Thor: The Dark World - Chris Hemsworth interview

CHRIS Hemsworth talks about reprising his role of Thor in Thor: The Dark World and how he drew on his own experiences with his brothers to inform his relationship with Loki. He also talks about why he loves shooting in England and why he takes his hat off to what Tom Hiddleston has achieved in the role of Loki. He was speaking at a UK press conference for the film.

Q. Trust is a prevalent theme in the film between Thor and Loki and I was wondering how the two of you work together now that you have done a number of films together? Are you free to experiment because there is that trust between you?
Chris Hemsworth: There is certainly a shorthand that we have together, because this is the third film that we have shot together, and you don’t spend a chunk of your time getting to know one other [without doing that]. We picked up where we left off and we have developed a great friendship along the way. From the beginning, we were lucky because we had a chemistry and the same kind of enthusiasm. This is the relationship I really look forward to delving into every time and being able to ask the questions that Thor and Loki haven’t really had the acute focus to do so yet. In this instance, we had a great opportunity to do that.

Q. You have two brothers and I was wondering if you drew on your relationships with them for your interactions with Loki? Is there competition between the Hemsworth brothers?
Chris Hemsworth: Neither of them have tried to take over the universe just yet [laughs]. But I think I would have the same reaction if they did. We are competitive, as siblings are, in everything from sport, back-yard cricket, football, surfing to who is controlling the remote control when we are watching TV. However, in this industry not so much. Certainly, all three of us understand the frailty and the inconsistency of the work. We help each other with auditions, and always have, and whatever scripts we are working on. We are not in direct competition anyway and it is more like a team effort than anything else.

Q. And what about your relationship with Loki? Do you draw from your experience with your brothers?
Chris Hemsworth: Yeah, sure. Look, one of the scenes where they [Thor and Loki] are in the sky-ship exiting Asgard, Tom and I were pretty insistent that it had to feel like when you are in the backseat with your siblings – we couldn’t get a hundred meters down the road before the three of us are like: “Get off me. Don’t touch me.” So, those ideas certainly played into that scene. You understand what it is like to have that love/hate thing where you would do anything for them but at the same time the simplest things can annoy you. Certainly, I did try to draw from whatever experiences that I have been through and could empathise with the frustration towards one’s sibling.

Q. A lot of this film is shot in London, so I was wondering how different is it filming in the UK compared to Hollywood?
Chris Hemsworth: The interesting thing about Hollywood is that not a lot of stuff is shot there anymore. Obviously, once upon a time it did, but it is predominately sets and studios. The nice thing about here [in the UK] is that there are incredible sets and studios here there are brilliant locations to take advantage of. I love the aesthetic this film has as you not only get to see Asgard but also you get to see London… you know, most of these films are set with New York or American cities as the backdrop. But I do love that difference and I do love shooting here.

Q. If Comic Con is anything to go by, people really do love Loki, so what do you think it is about this character that people really do seem to love – perhaps more over Thor?
Chris Hemsworth: [Laughs] Let me tell you what I love about Loki. I don’t know that it was ever the plan to have Loki in this many films but purely to do with everything that Tom brought to the table in the first one, and how incredible he was, and the mixture of strength, villainous mischief and vulnerability is just such an access point. You can immediately empathise with this misunderstood guy and that’s why they keep bringing him back in every film. I don’t know if that was ever the plan. My hat goes off to Tom as he has done such an incredible job in every film. Hopefully, we can keep sneaking him in more.

Q. We have seen Thor develop hugely from the first movie to this, so how do you feel that you have developed as an actor during that process?
Chris Hemsworth: Every film I look back and go: “Oh OK, now I get it!” And then I start the next one and go: “I don’t have a clue what I’m doing!” So, it’s nice to be able to approach your character again for the third time and tackle it in a different way and with a different director, as they bring a whole new set of ideas and influences and ways to approach it. I think I have grown up as a person as well through time, strangely enough, and I think that echoes into your work. It was nice to have a more mature Thor who was sort of less petulant and arrogant, as he was in the first film at times. That transition of him understanding the darker side of the throne and that responsibility and the sacrifices was fun to play with.

Q. The Marvel universe is getting more fantastic and more out there, so I was wondering how the actors grounded some of that to make it more palatable while staying true to the characters?
Chris Hemsworth: I remember Anthony Hopkins saying something to me when we first walked on set on the first Thor film… we were in our outfits and he had the eye patch and there were the sets. He just looked at me and said: “There’s no acting required here.” I have always remembered that and thought: “Don’t compete with that, just keep it simple.” It already sells a lot of the work for you.