Orlando Bloom eye color
Orlando Bloom naturally has brown eyes according to Swati Beauty and Tolkien Forum discussions. However, his eye color has become a topic of discussion due to his iconic role as Legolas in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit franchises.
Role Requirements
As Legolas, Bloom had to wear colored contact lenses to achieve the character's distinctive blue eye color, as noted in multiple sources. During the filming of The Lord of the Rings, he wore light blue contacts that appeared more natural-looking, according to Planet Tolkien discussions. In The Hobbit series, the blue contacts were notably more striking and noticeable.
Contact Lens Issues
The use of colored contacts during filming wasn't without complications. At one point during production, the contact lenses actually scratched Bloom's corneas, as discussed on Reddit. Due to technical difficulties with the contacts, Legolas's eye color sometimes appeared inconsistent on screen, varying between brown, purple, and blue, as noted on Movies Stack Exchange.
Professional Impact
The transformation of Bloom's natural brown eyes to Legolas's ethereal blue was particularly significant for his portrayal of the elf character. The color changes were intentionally designed to reflect the character's moods - lighter blue represented better moods, while darker shades were used for scenes involving anger and fear, according to Swati Beauty.