Until now she’s probably best known for being the girlfriend of hunky British actor Orlando Bloom. But all that is about to change for actress Kate Bosworth.

The stunning blonde’s career looks set to go into orbit thanks to the return of the Man of Steel himself – Superman.

Kate has landed the much sought-after role of Lois Lane in Superman Returns – the latest big screen version of the iconic superhero story.

Although her feet haven’t touched the ground since, the 23-year-old admits she was so wracked with nerves she almost turned the part down.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s such a privilege to do the film,” she smiles. “But I just got so nervous because it’s one of the most classic Americana films of our time, so when I met with the director Bryan Singer I told him, ’I know this film is going to be amazing, but I just don’t know if I’m ready for it.”

Even after she landed the high-flying role, the petite actress had to face another of her biggest fears.

“I absolutely hate flying,” she says, looking horrified. “So when I knew we were going to be doing wire work for the flying sequences this was like playing my nightmare, it wasn’t something I enjoyed doing and unfortunately I had to do it a lot, but, on the other hand I got to fly with Superman and there aren’t many people that get to say that,” she laughs.

Superman Returns is the first instalment to be made following the tragic death of Christopher Reeve. The actor appeared in four of the Superman movies alongside Margot Kidder as Lois Lane. However Kate admits she deliberately didn’t watch any of the original films once she was offered the role.

Villain of the piece Luthor is played by Hollywood star Kevin Spacey, and it’s him Kate has to thank for landing her Lois Lane role. The pair worked together last year on the Bobby Darin biopic, Beyond The Sea, and Spacey personally recommended Kate for Superman Returns.

“I’m thrilled about it because we get along so well. I just adore him,” says Kate of her co-star. “We’ve got a very special relationship, so I always hoped we’d work together again. I just didn’t realise it was going to be so quickly.”

The star also says she and 25-year-old Routh had an instant screen chemistry when they met.

“I was reading with him when he got the role and I was thinking ’this guy’s playing Superman and he’s wonderful’ and I remember sitting in the audition with him thinking ’He’s really good, this is so exciting’,” she says. “I started to get more and more excited as I was reading with him. He’s very selfless and humble and he will fill Superman’s shoes.”