Henry Cavill鈥檚 career is something of a homage to Goldilocks.
Seven years ago, Christopher Nolan considered him for the titular role in the Batman reboot before deciding he was too young, while Twilight author Stephanie Meyer wanted him to play vampire Edward, but by the time the film was shot, he was considered too old.
Finally he鈥檚 found a big-screen role that鈥檚 just right. Earlier this year it was announced he鈥檒l don the red cape in Zack Snyder鈥檚 Superman: Man Of Steel.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the opportunity of a lifetime. Everyone has at some point pretended to be Superman and I get the opportunity to play this enormous icon,鈥 says the 28-year-old, who hails from Jersey.
With dark hair and a defined jaw, it鈥檚 easy to see why the studio execs chose Cavill to play the comic book character made famous on screen by Christopher Reeve.
His black trousers and fitted white top show off the impressive results of his gruelling training regime.
But the broad shoulders and ripped abdominals are as much the result of the work he put in for his role as Theseus in the 3D action adventure film Immortals, which opens this week.
It is directed by Tarsem Singh and the team behind the stylish and ground-breaking Spartan story 300, which made Gerard Butler a star in 2006.
It tells the mythological tale of Theseus, a stonemason born into poverty who vows to avenge his mother鈥檚 death and prevent the murderous rampage of bloodthirsty King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke), who鈥檚 intent on unleashing the power of the sleeping Titans in order to vanquish the Gods of Olympus.
Cavill, who got engaged to showjumper Ellen Whitaker in May, embarked on a six-month training plan to get his torso ready for its close-up.
Forget the traditional six-pack, he was told from the start the role required an eight-pack and no body fat whatsoever.
鈥淚 had a big sense of pride. I was like, 鈥楴o shading. I don鈥檛 want you to draw abs on me. I don鈥檛 want you to put dirt in the right places. I want to do it myself. I want to have the body鈥,鈥 laughs Cavill.
He thanks his co-stars Luke Evans and Twilight鈥檚 Kellan Lutz for helping him get through the tough times.
鈥淚t was an act of camaraderie. Training to that level is difficult enough but when you鈥檙e also 鈥榣eaning鈥 (taking on calories to create bulk) for 10 months, it鈥檚 insane.
鈥淵ou start to flag and lose your will, so it was great to have everyone else there to make jokes and keep things going.鈥
He鈥檇 train from nine-to-five, five times a week and his efforts paid off when his co-star Freida Pinto described his body as 鈥淕od-like鈥.
鈥淏eing in that kind of shape is something everyone should do at least once,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great feeling 鈥 and I don鈥檛 mean that in an arrogant way. You go to the gym, train hard and learn how far you can push yourself.鈥
Something of a history buff (had he not become an actor he had plans to study Egyptology at university), he says the movie鈥檚 mythological setting captivated him.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been into the mythology of the ancient world but while you can draw some parallels to the popular mythology of Theseus, this is certainly not a traditional story. This is a battle of men versus men,鈥 he says. 鈥淭here are gods and there are Titans, but they do not take a direct hand in man鈥檚 affairs.鈥
Born in the Channel Islands, Cavill discovered his vocation while attending Stowe School, where he took part in productions of Shakespeare and Grease.
He first came to prominence in 2002鈥檚 The Count Of Monte Cristo alongside Guy Pearce and went on to star in I Capture The Castle with fellow rising star Romola Garai, last seen in BBC series The Hour.
It was being cast as Henry VIII鈥檚 confidante Charles Brandon in the sexed-up historical drama The Tudors, which really bolstered his profile both here and in the US.
His near misses are proof enough that his movie star potential has been bubbling away for a while. Now he鈥檚 hitting the big league, the actor says he鈥檚 relieved it didn鈥檛 happen earlier.
鈥淚 have much more experience and can do the Superman role justice,鈥 he says.
The Man of Steel did fly again in 2006鈥檚 Superman Returns, which saw Brandon Routh donning the cape and exterior underwear. However, Bryan Singer鈥檚 reboot was not the box office behemoth the studio anticipated. Plans for a sequel were scrapped and Routh鈥檚 wings were clipped.
Cavill cannot fail to be aware of how the last project fared and of the anticipation surrounding his portrayal, but he says he鈥檚 simply ignoring the pressure.
鈥淲hen I heard I had got the part I remember thinking 鈥楧on鈥檛 mess this up鈥. I have to focus on representing the source material to the best of my ability and ignoring everything else. I have to stay in my bubble.鈥
The movie isn鈥檛 due for release until 2013, however, he is already looking ahead for his next iconic part.
Amid rumours Daniel Craig鈥檚 set to hang up his gun within the next few years, does he have any interest in playing Bond?
鈥淥f course,鈥 he says flashing a movie star smile. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the other one to get.鈥
