Thor actor Hemsworth loves to dress up
If you happen upon Australian actor Chris Hemsworth while he’s in town shooting his latest film, you’re welcome to call him Thor. No really, call him Thor.
“I have sort of become synonymous with that character,” he says with a laugh of his Marvel character’s moniker.
“And Chris has very rapidly disappeared into the background.”
So, just how often does the 34-year-old actor, who is in Vancouver filming the Drew Goddard-directed thriller Bad Times at the El Royale alongside Jeff Bridges and Dakota Johnson, get improperly addressed using the name of the Asgard heir?
“A few. Yeah, a few,” he admits. But, while some Hollywood celebrities seem slightly annoyed by the constant comparison to their onscreen character, Hemsworth is OK with the whole Thor/Chris name thing.
“Either way,” he says of the name options. “I love playing that character and I love the whole journey it has sent me on. So, no complaints. It’s all good.”
Speaking to media from B.C. Place Stadium last weekend at the HSBC World Rugby Sevens series stop in support of his ongoing role as a TAG Heuer brand ambassador, Hemsworth discussed something a little less familiar than his role as everyone’s favourite hammer-carrying superhero. Fashion.
“I think I’m more on the practical side of things, especially at home. Board shorts and a T-shirt, it’s pretty minimal because the weather’s so hot. I spend a lot of time in the surf, in the water,” he summarizes of his day-to-day style. “But I also kind of love dressing up. That’s what I love about this job, is being able to go from being at home to a première and getting tailored and into a nice suit. I like a three-piece suit and I’ll often wear a tie. With an open neck. “An open shirt,” he corrects himself with a laugh.
But, he assures, it’s all thanks to the support of a few key professionals — and a few style mishaps in his early red-carpet years too.
“I’ve certainly had the luxury of being able to dress up more over the years and having people style me in far more positive ways than I would have ever been able to do for myself. It’s great. It takes the stress out of it,” he says.
Along with his sartorial game, Hemsworth admits his timepiece tastes have been elevated — thanks to his ambassador gig with the luxury Swiss watchmaker.
“I think each watch tells a certain story,” he says of the timepieces. “There is the amount of detail and the history of the brand. Especially having worked with the brand now and being gifted some pretty special pieces, I have a much greater respect and appreciation for the detail that goes into them.
“It becomes like a piece of jewelry, or an added item to whatever you’re dressing up in.”
Or, if you’re Thor Chris Hemsworth, something you surf with.
“I certainly put them to the test in that sense and give them a fair battering,” he says of his penchant for wearing a sleek timepiece while slipping into the surf for his favourite hobby. “I keep thinking, ‘Uh oh, I probably shouldn’t have this watch on in the surf,’ and they’ve stood the test.”
Versatility and practicality, as it turns out, are two vital criteria for the actor/husband/father when considering whether to add an item to his closet or home.
“It’s all on the practicality side of things,” he says. “I prefer for it to be comfortable and useful. If there is a good, fitted pair of jeans but they ’re stiff and uncomfortable, I’m not interested. I think that’s with most of my clothing. I get pretty claustrophobic if anything is too stiff.”
But, there’s one area where his style-to-comfort ratio doesn’t always work.
“My wife will — we are redesigning our house at the moment — and certainly there are some things that, if they visually appeal to her, they will take lead over the functionality of it,” he says. “And I’m usually going, ‘Hang on! No, no, no, no!’ It might look cool but it doesn’t serve any great purpose. It’s not going to work for me.”
Safe to say, Hemsworth’s practical tastes lose out on that front, but with that practicality in mind — and the clock quickly running down on his allotted time with media — it was time to put Hemsworth’s sartorial versatility to the test.
In short, it was time to ask the hardest-hitting question that came to mind: If required to wear one element of Thor’s costume for every day of Hemsworth’s off-camera life, which one would he choose?
“Oh, the cape, of course,” he shoots. “Because there would be so many things you could use it for. You could form yourself a tent or a shade cover. In the cold you could wrap that thing like a blanket.” Perhaps a parachute? “Yes, a parachute,” he agrees. “You could even fill it full of toys if you were doubling as Santa Claus.
Who knew one cape could do so many things. But, he’s not done yet.
“Picnics,” Hemsworth adds. “Picnics are good.”
“A towel — after a surf,” he adds with another smile.