In the realm of superheroes, few characters embody the essence of hope and strength as profoundly as Superman. Until recently, behind the iconic cape and symbol was Henry Cavill. He undertook the monumental task of bringing the Man of Steel to life back in 2013. While he may no longer be the actor playing the iconic role, the 40-year-old once opened up about the efforts he made to uphold the idea of the character for his fans.

While he managed to do just that for years as Kal-El, Cavill gave fans a peek behind the curtain and explained the efforts it took from him.

Henry Cavill’s struggle to uphold the Superman title

The world might be used to seeing muscular, strong-willed men taking up the role of Superman and Henry Cavill, made sure to keep the standard. With his chiseled physique and charming personality, the star radiated the character’s superhero air. However, he revealed that it was not always easy. In an interview with USA Today in 2013, the actor opened up about how he protects people’s “idea of what Superman is.”

He went on to say that he had to stay in shape and not walk around looking like “an unhealthy mess.” While fans would have loved him either way, Henry Cavill said, “There is a responsibility” on his shoulder as he had to depict the character. Although the actor has talked about his struggles with playing such a well-known role, it was his dedication to the image of the character that stuck with everyone.

While his intentions were pure, Henry Cavill may have taken it to a whole new level. Apart from constantly finding ways to stay in shape, he also revealed that he avoided going on the Internet, especially without a shirt.

Why Henry Cavill avoided the internet

In the same interview, Henry Cavill also opened up about how social media could misinterpret or say things that could sting. He said that people set themselves up for “too much criticism and speculation on the internet.” While that is true for most of the online world, celebrities and famous personalities usually end up being caught in the middle of it all.

He ended the conversation by saying that he was keeping all his “semi-nudity private for now.” While he said it years ago, it is the one thing that the star seems to have stuck to throughout his career. However, now that he is no longer Superman, thanks to James Gunn’s DCU reboot plans, maybe fans will be lucky enough to find him shirtless in some upcoming project of his.

What do you think about Henry Cavill’s sheer efforts to uphold the Superman legacy? Let us know in the comments below.