Orlando Bloom Defends Clean Image  5/9/05

Hollywood star Orlando Bloom is refusing to ditch his clean-cut image in search of tougher film roles, because he won't pretend to be someone he's not.

The 28-year-old British actor has been criticized for always playing passive characters, including a virtuous elf in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and a cowardly younger brother in Troy.

But Bloom defends his choices - and refuses to be influenced by other people's perceptions.

He says, "I really don't think about image in terms of how I am perceived. I try to live true to myself and not be swayed by the projections that people would like to put on me.

"When people think of a really bad guy they don't necessarily phone me first, but I'm not looking to change."