Chris Evans As Captain America
Chris Evans returned to the Marvel universe this summer as he took on the role of Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger - which is out on DVD & Blu-Ray on Monday.
- How did you get in shape for the role?
“I worked out a lot. My metabolism moves at a million miles a second so I had to eat a lot too to gain weight and muscle. There was no day I took off and no day where I just took it light or easy.
There was a trainer from London who flew to Boston because I was doing a film [What’s Your Number?] there before this. For more than three months we trained together every single day for around 90 minutes. It was tough but I like exercising, and I exercise even when I’m not preparing for a film.”
- What were the physical challenges for you?
“[Laughs] Getting in and out of the Captain America suit. It really made me miss doing films where you just wear normal clothes.
The Cap suit is a very cumbersome outfit and it wasn’t easy to go for a pee because of all the layers. I could go but it was tricky.”
-What was the coolest set?
“I liked seeing the rebirth lab where Steve Rogers goes and gets the injection and becomes Captain America. I saw the storyboards in the production office before I even agreed to do the film and I thought ‘I bet that’s going to look really cool’ – and it did. I knew it would be a fun scene to film and to watch. I remember the first day I walked on that set I thought ‘Wow, this is great’.”
- How did you feel when you landed such a coveted role?
“It was good and bad, you know. It was exciting and there’s a world of potential and opportunity that comes with a role like this, but then there’s also a lot of pressure and nerves. It’s a big responsibility.
As an actor you want opportunities like this but if a big movie hits there’s a whole bunch of problems and if it misses there’s another bunch of problems. It’s a real dichotomy.”
- Do you regret saying “If the movie bombs I’m f****d, if the movie hits I’m f****d’ to a US journalist?
“Kind of. You have to be careful what you say because people love quotes like that and they can be taken out of context. The sentiment was right as opposed to the foul language.
What I meant was if the movie isn’t a success I’m front and centre and that would certainly hurt my career, and when it’s an enormous hit there are another set of issues you have to tackle – the loss of anonymity and the whole fame monster. There’s also the commitment, the responsibility and the pressure of any future films in the franchise.”
- Does the idea of heading your own franchise appeal?
“[Laughs] God no! Who would like that? Well, I guess some people would but I don’t even like being leads in movies. As I say, I’m not really one for the whole fame game. I love to act and I’m not going to pretend I don’t like the money that comes with it, the freedom it affords me and the things I can do with that money for the people I love.
It’s just unfortunate that theatre actors don’t get paid the same because if they did that’s what I would be doing. I shouldn’t say that because I do love films and I love acting in them, I just hate the other stuff that goes with it.
I’m not complaining because I’m still doing it. You know, you made your bed and you’ve got to sleep in it, but if you’re the head of a franchise you can’t turn the fame off.
It’d be lousy to not be able to leave your house, it’d be lousy to not be able to take your kid to a ball game. Those are the things you want to do later in life that I’m trying to preserve now.”
- Seems you’re hung up on the fame thing…
“That’s because I’m still learning how to handle it. I’ve seen a lot of actors behave one way and then when the fame hits they change. Also you’ve got to be on your guard. I swore in front of a journalist and now it’s in magazines forever.
That’s not the way I want to come across. I want to be candid and be myself, but you can’t. There are tricky hurdles to jump and you don’t always know what they are in advance.”
- Were you already a Marvel fanboy?
“I was very aware of the Marvel universe. I had to do my homework back in the Fantastic Four days so I knew who Captain America was. I wasn’t a big comic book fan growing up but I’ve definitely become one.”
- What are your favourite Marvel movies?
“I really, really liked Iron Man and I really liked X Men. Those were fantastic movies. They had fantastic stories and they took themselves seriously.
Even if you took out the superhero element they still have interesting plots and complex characters. They’re not too light and fluffy – they’re gritty, legitimate films.”
- What’s your home theatre set-up?
“I love watching movies in the comfort of my home. My place in Boston is all hooked-up with the TV screen and surround sound system. Watching movies is my favourite thing to do and I love Blu-ray – the quality is just astounding.”
- It means fans can scrutinise every bit of your performance or freeze-frame the bits where you have your shirt off…
“[Laughs] If people are preoccupied with that then it means we didn’t do our job right. If they’re concerned that I’ve gotten something stuck between my teeth then maybe the movie isn’t so great.
But I love all the extra features, especially those making-of featurettes. Even as someone on the inside, it fascinates me to see how stuff is done.”
- How do you feel about seeing yourself on screen?
“I always watch my movies when they’re done because I’m excited to see the final product. I’ve said this before but making a film is kind of like making a gift for someone but you don’t know what it is. You do your little piece of acting and then you leave without seeing the full picture, so to speak.
Then the post-production team go to town on it for six or eight months and finally you see the movie yourself. I try to have one or two viewings and then I let it go, because the more I watch something I’ve done the more critical I become.”
- How did you find working with Hayley Atwell?
“She’s fantastic. Very talented, very smart and very funny. She’s going to have a great career.”
- How do British crews compare to American ones?
“They’re great. They’re very witty and very sharp, which I love. It was a fun set to be on.”
- What about the catering?
