Film hunk Orlando Bloom is delighted hit British soap opera Eastenders turned him down and inadvertently launched his Hollywood movie career.

The LORD OF THE RINGS star was due to play butch cockney PAT EVANS' long-lost son four years ago (00) but was rescued when the producers changed the storyline and removed his character.

A close friend says, "It's his best break ever. he could have been stuck in EastEnders instead of being a megastar.

17/06/2004 13:26