Chris Hemsworth says the reality that he won't be here forever is 'sinking in'

Chris Hemsworth has admitted that he's been having some existential thoughts ahead of a milestone birthday.

The Thor star certainly doesn't look it, but he will mark a big birthday this year.

Hemsworth has now reflected on his career and life, including the ominous thought that he's 'not going to be here forever'.

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Ahead of his 40th birthday, Hemsworth has had to deal with the difficult loss of his grandfather, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

In his documentary Limitless, the MCU star learnt he carries a gene which means he's ‘eight to 10 times more likely’ to suffer from the disease in the future.

Hearing how everyone remembered his grandfather at the funeral made Hemsworth wonder how he would want to be remembered.

He told GQ: "My uncle specifically said, ‘He’s remembered as a good bloke.’ And if he knew, or if someone told him that’s how he would be remembered, how incredibly proud he would feel.

“It made me think about my own life. And it wasn’t about career or anything. It was about being remembered as someone who was good and kind and contributed something of value… I certainly don’t think about the films I’m going to leave behind and how people are going to remember me in that sense.

"I hope that people think of me fondly and that I was a good person. That I was a good bloke. Like my grandpa.”

Despite approaching the big 4-0 this year, Hemsworth admits he doesn't feel his age.

Instagram / @chrishemsworth

He said: “I don’t think I wanna turn 40. I still feel like I’m 25 and I’ve got heaps of time. Now I’m like, ‘Oh, I could be halfway. More than halfway.’

“It is a lot of time. If I get there! The reality of ‘I’m not going to be here forever’ is sinking in.”

The actor admitted that he has started wondering about the direction his life will take, and asking some of the big questions: "Who am I? What am I doing? What’s my contribution? Is what I’m doing of value?"

Hemsworth recalled how he took his grandfather on a promotional tour for Thor, with all the extras and luxuries, saying: “I remember thinking, ‘Oh, I can’t wait to see his face.'

"He had the same appreciative, happy look on his face that he had when he was cooking the burnt sausages in the backyard. It was all the same to him.”

He added: “Everything has more importance now. Because of the realisation that this isn’t going to last forever.”