Rupert Everett has opened up about the long-term consequences of his younger obsession with building the “perfect” physique, admitting that years of intense gym training have left him dealing with serious physical strain later in life.
The 67-year-old actor, known globally for roles including My Best Friend’s Wedding, says the choices he made in pursuit of an ideal body have come at a heavy cost.
Intense gym culture in the 1980s and 1990s
Looking back on the 1980s and 1990s, Everett described a period in which he pushed himself hard in the gym while paying little attention to safety or recovery practices.
He admitted he rarely bothered with essentials like stretching, despite understanding how important it was for preventing long-term injury.
He said the approach eventually caught up with him, explaining bluntly: “I ruined myself. Now I’m almost crippled as a result.”
Everett added that he ignored advice about protecting tendons and muscles, saying he found the discipline required for proper training “boring,” even though it was necessary for avoiding injury.
A secret shortcut to looking muscular
Before committing to weight training, Everett revealed he once relied on a far less conventional method to achieve a more muscular appearance.
He had specially made bodysuits designed to enhance his physique under clothing.
According to the actor, the suits included built-in padding for areas such as the shoulders, calves, and lower body.
They were created by two makers he met in north London, and he wore them consistently in both personal and professional settings.
He even admitted the illusion extended to work environments, saying he would attend costume fittings while already wearing the padded outfit, without informing directors or production teams.
Hollywood pressure and missed priorities
Everett has previously reflected on how early-career pressures influenced his self-image, saying he spent years trying to model himself after conventional Hollywood leading men.
He cited figures such as Tom Cruise as part of the standard he felt he was expected to match.
However, he now believes that focus may have come at the expense of his stage career.
In earlier comments, he suggested he should have dedicated more attention to theatre work rather than attempting to reshape himself into a traditional film star.
He also acknowledged the disconnect between his ambitions and reality, joking that his tall, lean frame made it impossible to fit the mould he was chasing.
Living with the consequences today
Now in his late sixties, Everett says the physical effects of those years are increasingly evident.
He believes his long-term health decline is likely to be musculoskeletal, a result of the strain he placed on his body without proper care or recovery habits.
He also noted a shift in mindset in recent years, saying he avoids mirrors whenever possible and no longer maintains the same preoccupation with appearance that once defined his early career.
Everett’s reflections add to a growing number of public figures speaking candidly about the pressures of physical ideals in entertainment—and the lasting toll those pursuits can leave behind.
