Dolph Lundgren, actor known for Rocky IV, talks about his time dating Grace Jones, his rocky audition journey, and his new movie Wanted Man. He also discusses his background in martial arts, extreme measures for achieving a muscular body, and his journey to redemption after struggling with alcoholism.
Dolph Lundgren's physical contrast with Sylvester Stallone in Rocky IV was intentional to build up the antagonist and enhance the final showdown.
As an immigrant from Sweden, Lundgren recognizes the privilege he had compared to individuals from other countries and understands the challenges and desires of people from less privileged backgrounds to come to America.
Deep dives
Dolph Lundgren's Journey into Acting and Career Success
Dolph Lundgren, known for iconic roles like Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, stumbled into acting with his background in martial arts. From Sweden to the United States on a student visa, Lundgren found under-the-table work in New York before landing his first acting part as a henchman in a James Bond movie. The physical contrast between Lundgren and Sylvester Stallone in Rocky IV was intentional, as it built up the antagonist and made the final showdown more compelling. Lundgren's career had its ups and downs, but he has recently experienced a renaissance in movies like the Expendables series and Aquaman. He directed and starred in Wanted Man, an action movie exploring immigration issues. Lundgren reflected on his personal journey, including his dreams of coming to America and his experiences with parental abuse.
Dolph Lundgren's Immigrant Experience and Perspective
As an immigrant from Sweden, Lundgren came to the United States on a student visa to study chemical engineering. However, he always had a deep attraction to America and wanted to do something different than engineering. Reflecting on his own immigration circumstances, Lundgren recognizes the privilege he had compared to individuals from other countries. He understands the challenges and the desire for people from less privileged backgrounds to come to America. Lundgren's early perception of America was one of energy and excitement, a place where he could reinvent himself.
Dolph Lundgren's Struggles with Confidence and Overcoming Trauma
Lundgren's childhood experiences with parental abuse and trauma had a profound impact on his confidence and self-esteem. He initially lost focus and struggled academically, but his interest in physical culture, including martial arts and bodybuilding, helped him regain his confidence. Lundgren's pursuit of physical strength was driven by a desire to prove himself to his abusive father and to excel academically. In his adulthood, Lundgren also faced personal challenges, such as drinking and infidelity, which he believes were rooted in a need to escape his traumatic past. Therapy and reflection helped him make changes in his life, including apologies to his family and a deeper understanding of himself.
We must break him! Dolph Lundgren's performance in Rocky IV features two of the most memorable pieces of dialogue in the storied franchise. Dolph stops by to chat about his time dating Grace Jones, the Rocky audition that almost never happened and his new movie: Wanted Man.