Chris Evans – Captain America Interview

By Alexandra Heilbron on July 28, 2011 | Leave a Comment

If you think Chris Evans was a little bit hesitant about taking on the lead role in the film version of Marvel Comic hero Captain America, you’d be right. Evans, who has played a superhero before (Fantastic Four) has his hands full with Captain America: The First Avenger, and says he loved every minute of it — except for eating non-stop in order to bulk up! Tribute spoke with Chris in Los Angeles about the responsibility that comes with playing such an iconic character, the gruelling bulking up process and how much he is looking forward to working with his other fellow superheroes in The Avengers.

Q: Is it true that you didn’t initially jump at taking on the role of Captain America?
C.E.:  No, it was nerve wracking. There were a lot of pieces to consider.  I had to commit to a six picture deal and obviously this was a big tent pole film and with these types of films comes attention on the back end.  I know I’m an actor and it’s part of the deal but the problem is with most movies if the movie hits then all of a sudden your lifestyle has to shift and if you don’t respond well to it then you can take some time off, but with this movie it’s a commitment. If all of a sudden the movie is a big success and I can’t leave my house there is nowhere to run. You’ve got to go back to work.

Q: Part of that lifestyle is keeping up that amazing body. What was the hardest part of getting in shape? The eating? The training?
C.E.:  The eating. The training was difficult, training is always brutal, you kind of feel good after you leave the gym and got a good training session in, but the problem was going home and having to eat the amount of protein you have to eat to try and gain mass. That stuff was tricky for me.

Q: Why do you think you embodied Captain America so well?
C.E:  I ripped off one of my friends — that is what I did. There’s this buddy that I grew up with in Boston named Charlie. The first time I read the character I thought I don’t want to make this guy boring because it seemed on the page that he was someone who is so good, could be boring. Then I thought, you know what? This guy is a lot like my friend Charlie who is just a real good guy.  He doesn’t tell a little white lie, he’s just good for the sake of good, he’s not looking for praise or a pat on the back, and he’s just a good man.  I think he’s an incredibly complex and dynamic person so I just decided to mirror the character after him.

Q: So are you giving Charlie part of your paycheck now?
C.E.: Oh you know he’s going to ask for commissions. Shhhh!!

Q: This film is filled with testosterone, not a lot of ladies on the set. However, you do go toe to toe with Hayley Atwell who seems like she held her own.  Did you guys give her a hard time?
C.E.:  No, she gave us a hard time. She’s got sass. That girl has everything put together. She’s incredibly articulate; she’s very quick and witty. She’s kind of like a guy; she’s got a dirty edge to her. If you sling a dirty joke she’ll sling one right back.  She’s very sharp and very funny and very witty. She definitely held her own.

Q: I don’t think there’s a Marvel comic fan out there who isn’t excited about upcoming film, The Avengers. Getting together with Robert Downey Jr. and the rest of the gang, this is the ultimate super hero of super hero movies.   Do you sometimes pinch yourself and think, what have I gotten myself into here?
C.E.:  That was absolutely the first statement I made when I put on the Captain America suit, but you’re right. It’s pretty amazing coming on to the set and seeing Downey in the suit and Hemsworth in the cape and I’m like, I’m really a part of something cool. So it’s been fun. I’ve gotten past the point of nerves and now I’m just enjoying it.

Q: How do you get past the pressure of the big fan base that comes along with that?
C.E.: You don’t.  I think that’s kind of what drives you.  The fact that you are always aware that there’s an enormous group of people extremely passionate about this project, and if you don’t deliver they are going to turn on you. So it’s kind of a double edged sword. Its nerve wracking and it kind of sends you into a tail spin some days but without those people these kinds of movies don’t get made and I don’t get the career that I am having. So it’s worth the effort and the stress.

Q: Having the chance to do this kind of film gives you the opportunity to do smaller projects — something I know is very important to you.
C.E.:  That’s right, finding the balance is very important and hopefully in the middle of making these bigger films I can choose some independent projects to work on too that are more of a passion project.

To watch Chris’s interview with Tribute, click here. ~Bonnie Laufer

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