Sam Claflin Reveals Why Filming Topless Scenes Triggered His Body Dysmorphia
Sam Claflin has become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood thanks to his roles in The Hunger Games and Daisy Jones & the Six, but the actor recently admitted that his on-screen confidence is often a facade.
During a candid appearance on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, Claflin revealed that he has long struggled with body dysmorphia. He shared that early in his career, he was often petrified when required to film topless scenes, particularly when they were sprung on him at the last minute.
The actor recalled a specific instance from one of his first films where a shirtless scene was added to the schedule only a week before shooting. Having not spent time in the gym, he felt a wave of panic, worrying about how he would be perceived in what he considered his first introduction to the world.
Claflin believes these deep-seated insecurities began during his teenage years because he hit puberty late and never felt as though he was particularly good-looking or strong compared to his peers.
Even with years of success under his belt, the 39-year-old admitted that he still finds it difficult to look at his own image. He shared a story about attending a recent screening where he told friends he hated it because he still struggles with the way his face appears on camera.
Claflin noted that the pressures of the entertainment industry, combined with the constant commentary on social media, have only made his battle with body dysmorphia more intense over time.
He previously opened up about how the Hollywood assumption that leading men must have six-pack abs to sell a movie created an overwhelming amount of stress. While he doesn’t blame the industry for his condition, he acknowledges that the environment definitely fueled his desire to achieve an unattainable physical ideal. For Claflin, the struggle is an everyday one, and he continues to work through the feeling that he isn’t quite the traditional “leading man” the world expects him to be.
As of February, Sam Claflin is enjoying a massive wave of success on the small screen. He currently stars alongside Kaley Cuoco in the hit mystery thriller Vanished, which premiered on February 1 on MGM+ and Prime Video. The series has quickly become a chart-topper, following a woman named Alice as she searches for Claflin’s character, Tom, who mysteriously disappears during a train journey through France.
Fans of his earlier work have also noticed his name surfacing in discussions for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, as he recently admitted he has been trying to secure a cameo in the prequel.
Do you think that more male actors speaking out about body dysmorphia will help dismantle the unrealistic physical standards that have dominated Hollywood for decades? Share your thoughts in the comments.