Dark reason behind why Morgan Freeman wears gold hoop earrings

Morgan Freeman might be known for playing the good guy in films like Batman Begins and The Shawshank Redemption, but there is a surprisingly dark story behind one of his style choices.

The 85-year-old actor is often seen wearing his trademark gold hoops, with many fans speculating as to why he has chosen to wear them throughout his career.

But despite earning millions, the actor has yet to trade in his earrings for a very important reason.

He first started wearing the jewellery as a young man, aspiring to be like the actors he saw on the silver screen.

Sadly though, Freeman would struggle to gain a foothold in the industry before at 49-years-old, finally getting his big break with the film, Street Smart.

After landing the 1986 role, he quickly established himself as one of the most talented actors in Hollywood and even won an Oscar in 2005.

Having since appeared in blockbuster films like Bruce Almighty, The Dark Knight Rise and Deep Impact, Freeman is thought to have amassed a $250 million (£199m) fortune, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

However, he has never swapped out his classic gold hoops.

BBC/The Graham Norton Show

In a lengthy Instagram post, he told fans: “These earrings. I get asked all the time about them.

"The truth is, these are worth just enough for someone to buy me a coffin if I die in a strange place. That's why sailors used to wear them and that's why I do.”

Freeman also drew inspiration from Burt Lancaster after watching him in The Crimson Pirate, which tells the story of a fictional sailor in the Caribbean.

Made during Hollywood’s Golden Age of Cinema, Lancaster also wore similar golden earrings in the 1952 movie.

Freeman admitted to Fox News in 2016 that he thought the look was ‘sexy’, so he adopted the accessory.

"I thought that was sexy. Then I learned that sailors wore gold earrings to pay for funerals if they died in foreign lands. I'm a sailor, so that nailed it.” he said.

Recently, another item that the actor has been spotted wearing has also grabbed fan's attention.

Castle Rock Entertainment

Following a horrific car crash in 2008, which left him unable to move his left hand, Freeman has had to wear a compression glove to reduce swelling.

Battling against the painful side effects of his injuries, he wears the glove to most major events - including last weekend’s Oscars.

Appearing on stage with actress Margot Robbie, Freeman could be seen wearing an elbow-length black opera glove during the awards ceremony.