AceShowbiz - Actor Orlando Bloom was "hit sideways" by his unexpected romance with pop star Katy Perry. The couple recently rekindled its on/off relationship after meeting in January, 2016, and the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star admits their "really remarkable connection" took him by surprise.

"She's a remarkable human being, actually," the 41-year-old Brit told The Times. "I am a little older than her, so I wasn't someone overly familiar with her artistic endeavours when we met," he confessed. "I wouldn't have imagined anything happening. And, you know, when you get hit sideways you get hit sideways. You don't pick who you fall in love with."

Orlando, who initially dated 33-year-old Katy for about 14 months before parting ways in March 2017, is hesitant to label their renewed romance, but acknowledges how tough it is for the pair to maintain a relationship with their conflicting schedules.

"It's difficult," said the actor, who is preparing to return to the West End stage for a three-month run in Tracy Letts' play, Killer Joe, on May 18. "She's on tour, I'm doing a play, everything evolves. I have a lot of respect for her and a lot of deep feeling. So we will see."

Orlando's comments emerge after he joined Katy and her mother, Mary Hudson, in Italy over the weekend, April 28-29, as they met Pope Francis in Vatican City. The singer was in Italy to attend the annual Unite to Cure conference, an event held to discuss the impact of new technology on society and culture.

Katy confirmed she was no longer single last week (ends April 27) during an interview with news show Entertainment Tonight. After she was asked if she would ever date a contestant on talent show "American Idol", for which she currently serves as a judge, she replied, "No, I'm sorry I have been spoken for and speak for myself. And I'm very happy!"