Arnold Schwarzenegger The former governor of California is now a Hollywood star, but he recently revealed some startling details about the obstacles he faced on his path to becoming a movie legend. In a candid interview with Rob Lowe, Schwarzenegger spoke about the skepticism he faced when he first expressed his desire to conquer the film world in the 1970s. According to him, executives told him that his muscles and other things would not allow him to become a star, and frankly, I’m shocked.
On a recent episode of Rob Lowe’s podcast, Literally! A former bodybuilder has revealed that he was told by Hollywood bigwigs in the 1970s that he would never achieve the fame he so craved. However, like most things in his life, he didn’t let this setback hold him back. He explained why people told him that his body would be detrimental to his aspirations:
In the ’70s, when I said I wanted to get into movies, all the producers and directors and studio executives and agents were saying to me, ‘It’s never gonna happen.’ And one of the three reasons was that my body was too big. They said to me, ‘Look at the stars today… Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino, De Niro, Woody Allen. Those are the sex symbols. People don’t want to see big muscles. You’re 100 pounds too heavy. Forget it.’
This revelation is shocking, because the Conan the Barbarian star’s muscular physique defined him and played a pivotal role in his success. He challenged norms, becoming a film icon in blockbuster horror movies like Terminator, where he even had to master the art of not blinking for the role. It’s hard to imagine the landscape of the best sci-fi movies of the ’80s — like Predator and Total Recall — without the former Mr. Universe in the roles.
The Kindergarten Cop actor’s persistence in pursuing his dreams, despite the discouragement he faced, is a testament to his unwavering determination. Not only did he prove his critics wrong about his physique, but he also broke free from the second stereotype industry insiders had imposed upon him. He continued:
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The bottom line is that when they said, ‘It’s not gonna work, you getting in the movies, and especially not being a leading man.’ They said it was ‘because of your accent.’ They said that the German accent is scary for most Americans — it reminds them of the Nazis. ‘So yes, you could play a Nazi officer or something like that. That would be fine. But other than that, you wouldn’t get away with it.’ … And then they said that, ‘No one would be able to pronounce Schwarz… What’s your name? Schnitzel, or something like that?’ So they were laughing at my name. And those are the three things why it wouldn’t work.
Overcoming the preconception of a “German accent”, the artist became a leading Hollywood figure and acquired the memorable on-screen voice that we have all come to love. Moreover, his surname is now one of the most recognizable in the history of cinema. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who hasn’t at least heard of this reference at some point in their life.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s inspiring journey to Hollywood is just one of many stories you can explore across various media. To find out more, check out the 76-year-old star’s book Be Helpful, out Oct. 10 and available in bookstores.