Jay Shetty & Chris Hemsworth ON Anxiety and a Life-Changing Diagnosis

What if your health needed more attention than you would have thought?

In this On Purpose episode, Jay Shetty sat down with actor Chris Hemsworth, best known for his portrayal of Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In his recently released documentary, Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember, he showed the world how he copes with his father's Alzheimer's diagnosis and the imminent memory loss. He opened up to Jay Shetty about his upbringing in Australia, his mental health struggles, and his hereditary health concerns.

From Secluded Land to the Suburbs

Hemsworth's journey didn't begin on a red carpet, but in a remote indigenous community in the Northern Territory of Australia. He describes these earliest memories as the most vivid of his life, unlike the structured suburban life of Melbourne. He told Jay Shetty that he grew up without owning a pair of shoes or having a TV; moreover, he was the only white kid in an indigenous school. However, this remote environment, untainted by modern distractions, allowed his imagination to unfold and to seek offline adventure.

Hemsworth told Jay Shetty that his childhood had a Peter Pan quality, as he called it, where fantasy and reality blurred naturally. Because he grew up in a tent and later moved into a run-down house, he strengthened his bond with the land, nature, and the indigenous community. He is forever grateful for his childhood experiences and sometimes misses the lightness of that life, away from noisy cities. When he eventually moved to Melbourne, he transitioned to a typical suburban life, depending on buses and trains, and was shocked by the stark contrast to the freedom his original community enjoyed.

Bringing Stories to Life

Chris Hemsworth never chased fame; he didn't choose to become a Hollywood star for the prominence, but because he was passionate about telling stories. He remembers his parents reading him The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, which, combined with the lack of digital stimulation in the Northern Territory, ignited a fierce sense of fantasy. Hemsworth told Jay Shetty that he didn't want to become an actor, but to live as the characters in the stories that fascinated him as a child.

The closest he comes to becoming the character in the story is by acting, so he eventually embraced this path. He has always had a vivid imagination and saw this career as an opportunity to get transported to other worlds, he told Jay Shetty. Even as an adult, Hemsworth strives to maintain a childlike sense of wonder in his work; his process of becoming the character unfolds organically, allowing it to take on a life of its own.

Hemsworth described the process to Jay Shetty as a dance between rigorous preparation and total surrender. To him, it all starts with a calculated, analytical approach, but he lets himself go with the flow and leaps into the unknown as the character's story evolves and takes turns. He believes it's important to have structure in place, but equally valuable to allow enough room for freedom and spontaneity.

The role he played in George Miller's Furiosa was the pinnacle of Hemsworth's experience. After reflecting on the role for two years, he started journaling as Dementus, attempting to empathize with the character who, despite being the villain, saw himself as the hero of the story. Yet he admitted to Jay Shetty that, once the filming started, he allowed himself to be surprised and surrender to the character’s natural evolution.

Befriending His Anxiety

Chris Hemsworth opened up to Jay Shetty about his struggles with performance anxiety, despite being a celebrated actor. He admitted that when he first started acting, he treated auditions as life-or-death situations, which only augmented his anxiety. Instead of enjoying the process, he was focused on the outcome and felt rejection more deeply when things didn't turn out the way he had envisioned.

Intensity can be both a blessing and a curse, Hemsworth admitted to Jay Shetty. Yet, it's crucial to identify the symptoms (such as increased heart rate or sweaty palms), which can sometimes be identical to those of excitement. He explained that he had to befriend this energy rather than try to numb it. Now, Hemsworth speaks of his anxiety as his Spidey-sense, which allows him to think quicker and react faster. He often leans into this ecstatic state and embraces his energy, rather than trying to quiet it with meditation.

Accepting the Realities of Alzheimer's

While filming the documentary series Limitless, Hemsworth underwent genetic testing that revealed he carries two copies of the APOE4 gene. This genetic combination, found in only about 1% of the population, places him in a high-risk category for Alzheimer's disease. Initially, the news was a shock, but Hemsworth admitted to Jay Shetty that he tried to push it aside as something for old people only.

