a teenager and is so pretty, but her outfit is terrible…I like the dress but I wish it covered her boobs more and the shoes are fug and don’t match the dress. Love her hair and make up as well.
How some of you feel about Orlando in terms of being too old for this role, I definitely felt that way a few years back when Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Aniston, and Hugh Grant kept popping up in movies in the role of hapless, young ingenues falling in love.
Who knows why he did it but this sort of puts me in the mind of Denzel and Keanu (sp) doing Taming of the Shrew, Laurence Fishbourne (sp) in Othello and Julie Taymor’s Titus.
Yeah, I think his face in those last few pictures say it all. And I can’t help but laugh. Sorry Will/Legolas. Still think you’re adorbs though. 🙂
Mmmm when I first heard about this months ago I had major reservations about it. Now this?
I just read that Romeo is a biker in this play….A BIKER!!Dont like the sound of that…. :/
The first pic reveals the resemblance between himself and his son.
I don’t know, I think they look cute, so I don’t get any second hand embarrassment. As for the ages of Juliet and Romeo. If it’s done well, a “remixed” classic can be interesting.
Condola Rashad is Phylicia Rashad (the cosby mom)’s daughter
I realize it’s just PR but if I was his wife I would be kind of upset by these pictures. Then again she seems to have kind of checked out of this marriage, so who knows at this point.
Although shes gorgeous he seems utterly ridiculous for the part and like there is zero chemistry there. Shakespere is difficult enough to pull off well as it is I dont see the need to “modernize” it and fill it with gimmicks. Orlando was fool enough to walk away from the pirates franchize thinking hed have tons of offers…..well, what he got was an opportunity to play an aging biker Romeo. He thought he’d step up but this is a HUGE step down. Its will be closed in 5 weeks.
Again, she is gorgeous. She needs a much hotter Romeo. Someone young, hot and a firey actor!
@ Great art is not time-limited. If Romeo and Juliet is only relevant to the time period in which it was written, then its not a great work of art. What makes it a great story is that the story transcends time and can be re-imagined for any time period.
Romeo, no way! but Fonzi Perfect!
@pixie witch
hahaha! yes that’s the word! Fonzi!
Awkward! Still, Orly looks cute though.
Condola Rashad is the daughter of Phylicia Rashad, the woman is plays Bill Cosby’s wife.
Is this play on Broadway or is it part of the Shakespeare in the Park summer series? (I guess I could look it up.) Anyway, if it’s part of the Park series, having a Black actress would not be unusual. There have been several Black actors/actresses who have played Shakespeare characters, including Denzel.
Anyway, Condola is beautiful and I had no idea she had become an actress. I hadn’t seen a photo of her since she was about 12.
So I looked it up. It is on Broadway and it’s a new take and Romeo will be a biker. Juliet’s whole family will be black and everybody will use the original language.
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/08/07/orlando-bloom-set-to-make-broadway-debut-in-new-take-on-romeo-and-juliet/
Dear god he looks like a mid life crisis acted out in front of our eyes.
I have never been a huge fan but still wince at those topless photos of him taken last week walking his dog. I know it was hot, but keep your top ON. Unless you want to be lumped amongst the other topless douchebags (in England it seems only the pigeon-chested or the big bellied men take their tops of in the sun).
He looks great and silly at the same time. He is too old for this role but I still think he’s awesome.
I watched the video of the photocall, these two looked like they were having a lot of fun together, its not as awkward as the photos turned out and they kinda look cute together in the video. She’s a beautiful girl! No idea who she is though. I wouldn’t mind seeing a modern and interracial take on Romeo & Juliet, if only I didn’t live across the pond!! x