Chris Hemsworth has opened up about why he’s previously chosen money over artistry in his acting career — and I think a lot of people will relate to this.
Chris shot to global stardom when he was cast as Thor in 2009, and since then, he’s solidified his status as a true blockbuster star, having appeared in eight Marvel movies and a number of other popular film franchises like Men in Black, Ghostbusters, and Mad Max. In 2019, he was named the second-highest-paid actor in Hollywood by Forbes.
As you’ll probably know, Chris’s brothers, Liam and Luke Hemsworth, also carved out acting careers for themselves, but that’s not to say they came from a showbiz background. Instead, the Hemsworth trio grew up far from Hollywood in the Australian outback, where their dad was a social services counselor in child protection, and their mom was a teacher.
So, having come from a regular, hard-working family, Chris said in a new interview with The Guardian that he spent many years navigating his acting career with financial security as his top priority. However, since his dad, Craig, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease a few years ago, he’s been re-examining his approach, wanting to pursue personal projects over paychecks.
“My appetite for racing forward has really been reined in,” Chris told the outlet, discussing his dad’s diagnosis. “I’ve become more aware of the fragility of things. You start thinking, ‘My dad won’t be here for ever.’ And my kids are now 11 and 13. Those nights where they’d fight over sleeping in our bed — suddenly they’re not happening any more.”
Looking back on his financially-driven decisions in the past, Chris said: “I’d think, ‘I came from nothing. Who am I to turn down that kind of money?’ Justifying things that weren’t the purest creative decision, but I’ll be able to pay for my parents’ house, or I’ll be able to help out my cousins.”
It’s no secret that tons of actors take on certain projects purely for money, but to hear Chris talk about it so candidly has impressed fans, who’ve called it a “natural human response” for someone who hasn’t grown up in a super wealthy family.
“That level of authenticity is refreshing,” one Reddit user wrote, while someone else described his take as “grounded and reasonable.” “Not everyone is a ✨thespian✨but everyone has to pay bills. If he uses the $ to better his and his family’s financial future, I couldn’t blame him. I wish I had that opportunity!!”
Notably, plenty of people said they found Chris’s comments “extremely relatable,” saying: “I’m obviously not making Hemsworth money (hah, I wish), but I am currently working at a job for a good paycheck that I would not pick if I was basing things off of fulfillment or joy.”
“I’d do the same, and I’ve never understood why actors get criticized for that,” another echoed. “The biggest factor in choosing my employer is my compensation; why wouldn’t it be for actors as well? Sure their job seems fun but at the end of the day it’s still work, if I’m taking time away from my family and friends and hobbies to work, I’m going to go with the highest bidder.”
So, what do you think of this? LMK in the comments. You can read Chris’s full interview with the Guardian here; it’s a great read!