When feigning superhero strength is your 9-5, diet plays a key role in supporting physical ability and fuelling for high-octane scenes. Chris Hemsworth, most famed for his portrayal of Marvel’s Thor, would know.
His latest role, as a jewellery thief in newly released movie Crime 101, involved significantly less hammer throwing, but nutrition remains a core focus for Chris. Only, he’s not striving for perfection, but seeking balance.
Speaking on a recent episode of This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von, the actor reveals that he finds the idea of chasing perfection stressful, indicating that the prospect of ‘never eating sugar, training seven days a week’ is not the kind of life he would find fulfilling.
But he hasn’t always had this approach, admitting, ‘I’ve had periods where I’ve gone into the extreme realm, but not when I’ve been my happiest or my healthiest.’
In an interview with Men’s Health in 2019, Hemsworth shared a glimpse into his earlier dietary habits, saying that he was ‘doing it completely wrong at first. Back in my twenties, I just ate huge steaks, chicken breasts and broccoli – and I didn’t feel great.’
Now, his approach to eating means that he gets to enjoy more foods – and never turns down a slice of birthday cake. ‘I just smash it – I love a bit of birthday cake,’ he says in the podcast episode. ‘What kind of life is that – you’re not gonna enjoy [cake at a birthday party]?’
In 2022, he revealed that he has a high genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease, and has since made significant changes to his lifestyle, prioritising sleep, exercise, reducing cortisol and spending more quality time with his family. A flexible and balanced approach to nutrition – which promotes nutrient-dense meals alongside enjoyment – is another way the actor is supporting his long-term health.
Abbi Henderson is Acting Nutrition writer who covers health, fitness, women’s sport and lifestyle for Women's Health and Men's Health. Before settling in a British seaside town, she spent a couple of years living in Canada, where she contributed to publications such as Best Health, Foodism and Canadian Living, and discovered she is, in fact, a little outdoorsy. With a desire to help make healthcare, exercise and sport more accessible to women, she writes about everything from the realities of seeking medical support as a woman to those of being a female athlete fighting for equality. She has a personal trainer qualification, a couple of medals from her short time in competitive Irish dancing, and an Arsenal Women season ticket. When she’s not in front of a screen working, she enjoys weightlifting, going for walks and stopping for little treats (matchas and pastries), and trying new recipes (that are almost always pasta-based).
