Sam Claflin Reveals Hollywood Shirtless Scenes Made His Body Dysmorphia Worse

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Sam Claflin revealed that working in Hollywood actually worsened his body dysmorphia, particularly because many of his first roles involved taking his shirt off. He discussed this on Fearne Cotton’s podcast, Happy Place, according to a report in The Independent.

Sam Claflin, age 34, is an actor widely recognized for his portrayal of Finnick Odair in The Hunger Games films. He began his film career with a role in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and has since appeared in movies like Snow White and the Huntsman, Me Before You, Their Finest, and Adrift. Recently, he received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance as Billy Dunne in the 2023 Hulu series Daisy Jones & the Six.

I was chatting with Cotton Claflin, and he shared a pretty startling story about his early days in film. He said one of his very first on-screen experiences involved nudity, and it was really stressful. Apparently, in one of his first movies, they suddenly asked him to do a topless scene! He hadn’t even seen it in the script, and they only told him a week beforehand. He was totally caught off guard – he hadn’t been hitting the gym and was understandably worried about how he looked. He described it as a real ‘welcome to the industry’ moment.

He shared that being in Hollywood made his self-doubt worse. He admitted to feeling very insecure, recalling a recent film screening where people immediately asked what he thought of it. He honestly replied that he disliked it, explaining it wasn’t the film itself, but his own appearance that bothered him. He even questioned his casting in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean,’ wondering why he had been chosen for the role.

In a 2025 interview with The Telegraph, Claflin shared that the pressure to have a perfect physique for his roles led to body image issues. He explained, “Hollywood often assumes that actors with six-packs are more marketable, and I felt pressured to achieve that look. This ultimately led to a form of body dysmorphia—though it wasn’t a full-blown eating disorder. I take responsibility for my own struggles, but I believe the industry played a part.”

I was really struck by what he shared on the podcast about his body dysmorphia. He explained how much it impacts his daily life, saying it’s a constant struggle. He feels incredibly affected by other people’s opinions – whether they think he looks good or even just if they like him as a person. He admitted it’s something most guys deal with to some extent, but his experience became particularly difficult.

Claflin’s statements shed light on the intense pressure actors feel to look a certain way in Hollywood. This can be particularly difficult for men, potentially leading to or intensifying body image concerns, especially if they’re suddenly asked to appear shirtless or meet strict physical standards.

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2026-02-05 11:45