Chris Hemsworth believes his muscles keep him from being considered a serious actor.
Discrimination is present in every arena. Acting is no different. Many speak about fat shaming or criticism for being underweight, few talk about how muscles can hold them back. In a recent interview Chris Hemsworth delved into how he believes his muscular physique keeps him from being considered a serious actor.
It’s an interesting theory to say the least. But when we delve into it a bit more it should come as no surprise. When we consider actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, many don’t consider them as serious actors. They are no Leonardo DiCaprio or Robert DeNiro. Instead they have been viewed as musclebound meatheads during the height of their popularity. That couldn’t be farther from the truth.
When you consider Sylvester Stallone wrote Rocky, starred as the character and knocked the portrayal out of the park and seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger in a number of different roles that have shown his serious and comedic side, to call these men unserious actors is an insult. But it’s exactly what these actors faced in the past.
Too Much Muscle?
Now it appears that Chris Hemsworth is saying he’s facing the same judgment. The one thing all these actors have in common? That’s their bulging muscular frames of course.
In an interview with The Telegraph, the Thor star delved into how bodybuilding has potentially held him back in being considered a serious actor.
“There’s an aesthetic that the role requires,” said Chris Hemsworth. “Bodybuilding is seen as vanity, whereas if I put on a bunch of unhealthy weight, or got unhealthily skinny for a role, I’d probably be called a serious actor.”
Hemsworth also spoke of the rigors of both training and acting.
“The training across 10 years of doing it is a full-time job,” he continued. “That and then a 12-hour shooting day — it’s a real grind. It’s incredibly rewarding, too — you have to look at it like a professional athlete.”
Some pretty interesting comments from Hemsworth. Transforming for the role should certainly be considered to be serious work.
What do you think about Chris Hemsworth, his physique and his recent comments?
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Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
