Skip to main contentSkip to footer

Mickey Rourke reveals pain behind 'Wrestler' role to Jonathan Ross


February 19, 2009
Share this:

Mickey Rourke's portrayal of washed up wrestler Randy 'the Ram' Robinson in The Wrestler has been dubbed the performance of his career. Speaking on British TV this week, the Oscar hopeful has revealed it was also the most painful.

"There were moments when it was too close to home," reveals the actor to Jonathan Ross on the presenter's February 20 show. "It's the hardest movie I ever had to make… too many (parallels) to be comfortable."

The actor, who's up for the best actor Academy Award on Sunday, also tells how he had to eat seven times a day to put on weight for the role.

"I had to spend seven months putting on 28lbs… I thought, 'It's going to be fun', but I hated it," he says. "I ended up with three MRIs in two months. My legs couldn't carry the weight."

On the show Mickey, who wears a wrestling mask for part of the time, also speaks of his years in the wilderness. "It was an accumulation of mistakes. You go out there, think you can rise above the s**t, but you fall into it," he explains. "There were no rules… I didn't know you had to sell yourself. I wasn't educated enough to understand it, to play the game."

And the Oscar? "After my drought it would mean everything," he admits.

Photo: Rex
"It's the hardest movie I ever had to make… too many (parallels) to be comfortable," admits the Oscar contender to Jonathan Ross. During their conversation he also speaks of his years in the wilderness. "It was an accumulation of mistakes. You go out there, think you can rise above the s**t, but you fall into it," he explains
Photo: Rex
At one point the actor joined his host in larking around Mexican wrestling masks

Sign up to Off Camera for all the gossip and goings-on from the wonderful world of TV and film

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.

More TV and Film

See more