4:01pm UK, Saturday January 31, 2004

Lord of the Rings heart-throb Orlando Bloom is said to be planning a romantic proposal to his girlfriend Kate Bosworth.

The Daily Star says the 27-year-old actor is madly in love with Blue Crush star Kate, 21, and planning to pop the question at next Wednesday's Empire Film Awards.

180 Orlando Bloom

Orlando Bloom

The Canterbury-born star, who played elfin warrior Legolas in the Rings trilogy, is tipped to win the Best British Actor award for his role in the final installment - The Return of the King.

He scooped the Best Deut at the same event in 2002 and the paper says he is hoping to surprise Kate when she least expects a proposal.

An insider told the Star Orlando wanted to surprise Kate "when she very least expected attention to be lavished on her.

"He wants to show her what she means to him."

Orlando has been dating Kate, who rose to fame in The Horse Whisperer, for some months.

The couple met while he was filming a Gap ad but he has remained tight-lipped about the romance.