Chris Hemsworth has shared a rare health update as he gets back to work in Hollywood, after revealing that his career could be ‘killing’ him earlier this year.
The Thor star has been a beloved silver screen fixture since his early days on Home and Away.
In May, it was reported that Hemsworth was filming the Limitless series in 2022 when he found out he is ‘between eight and 10 times’ likelier to develop Alzheimer’s than the general population.
Shortly after the news was made public the actor took a step back from Hollywood as news reports quickly began to swirl that Chris was retiring, or had already developed the disease.
‘It really kind of p***ed me off because it felt like I had been vulnerable with something personal and shared this,’ he told Vanity Fair.
Speaking to Body + Soul magazine in the U.S, Chris said, ‘The imagined scenario is always worse than the reality.’
Chris spent one year recovering from a back injury, which he sustained while filming Thor: Love and Thunder, and coming to terms with his diagnosed genetic predisposition.
At 41, Chris said he’s never been more optimistic about his health, or about getting back on set in Los Angeles, where he relocated for a stint of filming at the start of October.
Chris Hemsworth attends the European premiere of Transformers One at Cineworld Leiscester Square on September 19, 2024
‘When you’re building or creating all sorts of disastrous outcomes for things, it’s very hard to make clear decisions with any sort of precision,’ he reflected on receiving the news.
‘It’s in the quieter moments of reflection and stillness that I can make decisions based upon real purpose and drive.’
He also celebrated his 41st birthday in August and marked the five-year anniversary of his health and fitness app, Centr.
‘I would go from job to job and be stressed,’ Chris said about his life before taking the break.
‘I was always giving an extra 20 per cent of my time. Sometimes it just ended up being excessive, and sometimes it had diminishing returns.’
He realised that pushing himself to his mental and physical limits would force something to give, and it was better that someone was one film than his ongoing wellbeing.
Chris Hemsworth took a planned break from making movies to slow down and spend time with his wife Elsa Pataky and three children. Pictured at the Transformers One premiere in Sydney
‘There may be a project I’d love, but doing it means less time at home,’ he continued.
‘Alternatively, I can see that I’ve been at home enough to feel like I’m not going to go to work and be full of guilt that I should be home. And that’s sort of the daily conversation we all have in our lives, whether you’re in this business or another.’
And so he planned some time to spend with his wife Elsa Pataky and their three children in their sprawling Byron Bay compound – surfing, riding dirt bikes, and horses.
Break or no, it wasn’t long before Chris returned to cinema screens with another blockbuster.
The actor added that he persists with the practice of meditation and said that it’s a crucial – but never easy – part of his wellness routine
Chris walked the red carpet with his twin boys in Sydney for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, in which he starred alongside the indomitable Anya Taylor Joy as the film’s villain.
Now that he’s getting back into the routine of being, and staying, in superhero shape, Chris revealed a key component to not burning out is being ‘a little kinder and gentler with [himself]’ in the gym.
‘I used to have the mentality that if I’m not crawling out of the gym, I haven’t worked hard enough, which isn’t necessary,’ Chris said.
‘I’m also listening to my body more, being patient with the process and not just smashing myself in every single session.’
The actor added that he persists with the practice of meditation and said that it’s a crucial – but never easy – part of his wellness routine.
He laughed when asked if he uses the guided meditations on his own app.
‘I read a lot of sleep meditations on it so I don’t go to sleep listening to the sound of my own voice.’
Now 41, Chris said that he’s ‘kinder and gentler’ with himself when he gets in the gym
Chris made the confronting admission about the root of his workaholic nature in an episode of the Disney+ reality series Limitless, admitting his career choice stems from a difficult childhood.
‘If I’m totally honest, I did acting to get my parents out of debt. It could be killing me. When I first started acting, my parents had very little money,’ he began.
‘Talking to my dad about when he’s going to be able to pay the bank off and him saying, “Never, we’ll die having to pay it off”, that really bothered me from a young age.’
Despite having a net worth of over AU$220million, Chris admitted he still felt unresolved ‘stress’ stemming from his troubled upbringing.
After having bloodwork done for the program, he was informed he is ‘between eight and 10 times’ likelier to develop Alzheimer’s than the general population, because he is one of only two to three percent of people with two copies of the gene APOE4.
Chris lives in a $30million mansion with his wife Elsa and daughter India Rose, 12, and twin sons, Sasha and Tristan, 10.
Chris Hemsworth (pictured) has revealed the heartbreaking reason he took up acting and why he believes the career which brought him fame and fortune is slowing ‘killing’ him
‘If I’m totally honest, I did acting to get my parents out of debt. It could be killing me. When I first started acting, my parents had very little money. growing up,’ Chris began. Pictured with his brother Liam, and parents Craig and Leonie
