Josh Hartnett has opened up about why he stepped back from Hollywood.
TheĀ Pearl HarbourĀ actor turned down the chance to playĀ Superman – a role which was offered to him for a rumoured Ā£72million – choosing instead to spend time with his family away from the spotlight.
The actor told Mr PorterĀ that he wanted to spend time with his loved ones, putting his family life ahead of his career.
He said: “The guys who are on top are terrified that someoneās coming up behind them. If thatās your real ambition, to be on top all the time, youāre going to spend your whole life looking over your shoulder.
“I never wanted that. I want to do good work with people I like and spend my free time with people I care about.”
Speaking about turning the role of Superman down, a role that eventually went to Henry Cavill, Hartnett said: “At the time, it was so obvious to me to turn it down. I was being offered movies by the very top directors.
“And Superman was a risk. Yes, there was a lot of money involved but I didnāt think that was the be-all and end-all.Ā People thought I was crazy for not chasing that brass ring a little harder but I felt completely comfortable being with the people I knew liked me before I was making films.”
He added: “I decided to have a life. To put that first. That was always my goal.
“I feel very strongly about friends Iāve known for a long time and my family. I wanted to make sure I wasnāt losing those relationships. Those people make me who I am. I put those concerns ahead of chasing a Hollywood dream.
“The thing I am most proud of is that Iām a father-of-three. Iām still able to do good work and, as Iāve got older, the characters have become more interesting.”
The Superman actor, who plays Geralt of Rivia in the show, had been shooting the second season of the hit Netflix show in the UK.
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