Chris Hemsworth stars as Formula 1 racer James Hunt in the new Ron Howard film Rush, where he’ll strip out of his racing suit for a nude scene.

Hemsworth, who dropped 30 pounds of bulk from playing Thor to match the physique of Hunt and fit into the racing car, claims that the stunt driving was far less frightening than baring it all in front of the cameras. “'It was more intimidating than the driving scenes," Hemsworth confessed in an interview with NBC. "Are you kidding me? It's like 100 people standing around, 'Get [your clothes] off!' 'You going to turn around first? Turn the cameras off?' 'No!'"

Olivia Wilde, echoing the sentiments of fans of the Hemsworth brothers – Chris and Liam – said she had asked the actors’ mother what it was like to have those two sons. “Oh, I didn't have them,” the Hemsworth matriarch replied, according to Wilde. “They were created by Hollywood scientists."

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While Hemsworth's good looks certainly don’t hurt when it comes to getting parts, Howard wasn’t sure if the Australian superhero film star would be what he was looking for in the actor to take on Hunt. But Hemsworth's body language – not his body – won Howard over.

"There was something about the way Chris carried himself and his body language,” the director said in a statement. “And even what he was able to do preparing his own audition just based on watching an interview with James that was really exciting.”

Rush traces the racing rivalry between Hemsworth’s character Hunt and Niki Lauda – played by Daniel Burhl – during the 1970s. Wilde plays Suzy Miller the girlfriend and eventual wife of British playboy Hunt, while Maria Lara plays the wife of Laude.

– Chelsea Regan

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