Marvel star Chris Evans admits Spider-Man – not Captain America – was his favourite superhero all along
Chris Evans’ run as a Marvel superstar ended with Avengers: Endgame – here the actor talks directing, dealing with fame and how he nearly turned down his name-making role as Captain America
Superhero superstar Chris Evans turns 39 on June 13. To celebrate, the American actor shares with STYLE why he it wasn’t a sure thing for him to play Captain America and how he thinks directing is the way forward.
At first he was hesitant to play Captain America, starting from 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger
“I grew up knowing a lot about the business and even though a big film like that can mean a lot of money, it also puts you in a situation where you worry about not having any privacy. I was very worried about not being able to walk down the street without being recognised because I like my anonymity. But the greater worry was the commitment to a long-term contract and knowing that for potentially the next 10 years of your life you’re going to be playing the same character. It was not an easy decision, but now I’m very happy with it.”
You can’t allow your success to define your identity or happiness. You have to keep that separate
When he was a kid, Spider-Man was his favourite superhero
“I love Captain America, but Spider-Man was my childhood hero. I would have loved doing scenes like attaching myself to the sides of buildings and trying to spring from one building to the next.
“But I would have hated to wear Spider-Man’s mask. I’m very claustrophobic, and I doubt whether I could have worn that kind of full suit and mask for hours a day on a set. I much prefer my Captain America outfit, which I think is cooler anyway!”
He thinks it is important to have a healthy perspective on his career