Chris Hemsworth Says Playing Thor Was His Armor Against Hollywood Anxiety

For more than a decade, Chris Hemsworth has carried the hammer, the muscles, and the godly swagger of Marvel’s Thunder God. But beneath the confidence fans see on screen and in interviews, the actor says that persona was something he built out of necessity.

Playing Thor didn’t just launch his career, it gave him a shield when he needed one most. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Hemsworth reflected on his early years in Hollywood and how stepping into the Marvel Cinematic Universe changed the way he carried himself.

According to the actor, the version of Hemsworth the public has grown used to wasn’t entirely natural.

“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.”

At the time he was cast as Thor, Hemsworth says he felt far less put together than he let on. He describes himself back then as awkward, uneasy, and dealing with intense performance anxiety.

Panic attacks were part of the job, even if no one watching could tell. The confidence came later, and it didn’t arrive by accident.

Preparing to play a Norse god demanded a full physical overhaul. Endless workouts, added muscle, a stronger stance, and even changing how he used his voice all helped reshape how he saw himself. The transformation didn’t just sell the fantasy on screen, it rewired his mindset.

“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.”

Hemsworth has now played Thor across nine films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, turning the character into one of the franchise’s most recognizable and enduring heroes. His latest full outing came in Thor: Love and Thunder in 2022, a movie that leaned hard into both spectacle and self-reflection.

Thor’s story isn’t done yet. Hemsworth is set to return once again, and fans recently caught a glimpse of the character in a teaser for Avengers: Doomsday. The footage hints at something more introspective, showing Thor reflecting on fatherhood while speaking with his late father, Odin.

For Hemsworth, the role that once helped him hide his fears has grown into something more personal. What started as a protective mask turned into a source of real confidence, and maybe even clarity.