News | Entertainment
6 Feb 2026 18:41
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Sam Claflin hated filming topless scenes because of his body dysmorphia

    The Hunger Games star has opened up about his struggles with body confidence and recalled being petrified when he was told that he would be taking his top off in one of his early movie roles.


    Speaking on Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast, Sam said: "A lot of the roles I played earlier on in my career - I had a topless scene in one of my first movies, but it wasn't in the script and I got told a week before they were going to my top off. I was like, 'S***, I haven't been working out, what am I going to do?' This is my first introduction to the world."

    The Lazarus actor feels that his body dysmorphia may have stemmed from the fact that he hit "puberty late" and didn't feel as if he was "good-looking" or "strong enough" during his adolescent years.

    Clafiln explained that he still feels uncomfortable now whenever he sees his face on screen.

    The 39-year-old star said: "I'm incredibly insecure. I just went to a screening of a film I was in and everyone immediately afterwards (asked), 'How was it?' And (I was like), 'I hated it'. It's my face I don't like."

    Sam explained that his struggles have been exacerbated with the industry he works in and the fact that others can comment on his appearance using social media.

    He said: "I've been massively affected by (body dysmorphia). I'd say most guys are but I would say mine got quite bad."

    The Pirates of the Caribbean star revealed last year that he suffered from body dysmorphia because he felt "pressure" trying to attain the perfect Hollywood physique.

    Sam told The Telegraph newspaper: "I was always really short until I was 18, so I never thought of myself in any way as a leading man...

    "I assumed I'd become a character actor. When I was cast in Pirates [Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides], I thought: 'What on earth am I doing here?'

    "There is this Hollywood assumption that it's the men with the six packs who sell the movie. So there was a pressure that that was what I needed to look like.

    "As a result, I developed a form of body dysmorphia. It wasn't quite an eating disorder, and I'm not blaming anyone but myself, but it was definitely because of the industry I'm in."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     06 Feb: Jessie Buckley thinks she might've been more successful if she had a bigger social media following
     06 Feb: Jelly Roll believes simplicity is the key to his marriage
     06 Feb: Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom weren't "bringing out the best" in each other during their marriage
     06 Feb: Kim Kardashian and Sir Lewis Hamilton have been on "a few dates recently"
     06 Feb: Rachel McAdams wants Wuthering Heights star Margot Robbie to give her tips on how to act in the rain
     06 Feb: Sydney Sweeney is reportedly looking to move into the beauty space
     06 Feb: Ant McPartlin has reportedly joined one of Britain's most exclusive celebrity neighbourhoods
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    All Blacks lock Fabian Holland has suffered what appears to be a shoulder injury in the Highlanders' 41-31 Super Rugby preseason win over Moana Pasifika in Queenstown More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    A property manager says the numbers of students looking for flats is lower than previous years More...



     Today's News

    Accident and Emergency:
    A person's died after a water related incident in Thames just before midday 18:37

    Entertainment:
    Jessie Buckley thinks she might've been more successful if she had a bigger social media following 18:31

    Golf:
    Inside Ryan Wesley Routh's plan to kill Donald Trump and 'up-end American democracy' 18:17

    Motoring:
    Two-time Olympic medallist Ally Wollaston has clinched the Elite Road National Championship title in Cambridge 18:07

    Entertainment:
    Jelly Roll believes simplicity is the key to his marriage 18:01

    Entertainment:
    Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom weren't "bringing out the best" in each other during their marriage 17:31

    Soccer:
    All Whites defender Tim Payne is aware critical eyes are on him and his play for the Wellington Phoenix 17:27

    Cricket:
    Black Caps pace-bowling all-rounder Nathan Smith has pointed to a potential caveat over-investing in the short format game 17:27

    Entertainment:
    Kim Kardashian and Sir Lewis Hamilton have been on "a few dates recently" 17:01

    Rugby:
    All Blacks lock Fabian Holland has suffered what appears to be a shoulder injury in the Highlanders' 41-31 Super Rugby preseason win over Moana Pasifika in Queenstown 16:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd