Chris Hemsworth recently opened up about his iconic role as Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). He shared how playing the superhero helped him feel protected and confident during the early part of his career.
Chris Hemsworth on how portraying Thor was a ‘safety net’ in early days of career
In an interview with The Guardian, Chris Hemsworth revealed that taking on the role of Thor helped him. He created a more confident version of himself for interviews and public appearances.
He said, “The character you see in interviews and the presentation of myself over the last two decades working in Hollywood, it’s me – but it’s a creation too. It’s what I thought people wanted to see.”
After being cast in the iconic role, he said he felt “far more uncomfortable and goofy” than he was willing to show publicly. He dealt with serious performance anxiety and panic attacks behind the scenes.
Training for Thor changed him in a big way. Hemsworth spent countless hours building muscle, standing taller, and deepening his voice to match the power of a god. Those physical changes helped him feel stronger mentally too.
“I started thinking, ‘Okay, no one can mess with me. Playing a god became a safety net. It fooled people into thinking I was that confident, that certain.” he said. Hemsworth has played Thor in nine films across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, becoming one of Marvel’s biggest stars.
His most recent appearance as Thor came in Thor: Love and Thunder in 2022. He will return to play the legendary role again. Fans recently saw Thor appear in a teaser for Avengers: Doomsday.
The teaser shows him reflecting on his experience as a father while he speaks with his deceased father Odin.
