Rupert Everett is shedding light on the harsh body-image standards prevalent in Hollywood. The experienced actor expressed that striving for the ideal leading-man physique resulted in severe physical repercussions that continue to affect him.
In an interview with The Guardian, Everett announced, “I ruined myself. Now I’m almost crippled as a result.” At 67 years old, the star of “My Best Friend’s Wedding” reflected on how his dedication to intense weightlifting during the 1980s and 1990s has inflicted lasting health issues.
Everett elaborated on his training habits, confessing he overlooked vital exercises beneficial to preventing injuries. “I could never be bothered to do all those things, like stretching, which were necessary for lifting weights, because your tendons get tighter and tighter,” he noted.
Reflecting on his approach to body-image standards, Everett disclosed an alternative method he employed before embracing weightlifting. He admitted to wearing specially crafted bodysuits aimed at enhancing his muscular appearance, even on movie sets. “I met these two queens in Tufnell Park [north London] who made bodysuits, and they made me a false bottom, false calves, false shoulders, false everything,” Everett explained.
The actor’s custom-made enhancements helped project an image that was anticipated in the entertainment industry at that period. Despite questions on whether directors were informed of the bodysuits, Everett confirmed he maintained the secret, stating, “No! I’d go into the fittings for the costumes with all my things on.”
Throughout his career, Everett has garnered recognition in film, television, and theater, with notable performances in “An Ideal Husband” and “The Madness of King George,” among others.