However, the reality hit home when his father was later on diagnosed with Alzheimer's. That was the moment when the hypothetical disease concretized for Hemsworth. After overcoming the initial fear, his family decided to take one step at a time and figure out life with the disease as it progresses. Now, Hemsworth is using his platform to shed more light on brain health, without feeling like he is exploiting his father's condition.

While filming the documentary with his father, Hemsworth engaged in reminiscence therapy, where the production team rebuilt their childhood home, sourced furniture, posters, and even DVD players from that era to stimulate old memories in the hippocampus. He described to Jay Shetty the surreal feeling of walking into this supercharged version of his past. 

Alzheimer's disease starts by affecting short-term memory, then erases older memories as the disease progresses. Yet the experience allowed his father to regain a sense of agency that is often lost after a diagnosis of cognitive decline. Hemsworth realized that while his father felt the weight of becoming a burden, the process of storytelling and revisiting the past offered a beautiful connection that they might not have had otherwise, and the experience motivated his entire family to be more proactive and present as they watched memories seemingly disappear in real time.

Safety is More Important than Money

Growing up in a household with no money, Hemsworth was acutely aware of his parents' financial burdens. He internalized a scarcity mindset, which he still had when he started his career, fearing that success was limited and might run out or be taken away from him. Hemsworth confessed to Jay Shetty that he felt a deep responsibility to relieve his parents of financial pressure, which was the foundation of his early obsession with Hollywood.

But apart from the financial dread, Hemsworth had a secure and safe childhood. Emotionally, he was well cared for, and love never lacked. His mother used to tell him that success stories were not reserved only for the wealthy, but that anyone could achieve great things as long as they were surrounded by love and security. Hemsworth is actively working to pass this philosophy on to his children, making sure they feel safe in their home, regardless of the balance in his bank account.

Never Forget Who You Are

Working in high-profile positions can sometimes be lonely, but Hemsworth decided to surround himself with a team of long-term friends instead. He told Jay Shetty that he has worked with the same hair and makeup team, trainer, and assistant for over 14 years, some of whom he has known since school. To him, having these people around keeps him grounded and humble and reminds him of who he really is deep down.

According to Hemsworth, a true friend is someone you can roast and laugh with without offense. Banter is an essential part of the Australian culture and can even be interpreted as a love language amongst close friends, and this self-deprecating quality keeps him humble. Moreover, having his brothers, Luke and Liam, work in the same industry makes it easier to navigate the acting world; the brothers' shared careers and good relationship provide a safe space for them to reflect and support each other.

Enjoying Life Now

Chris Hemsworth told Jay Shetty that he constantly chases a childlike mindset in his acting, so he can better put himself into the shoes of the characters he portrays. He believes that not paying much attention to thoughts or criticism allows an actor to truly fly in the moment and act spontaneously.

Yet Hemsworth makes the difference between being childlike and childish. When you act childlike, you allow yourself to be adventurous, inquisitive, and curious. Being childish, on the other hand, is acting like a child even in your daily life, which often can be detrimental. Hemsworth strives to be childlike in his approach to his everyday life, too, and allows his inner child to breathe more, be more present, and be less focused on outcomes.

When asked about the future, Hemsworth admitted to Jay Shetty that his primary goal isn't to make more movies, but to slow down. He wants to feel less consumed by overthinking and enjoy the present moment more. After his father's Alzheimer's diagnosis, he realized that time with family is limited and he wants to dedicate more of it to his children, wife, and parents. 

More From Jay Shetty

Listen to the entire On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast episode “CHRIS HEMSWORTH EXCLUSIVE: The Untold Story of His Anxiety, Fear of Failure & The Diagnosis That Changed Everything” now in the iTunes store or on Spotify. For more inspirational stories and messages like this, check out Jay’s website at jayshetty.me.