Having just returned home from my second viewing of Man of Steel, this time in 3D, I do so from an entirely different perspective. This round, I managed to read and watch a few interviews with Henry Cavill about landing the iconic role of Superman.
I knew going into the movie the first time that Cavill was a British actor who I had only seen years ago in The Count of Monte Cristo, and that he hadn't been in anything else that I had seen. Oh, and I thought he looked the part from the production stills. Probably the most naturally Superman-ish fellow since the childhood days of Christopher Reeve.
What I expected was an interview that revealed a usual handsome fellow. In the states he would be a total jock from the day of his birth, a dozen babes kissing the hem of his garments. Since he is from the isle of Jersey, I still expected a typically hot, popular, jock. Maybe he plays polo or soccer or rugby. And I have to out myself for journalistic integrity and say that I haven't researched what his background is in sports. But Henry Cavill is proof positive that you cannot judge a book by its cover.
I have a revelation for you: Henry Cavill is a nerd.
By all rights he would earn honorary nerd street cred by just appearing as the quintessential comic book hero that launched an empire. But there are actually two other reasons that make him fully-vested as nerd.
1. Henry Cavill was ridiculed for being fat. Looking at Cavill's rippling muscles beneath the iconic suit as well as completely shirtless it seems almost completely preposterous. I mean, when he enters a room, don't women's undergarments just fly off of their own free will?
From beneath an occasionally bowed head of embarrassment, in recent interviews he admits to having been called fat as a kid. Rather than let that label control him the rest of his life, what did he do? He ate better. He turned it around.
I'm imagining all overweight, self-conscious, prepubescent boys being immediately bolstered by this revelation. There is hope that they too, may one day, be handsome grownups. I like that.
2. He missed the phone call telling him he won part because he was playing video games. And what video game in particular? Was it Call of Duty? Maybe Halo? Nope.
He missed his phone call, saying he got the part of Superman, because he was playing....
WORLD OF WARCRAFT
I kid you not.
Total nerd street cred.
So for other gamers like me, suddenly Henry Cavill is just a little bit cooler. He's not above playing video games and missing hearing his phone ringing. He's one of us.
Just one of us with ridiculous abs.
