His first major role (he was still in drama school during the casting) was in the movie version of The Lord of the Rings (2001–2003), where he played Legolas; the ensemble cast of (*****) (including Bloom), and a year later that of The Two Towers, was nominated for Best Ensemble Acting at the Screen Actors' Guild Awards. This high-profile role made an unknown British actor one of the hottest Internet celebrities. IMDBPro's StarMeter reported that Orlando Bloom was the most searched for actor in January 2002, one month after the Fellowship of the Ring was released; that year, he was also chosen as one of Teen People Magazine's "25 Hottest Stars Under 25". In 2004, Orlando was named People Magazine's hottest bachelor in the magazine's annual list of Hollywood bachelors.
In 2003, the ensemble cast of (*****) won a Screen Actors' Guild Award for Best Ensemble Acting, after having been nominated for the previous two movies in the trilogy. Additionally, Bloom has won various Empire Awards and Teen Choice Awards, and been nominated for many others.