Chris Hemsworth Says He Felt Intimidated Seeing Natalie Portman As Mighty Thor For First Time

Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, has admitted it was 'intimidating' seeing Natalie Portman in costume for the first time during filming for the franchise's latest instalment.

Portman appears alongside Hemsworth in Thor: Love and Thunder as Mighty Thor, while the likes of Christian Bale, Chris Pratt and Matt Damon also get screen time in the superhero epic.

The actor, who is also known for her starring role in Black Swan, is no stranger to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having assumed the role of 'Jane Foster' in two previous Thor films.

However, regarding Portman's return to the franchise for the first time since 2013, Hemsworth, who has been Thor for well over a decade, confessed to feeling somewhat intimidated by his co-star's presence and talent on set.

"A little stab to the ego, but I quickly got over it and I was in awe of everything she had done one and off the screen. I'm such a fan," Hemsworth told Variety at Thursday's premiere of the film in LA.

Portman has also starred in several Star Wars movies, as well as the 2016 biopic Jackie, where the 41-year-old assumed the role of former first lady Jackie Kennedy.

Chris Hemsworth said it was "intimidating" seeing Natalie in costume the first time for #ThorLoveAndThunder: "A little stab to the ego, but I quickly got over it and I was in awe of everything she had done." https://t.co/3aIXbiXW0C pic.twitter.com/U23OxBGbQ1

— Variety (@Variety) June 24, 2022

In spite of her experience in the industry, the preparation needed for Thor: Love and Thunder was altogether different to anything she'd had to do before.

During a recent interview with Variety, Portman claimed she was asked 'to get as big as possible' for the movie.

"It was really fun," she said. "I worked with a trainer, Naomi Pendergast, for, I think it was, four months before shooting, and then obviously all the way through filming. We did a lot of weight training and a lot of protein shakes—heavyweight training that I haven't ever done before."

"Of course, I've never really aimed to get bulky. It was very physical, so it was a lot of both agility work and also strength work," Portman added.

Hemsworth also bulked up even more for Love and Thunder, but recently admitted that he wouldn't be maintaining his "brutal" fitness regemin outside of his Marvel role. 

"It's become a hobby now, and it allows me to live a full life and play with my kids and surf," he said of working out in a recent interview with Extra. 

"It was a chore at one point, and now it becomes an addiction. I love it, I do love it. I don't like working out necessarily to get to 'Thor' size — that is brutal on my body and the amount of food and so on."

The Australian actor has even hinted that Love and Thunder may be his final time reprising the iconic role, which he first assumed back in 2011.

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