Renowned Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth recently opened up about his desire to be remembered in a certain way when he eventually passes away. This comes after the heartbreaking loss of his grandfather Martin to Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 83. In a candid interview with British GQ magazine, the 39-year-old Australian actor discussed his newfound perspective and aspirations for his legacy.
Hemsworth expressed his deep appreciation for the heartfelt remarks made about his late grandfather during his funeral. His grandfather was described as a “good bloke.” Reflecting on this, the Thor star shared-
“If he knew, or if someone told him that’s how he would be remembered, how incredibly proud he would feel.”
This poignant experience led Hemsworth to contemplate his own life and the mark he hopes to leave behind. That is, an enduring memory of goodness, kindness, and meaningful contributions.
Fame and career accomplishments may hold significance for some. Hemsworth, however, emphasized that his primary focus lies in being remembered as someone who was genuinely good. He wants to be remembered as a kind-hearted man who made valuable contributions to society. The actor’s recent Disney+ docuseries, Limitless, prompted him to take a hiatus. This allowed him to reflect on life and its impermanence, particularly when faced with the confronting episode of death.
The realization of life’s fleeting nature has elevated the importance of every aspect for Hemsworth.
He no longer places importance on being solely remembered as a movie star by his fans when he eventually departs. Instead, he now prioritizes projects that he considers worthy of his time, aiming to avoid leaving behind a “pile of rubbish” movies.
During the interview, Hemsworth humorously referred to himself as “unemployed.” This is in reference to his intentional break from work for the past seven months. This break has provided him with invaluable opportunities to spend quality time with his family. He is spending more time with his wife, Elsa, and their three children—daughter India and twin boys Tristan and Sasha.
The revelation of Hemsworth’s genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s came about during the filming of Limitless. Bloodwork conducted for the docuseries unveiled that Chris Hemsworth falls within the two to 3% of the population with two copies of the APOE4 gene. This increases his risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by eight to ten times compared to the general population.
