I was discouraged from pursuing my dreams, says Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger was "discouraged" from pursuing success in Hollywood.
The 77-year-old actor turned his focus towards the American movie business after he retired from bodybuilding in the 1970s - but Schwarzenegger was warned at the time that his ambitions were unrealistic.
Speaking to his son Patrick Schwarzenegger, for Variety's Actors on Actors series, he explained: "When I came to America, Clint Eastwood and Charles Bronson were the highest-paid actors, with a million dollars a movie. I said, 'I've got to be part of that.' Eventually I made $30 million a movie, and I caught up with those guys.
"Even though everyone says, 'Arnold, it's never going to happen. Your name — Schnitzel or whatever it is — no one will remember, and you're too big now.'
"In the '70s, it's Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino, Woody Allen — those are the big stars of the day. 'They weigh 140 pounds, and look at you, 250, like a monster.' I was discouraged; everything was impossible.
"But I had a clear vision of myself being up on top. That's all I cared about. And so I climbed that ladder slowly."
Schwarzenegger - who was born and raised in Austria - considers his starring role in the 'Terminator' franchise to be a turning point in his career.
The movie star reflected: "'Terminator' was a huge breakthrough because I was doing the 'Conan' movies, and this is exactly what my dream was when I was a kid.
"You wanted to get into acting because of acting; I wanted to get into it because I saw Hercules on a big screen. I started training and said to myself, 'I will become Mr. Universe, and I will be getting into movies because of my fame.'
"'Terminator' was the first time that I was doing a film that had nothing to do with the muscles. It was with leather jackets on and being a machine."
Schwarzenegger previously revealed that he's never had a "plan B" in his life.
The actor has always been clear with his ambitions and he doesn't any intention of losing focus.
The former Governor of California said on Instagram: "I hate Plan B. People perform better, in sports and everything else, if they don't have a Plan B. I've never, ever had a Plan B.
"I made a full commitment that I'm gonna go and be a bodybuilding champion, I made a full commitment that I'm gonna be in America, I made a full commitment that I'm gonna get into showbusiness and I'm going to be a leading man, no matter what it takes I will do the work. I wanted to work over and over and over until I got it."
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Young became a dual Canadian-US citizen in 2020. Neil Young has invited Donald Trump to attend one of his concerts after showing his support for Bruce Springsteen amid his feud with the US president. Trump, 78, was left furious after Springsteen hit out at the "corruption" and "incompetence" of the president's administration during a recent concert in Manchester. Trump blasted Springsteen as a "pushy, obnoxious JERK" via his social media platform Truth Social. Young spoke out in support of Springsteen, who insisted he wasn't "scared" of Trump. He penned on his Neil Young Archives site: "Bruce and thousands of musicians think you are ruining America. You worry about that instead of the dyin' kids in Gaza. That's your problem. I am not scared of you. Neither are the rest of us. You shut down FEMA when we needed it most. That's your problem Trump. STOP THINKING ABOUT WHAT ROCKERS ARE SAYING. Think about saving America from the mess you made." In his latest blog entry, Young said: "When I tour the USA this summer, if there is not martial law by then which would make it impossible, let's all come together and stand for American values. "We will not be doing a political show. We will be playing the music we love for all of us to enjoy together. "President Trump, you are invited. Come and hear our music just as you did for decades." Young recently admitted he's worried Trump will stop him entering the US as he's been so critical of the president. Young became a dual Canadian-US citizen in 2020. Neil Young has invited Donald Trump to attend one of his concerts after showing his support for Bruce Springsteen amid his feud with the US president. Trump, 78, was left furious after Springsteen hit out at the "corruption" and "incompetence" of the president's administration during a recent concert in Manchester. Trump blasted Springsteen as a "pushy, obnoxious JERK" via his social media platform Truth Social. Young spoke out in support of Springsteen, who insisted he wasn't "scared" of Trump. He penned on his Neil Young Archives site: "Bruce and thousands of musicians think you are ruining America. You worry about that instead of the dyin' kids in Gaza. That's your problem. I am not scared of you. Neither are the rest of us. You shut down FEMA when we needed it most. That's your problem Trump. STOP THINKING ABOUT WHAT ROCKERS ARE SAYING. Think about saving America from the mess you made." In his latest blog entry, Young said: "When I tour the USA this summer, if there is not martial law by then which would make it impossible, let's all come together and stand for American values. "We will not be doing a political show. We will be playing the music we love for all of us to enjoy together. "President Trump, you are invited. Come and hear our music just as you did for decades." Young recently admitted he's worried Trump will stop him entering the US as he's been so critical of the president. Young became a dual Canadian-US citizen in 2020.
