Henry Cavill’s 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’s found a big-screen role that’s just right. Earlier this year it was announced he’ll don the red cape in Zack Snyder’s Superman: Man Of Steel.
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“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. Everyone has at some point pretended to be Superman and I get the opportunity to play this enormous icon,” says the 28-year-old, who hails from Jersey.
With dark hair and a defined jaw, it’s 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.
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It tells the mythological tale of Theseus, a stonemason born into poverty who vows to avenge his mother’s death and prevent the murderous rampage of bloodthirsty King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke), who’s 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.
“I had a big sense of pride. I was like, ‘No shading. I don’t want you to draw abs on me. I don’t want you to put dirt in the right places. I want to do it myself. I want to have the body’,” laughs Cavill.
He thanks his co-stars Luke Evans and Twilight’s Kellan Lutz for helping him get through the tough times.
“It was an act of camaraderie. Training to that level is difficult enough but when you’re also ‘leaning’ (taking on calories to create bulk) for 10 months, it’s insane.
“You start to flag and lose your will, so it was great to have everyone else there to make jokes and keep things going.”
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He’d train from nine-to-five, five times a week and his efforts paid off when his co-star Freida Pinto described his body as “God-like”.
“Being in that kind of shape is something everyone should do at least once,” he says. “It’s a great feeling – and I don’t mean that in an arrogant way. You go to the gym, train hard and learn how far you can push yourself.”
Something of a history buff (had he not become an actor he had plans to study Egyptology at university), he says the movie’s mythological setting captivated him.
“I’ve 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,” he says. “There are gods and there are Titans, but they do not take a direct hand in man’s affairs.”
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’s 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’s 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’s hitting the big league, the actor says he’s relieved it didn’t happen earlier.
“I have much more experience and can do the Superman role justice,” he says.
The Man of Steel did fly again in 2006’s Superman Returns, which saw Brandon Routh donning the cape and exterior underwear. However, Bryan Singer’s reboot was not the box office behemoth the studio anticipated. Plans for a sequel were scrapped and Routh’s 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’s simply ignoring the pressure.
“When I heard I had got the part I remember thinking ‘Don’t mess this up’. 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.”
The movie isn’t due for release until 2013, however, he is already looking ahead for his next iconic part.
Amid rumours Daniel Craig’s set to hang up his gun within the next few years, does he have any interest in playing Bond?
“Of course,” he says flashing a movie star smile. “That’s the other one to get.”