“Ooh, that’s where you Brits fall short. You guys can tell a joke but you can’t cook eggs! You guys mess up breakfast. Whenever I hear ‘traditional British cuisine’ then I’ll pass, thanks.”
-Do you have all your own films on DVD and Blu-ray?
“My mother has them all in triplicate, but I just have a couple of them, I think.”
- Which films have pride of place in your collection?
“It depends what mood I’m in, but I’m a big fan of Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, I Heart Huckabees – which is a film nobody else seems to like but I think if you don’t like it then you just don’t get it – and Legends Of The Fall.
I also really like City Of God and I so enjoyed American Beauty when it first came out. I remember being so happy in the movie theatre that it had been made and I’m so glad that it’s still in existence. I’m sure there’s a whole list of films that I’m forgetting, but those are the ones that spring to mind.”
-Are you a tech geek?
“God, no. I can barely use my cell phone. I have gadgets but they’re all operating at the most basic level.”
- Is there anything you have in common with Captain America?
“The basic desire to do right. Cap has a filter – everything that happens to him and his reaction to the world is filtered through the notion of ‘What’s the right thing to do here?’ not for praise or approval or validation. I’m not saying my moral compass is as unflappable as Cap’s but hopefully that’s something we can all relate to – we just want to be good people.
At the end of the day I think that’s not only our purpose, it’s what makes us feel a deeper sense of joy than other things. When you do something good, and only you know it’s good, no-one’s there to tell you ‘Good job’ and no-one’s there to give you praise, there’s something very special about that. You just did it because it was right. I know I’m looking to find those moments.”
- How do you get your head round the sex symbol thing?
“I don’t know that I have. All that stuff almost has nothing to do with me. That’s like another guy. It’s certainly not the way I feel. When I look in the mirror I think ‘Man, I’m getting older’. You’re obviously your own worst critic, but I’m falling apart.
My shoulder is clicking these days, my wrist is always sore… little things that make me think ‘Chris, you might be slowing down a little bit’.”
Captain America: The First Avenger is released on DVD & Blu-Ray is released 5th December.
Chris Evans returned to the Marvel universe this summer as he took on the role of Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger - which is out on DVD & Blu-Ray on Monday.
- How did you get in shape for the role?
“I worked out a lot. My metabolism moves at a million miles a second so I had to eat a lot too to gain weight and muscle. There was no day I took off and no day where I just took it light or easy.
There was a trainer from London who flew to Boston because I was doing a film [What’s Your Number?] there before this. For more than three months we trained together every single day for around 90 minutes. It was tough but I like exercising, and I exercise even when I’m not preparing for a film.”
- What were the physical challenges for you?
“[Laughs] Getting in and out of the Captain America suit. It really made me miss doing films where you just wear normal clothes.
The Cap suit is a very cumbersome outfit and it wasn’t easy to go for a pee because of all the layers. I could go but it was tricky.”
-What was the coolest set?
“I liked seeing the rebirth lab where Steve Rogers goes and gets the injection and becomes Captain America. I saw the storyboards in the production office before I even agreed to do the film and I thought ‘I bet that’s going to look really cool’ – and it did. I knew it would be a fun scene to film and to watch. I remember the first day I walked on that set I thought ‘Wow, this is great’.”
- How did you feel when you landed such a coveted role?
“It was good and bad, you know. It was exciting and there’s a world of potential and opportunity that comes with a role like this, but then there’s also a lot of pressure and nerves. It’s a big responsibility.
As an actor you want opportunities like this but if a big movie hits there’s a whole bunch of problems and if it misses there’s another bunch of problems. It’s a real dichotomy.”
- Do you regret saying “If the movie bombs I’m f****d, if the movie hits I’m f****d’ to a US journalist?
“Kind of. You have to be careful what you say because people love quotes like that and they can be taken out of context. The sentiment was right as opposed to the foul language.
What I meant was if the movie isn’t a success I’m front and centre and that would certainly hurt my career, and when it’s an enormous hit there are another set of issues you have to tackle – the loss of anonymity and the whole fame monster. There’s also the commitment, the responsibility and the pressure of any future films in the franchise.”
- Does the idea of heading your own franchise appeal?
“[Laughs] God no! Who would like that? Well, I guess some people would but I don’t even like being leads in movies. As I say, I’m not really one for the whole fame game. I love to act and I’m not going to pretend I don’t like the money that comes with it, the freedom it affords me and the things I can do with that money for the people I love.
It’s just unfortunate that theatre actors don’t get paid the same because if they did that’s what I would be doing. I shouldn’t say that because I do love films and I love acting in them, I just hate the other stuff that goes with it.
I’m not complaining because I’m still doing it. You know, you made your bed and you’ve got to sleep in it, but if you’re the head of a franchise you can’t turn the fame off.
It’d be lousy to not be able to leave your house, it’d be lousy to not be able to take your kid to a ball game. Those are the things you want to do later in life that I’m trying to preserve now.”
- Seems you’re hung up on the fame thing…
“That’s because I’m still learning how to handle it. I’ve seen a lot of actors behave one way and then when the fame hits they change. Also you’ve got to be on your guard. I swore in front of a journalist and now it’s in magazines forever.
Tagged in Chris Evans