The “brutal” 2015 role Chris Hemsworth would never play again: “It was not fun”

Chris Hemsworth said filming *In the Heart of the Sea* in 2015 was so physically and mentally gruelling that he would not repeat its drastic weight loss. The experience showed his willingness to move beyond superhero roles, though the film was a box office disappointment.

Hemsworth played whaleman Owen Chase in Ron Howard’s drama about the 1820 expedition that inspired *Moby-Dick*. Cast members endured cold water and exhausting studio tank shoots, while Hemsworth lost substantial weight to portray a man struggling to survive. Howard praised the actors’ commitment to depicting real people.