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‘Taking time off’, Chris Hemsworth discovers predisposition for Alzheimer’s

The Thor actor is not planning on retiring anytime soon, but wants to spend time with family after a busy few years

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 20 Nov 2022 7:00PM

‘Taking time off’, Chris Hemsworth discovers predisposition for Alzheimer’s
Chris Hemsworth arrives for Marvel Studios 'Thor: Love And Thunder' world premiere at the El Capitan theatre in Los Angeles, June 23. – AFP pic, November 20, 2022

IN a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Chris Hemsworth – most famous for playing Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – says he is planning to step away from work once he’s done promoting his current project, the Disney+ series ‘Limitless’.

In an episode of the documentary/reality series, where the actor travels the world to discover the limits of the human experience, Hemsworth met with a doctor who reveals that he has a genetic predisposition for Alzheimer’s disease.

Although Hemsworth is not quitting acting, saying “it’s not like I’ve been handed my resignation,” he is eight to 10 times more likely to develop the disease, compared to an average person. His grandfather is currently diagnosed with the disease.

“I’m not sure he actually remembers much anymore and he slips in and out of Dutch, which is his original language,” Hemsworth said. “He’ll be talking [in] Dutch and English and then a mash-up and then maybe some other new words as well.”

Speaking for himself, the Australian actor said, “It’s not a pre-deterministic gene, but it is a strong indication. Ten years ago, I think it was more thought of as determinant.”

Hemsworth also credits ‘Limitless’ with expanding his knowledge and inspiring him to take time off from acting.

“It really triggered something in me to want to take some time off,” Hemsworth said. “And since we finished the show, I’ve been completing the things I was already contracted to do.”

“Now when I finish this tour this week, I’m going home and I’m going to have a good chunk of time off and just simplify,” he added. “Be with the kids, be with my wife.”

As Thor, he was most recently seen in this year’s ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’, his fourth solo film as the popular superhero, in addition to major screentime in massive Avengers team-up movies. He’s one of the last remaining of the original crew, but the introduction of many, many new characters means he can take some time off.

Outside of Marvel, Hemsworth has wrapped up work on highly anticipated films like Netflix’s ‘Extraction 2’ and George Miller’s ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ prequel ‘Furiosa.’

The actor said that Disney offered to cut the Alzheimer’s diagnosis out of ‘Limitless’, but he insisted on leaving it in.

“Look, if this is a motivator for people to take better care of themselves and also understand that there are steps you can take – then fantastic,” Hemsworth said. 

“My concern was I just didn’t want to manipulate it and overdramatise it, and make it into some sort of hokey grab at empathy or whatever for entertainment.” – The Vibes, November 20, 2022

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