This week’s Now & Then actor is the loveable Chris Pratt.
I remember seeing a few of his earlier films when he generally played the slightly porky, supporting comic relief character. He was always fun to watch but then he got buff and now he’s lead man material. Who knew that’s all it took...? (Ryan Reynolds, Zac Efron, Chris Evans, Gerard Butler, Hugh Jackman, Paul Rudd.....🤔) 💪💪
Undoubtedly it was Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy that launched Chris Pratt into super stardom. He’d already got an impressive list of films under his belt by that point but it was his role as Peter Quill/Star Lord that captured people’s hearts and, as a side effect made him a sex symbol. Bonus! 👍
Pratt cites characters like Han Solo (Star Wars) and Marty McFly (Back to the Future) as his main influences for the character of Star Lord.
The director of the movie, James Gunn was so impressed with his audition that he was apparently prepared to offer him the role even if he couldn’t get in shape by the time they started filming. Gunn even joked saying he was willing to CGI a six pack on Pratt’s body, but he trained hard, lost 60lbs and got the real deal within six months.
Always claiming that he’d be famous one day and “make a sh#t tonne of money”, Chris Pratt was homeless in Mauii, Hawaii shortly before being spotted. He was 19 and waiting tables at The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant in Mauii. Prior to this, as well as doing other jobs he’d made money as a daytime stripper.
Until a couple of years ago he was married to Anna Farris (Scary Movie) who he has a son with, they divorced in 2018 and he’s since married Katherine Schwarzenegger (yep, Arnie’s daughter). Her great uncle by the way was ex-president John F. Kennedy.
These are my top Chris Pratt film recommendations:
The Five-Year Engagement (2012)
Delivery Man (2013)
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Jurassic World (2015)
The Magnificent Seven (2016)
Passengers (2016)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 (2017)
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
What’s your favourite Chris Pratt movie? 🤔