Fresh faces join ‘Pirates’ cast

After three movies, it was time for Pirates of the Caribbean to scrape away the barnacles. (You know some of these barnacles by their birth names: Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley.)

But what's a Pirates sequel without young lovers, swooning for each other amidst warring pirates and quests for mythical treasures? Apparently a Pirates sequel no one wanted to make.

So while Knightley and Bloom aren't buckling their swashes for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the presence of newcomers Astrid Berges-Frisbey and Sam Claflin is surely intended to make the absence of Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner less conspicuous. In fact, producer Jerry Bruckheimer reveals Claflin's role was suggested during the scripting process by none other than star Johnny Depp.

In the movie, which opens late Thursday, Spanish-French ingénue Berges-Frisbey plays Syrena, a fierce mermaid who falls for do-gooder missionary Philip Swift (Claflin). The romance would probably be problematic enough if not for the fact they meet as Capt. Jack Sparrow (Depp), Capt. Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and Blackbeard (Ian McShane) are all racing to find the Fountain of Youth.

Not surprisingly, On Stranger Tides is the largest production either has been involved in.

London's Claflin, 24, is probably best recognized from the television mini-series, Pillars of the Earth, while Paris-based Berges-Frisbey, also 24, is an unknown in North America.

"For me, it started with an audition -- and an audition that was a bit too impossible," Claflin remembers. "I got a phone call from my agent saying, 'You've got an audition' and I said, 'Oh yeah, what time?' 'It's 20 past four, it's Pirates of the Caribbean.' And I went, 'Why? Why? Why? I'm not going to get it.' It's one of those moments I thought would never happen. Luckily, somebody liked me. And I went for a second audition in LA and met with (director Rob Marshall) and Jerry and did a reading for Rob. Then it was back to London and a screen test with Astrid. It happened over a two month period -- and I was so nervous about getting any feedback -- but it all worked out."

For Berges-Frisbey, the process was complicated by a minor detail. "I didn't speak English," she says. "So I never thought I would be in an English or American movie. It was just unreal for me. 'OK, I'm doing this audition, but you know I can't speak English?' ... I still can't believe it. I still don't understand why me. But I tried to do my best."

It should be noted that, although this is a Disney film, the mermaids in On Stranger Tides are far removed from The Little Mermaid. Rather than wide-eyed, cheerful innocents, they're fearsome if gorgeous creatures who lure, then slaughter, the sailors they encounter.

While training for the role, Berges-Frisbey says she sought to "react more like a fish or an animal rather than a swimmer with two good legs. We also did scuba driving lessons."

Which should be useful if Syrena and Philip return for a fifth Pirates episode (a script for another sequel has already been turned into the studio).

"I literally have no idea what happens next," Claflin says. "I think it's exciting the door is open for coming back. I'd love to be a part of it, knowing how much fun I had on this."

And Berges-Frisbey? "I would love to ... It's been such a great experience for me. But I don't want to be disappointed."