Orlando Bloom has spoken candidly about filming a notable scene from his latest project, Bucking Fastard, which sees him appear opposite real-life sisters Rooney and Kate Mara.
About the film
Directed by acclaimed German filmmaker Werner Herzog, the film sees Rooney and Kate play sisters Joan and Jean Holbrooke, described in its synopsis as being so close they speak in unison, share the same dreams, and fall in love with the same man. Bloom plays Gareth, who becomes romantically involved with both sisters. The film recently held its world premiere, with Bloom and Herzog subsequently attending the San Sebastián Film Festival in Spain.
How Bloom described the scene
Speaking to Variety, Bloom described a genuine simplicity to the characters' desires alongside an innocence to the sisters, saying: "My character, the Bucking Fastard, is sensitive too. And he's quite quickly out of his depth in some ways. It was a very sincere sort of moment that was created."
How Herzog approached directing it
Herzog explained he deliberately gave Bloom minimal direction during the scene, saying: "There are moments when a director has to step back. In the love scene, I said to Orlando: 'You are in bed, and you have two women in your arms. How you deal with it, I cannot give instructions.' It is beautiful because it has such charm and depth."
Herzog's approach to Bloom's role
Beyond the scene itself, Herzog said he wanted to help Bloom move away from the image audiences might typically associate with him, explaining the actor had "left behind what he is famous for: the heartthrob for the teenies." He recalled encouraging Bloom directly, saying: "You have to step into a new arena, play different parts."
Bloom's reaction to the project
Bloom described working with Herzog as a genuine bucket-list opportunity, saying: "What I love about 'Bucking Fastard' is that it refuses to judge its characters and offer any kind of easy answers. It was wonderful to work with Kate and Rooney; I've been a long admirer of both of them. We had a lot of fun in Dublin. It was a great experience and certainly a bucket-list opportunity to work with someone like Werner and such a phenomenal cast."
