Hailed one of the sexiest men on earth, Henry Cavill’s former physique was far from looking like the Son of Krypton. In fact, he was tormented for being overweight in his younger years. The Man of Steel actor has been open about his struggle with body appearance and boarding school bullies.
Henry Cavill in Man of Steel (2013)
Cavill has appeared in numerous big franchises such as Netflix’s The Witcher, DC’s Justice League, and Mission: Impossible – Fallout. All projects required him to follow a strict diet and workout routine, and now that he possesses a god-like frame, Cavill bears no ill feelings for his former persecutors.
Man of Steel’s Henry Cavill Holds No Grudges Against Kids Who Called Him ‘Fat Cavill’
Speaking with People, Henry Cavill revealed his grueling experience as a victim of bullying at school and why he never harbored resentment towards his tormentors:
“Even though for some it may be malicious, I think it’s just kids being kids, and I don’t hold any grudges. People have had it far worse than me.”
The actor has learned over the years to use these circumstances to his advantage. He claims that being an observer taught him a lot about people. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. star also reflected that his experience helped him “read people very well,” which he found essential in the industry.
Henry Cavill in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The trauma served as an anchor for Cavill to stay grounded despite fame and success:
“Of course, it’s flattering when people say that, but you’ve got to keep yourself aware of the fact that it’s all perspective. There’s one group of people saying that, and there’s one group of people who may not feel the same way.”
The Superman star revealed that “tough love” worked for him, narrating how he incessantly called his mother while crying and the latter finally telling him to “stop calling because it’s just making it worse.” He added (via Daily Mail):
“I’ve thought about it a lot over the years. Kids are cruel. When you put kids in that kind of environment, it’s what they do. They are stretching their muscles; trying to work out who they are. I don’t want it to be misconstrued that I’m whining about it now because I’m not. Nor am I condoning bullying.”
Cavill’s meeting with Russell Crowe during the latter’s filming at his school became the turning point in his life. He was inspired to lose weight and eventually found himself passionate about acting.
Public School Made Henry Cavill Even Tougher In Real Life
Henry Cavill
Cavill is only one of the many A-list celebrities who went to public school. The actor believes attending one gives a person a “sense of fortitude.” While students who enroll in private schools typically do well in life, those who come out from public ones are generally tougher because, according to Cavill, “they instill in you the need to work hard.”
Before he became the Superman fans obsess about, the actor faced a lot of rejections, and public school taught him how to deal with it.
“Public school certainly readied me for Hollywood. It prepared me for the rejection and being told: No, you’re not good enough. Go away. Try harder.”
With hard work and perseverance, Henry Cavill changed his life by transforming his body and mindset and taking it all to his advantage. Now, his former tormentors won’t even dare call him “Fat Cavill” anymore.
