If Henry Cavill became the actor we know today, it is partly thanks to a film that had a great influence on his desire to follow this path.
Henry Cavill, an impressive career
Henry Cavill is probably at the peak of his career right now. The actor has a string of roles in major productions, whether at the cinema or on Netflix. For the streaming platform, the actor has become Geralt of Riviamain character of the series The Witcher from the literary saga The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski. The show quickly convinced subscribers, thanks in part to Cavill’s performance. Unfortunately for fans, Geralt de Riv’s face will soon change. Henry Cavill will end after season 3 to make way for Liam Hemsworth.
A choice that is surprising and obviously did not please the fans. Except that, as said before, the actor will have a busy schedule. In addition to reprising his role as Sherlock Holmes for Enola Holmes 2 (on Netflix since November 4), he especially again put on Superman’s suit for a post-credits scene of Black Adam, opening up a long-awaited return for Clark Kent’s next adventures on the big screen. Finally, as if that were not enough, he will be in Guy Ritchie’s next film, The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare.
The influence of Gladiator
Like many, Henry Cavill thought about acting as a teenager. As he explains in an interview for Deadline, he had long wanted to tell stories through cinema. But the viewing of Gladiator (2000) really convinced him to go in that direction.
When I saw Ridley Scott’s Gladiator starring Russell Crowe, it was an incredible experience. It was during an organized outing from an English class and it was something special. Because it was in this context with other students. It wasn’t like I went there alone on vacation for example. Above all, we had to discuss the film afterwards. I don’t know exactly what was said. But at that moment, it became something important and we started to say what we liked in the film.
To continue in the analysis of the film, Henry Cavill explains that, for him, what makes the quality of Gladiator comes from the set. And so he did not influenced by any particular scenebut by this combination of flawless and perfectly executed elements.
I love this period of history in general. But the way the movie shows her was very appealing and it made me think that was the kind of thing I wanted to do. (…) Gladiator was a decisive experience in my youth and in my desire to become an actor.
Good advice from Russel Crowe
Russell Crowe therefore participated in Henry Cavill’s desire to become an actor. But not only by his role in Gladiator, also in real life. The actor has indeed, during the same period, encouraged the young Henry Cavill in this direction. This is what the two actors revealed during the promotion of man of steel (via CNN).
During the filming of The Exchange (2000), Russell Crowe was able to observe a rugby match taking place in the background of a stage. In the field, “a young man dominant” caught his eye. It was Henry Cavill, then sixteen years old. Between two takes, the teenager came to chat with the star for him ask questions about acting. To which Russell Crow responded:
It pays well but you are not always treated very well.
After their exchange, a few days later and back in Australia, Russell Crowe sent a package to Henry Cavill with gifts like an Australian rugby shirt, sweets, a CD and, above all, a photo of him in Gladiator with writing : “Dear Henry, a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step“.
Subsequently, Henry Cavill got his first role in a film, at age 18, with Laguna (2001). And more than ten years laterfor the filming of man of steelhe found Russell Crowe who remembered their meeting.
