This time last year, actor Orlando Bloom was just happy to be part of an A-list cast in one of the most successful films of all time. One year later, the blue-eyed star now is firmly in the A-list. Thanks to his role as Legolas in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Bloom has emerged as one of the biggest stars of the epic movie, and the bashful actor, who turned 26 Monday, still can't believe his luck.

"It's been incredible," he said with a grin. "I only graduated from drama school three years ago and I just walked into this job, and it's been probably one of the most life-changing and exciting experiences of my life. If I do nothing else, I'll be happy because I've been in those films."

Doing nothing else is highly unlikely as the star, born in Kent, England, is in big demand in Hollywood. He not only scooped the award for Best Breakthrough Star at the MTV movie awards, but is also lined up to appear alongside Johnny Depp in the new swashbuckler "The Pirates of the Caribbean" and with Brad Pitt in the classic tale "Troy."

It's not just the movie world clamouring for a piece of Bloom, either. The handsome star is also in big demand with the opposite sex. But although he has been linked to Hollywood beauties such as Christina Ricci, happily for his many female fans he's currently single.

"There's no one in my life at the moment," he said. "I'm too busy for a relationship at the moment. I would like to meet someone, but I'm working really hard right now and not in any place long enough to make a real connection."

It'll be a lucky girl who does end up with the talented star as he admits he's a big romantic who isn't afraid to declare his feelings.

"I once flew to Dubai just to hang out with a girl," he admitted. "Another time I had a crush on this girl and sent her an airline ticket from Ireland to London so she could come and visit me. She came."

It looks like romance will have to wait, though, as right now Bloom is busier than ever, thanks to the eagerly awaited "The Lord of the Rings" sequel "The Two Towers."

Legolas, the elf archer, is back, this time trying to save the lives of two hobbits captured by orcs, Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), while Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin), who left the rest of the fellowship at the end of the last film, continue their journey to Mordor.

Most of the major characters from the original movie are back, but for Bloom, the best part of this latest outing is the dynamic battle scenes.

"We let rip with them," he said excitedly. "I become Action Elf. With the first film, we had all these characters to introduce and a really complicated story to explain, which meant there was a lot of the film which didn't have much action in it. But now we've done that, this one is going to be fantastic and the third one is going to be this great finale that everyone will be hanging out to see."

Not only was Bloom proficient with a bow and arrow, but he also became an expert horseback rider thanks to the many action scenes.

"I've always loved riding. As a kid growing up in Canterbury, I used to hack around the countryside," he said. "I picked it up again for the film and learned to ride on around 30 different horses."

The hardy star said the action-packed shoot in New Zealand has left him with a permanent taste for adventure.

"I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie," he said with a grin. "I used the spare time on location to learn surfing, sky diving and white-water rafting, and I did my first bungee jump there. I knew it was something I would be scared of, but I really wanted to try it, because you face your fears and get over it."

Although Legolas is constantly in the thick of the action, this time around Bloom was determined to make him more than just an action hero

"I just wanted him to be a centered and focused kind of being, with the physical characteristics of, say, the Samurai," he said. "Not only are the elves kind of immortal and ageless, they have more beauty than any other being. They're the eldest beings in Middle-earth and they're capable of turning their hand to anything, so I wanted to portray that."

The in-demand star might have moved on from Legolas completing two more movies, "The Kelly Gang" and Brit-flick "The Calcium Kid," but admitted that he can't forget the mythical world of Middle-earth, especially the real-life fellowship he shared with his co-stars.

"I miss them all the time," he said. "It really isn't one of those things which is just an on-set friendship which ends when you stop working together. There are lots of those in this business, but this is something else. I mean, all of us even got a tattoo together.

"I wouldn't do that for every film," he added with a grin. "It just goes to show the camaraderie was for real."