Mickey Rourke is not messing around with his upcoming project, a biopic of Rugby player Gareth Thomas. Dropping thirty pounds and getting into shape is some typical “actor preparation” stuff, but he has decided to do a bit more. Baz Bamigboye of TheDailyMail (via ThePlaylist) learned through a conversation with the movie’s producer, Colin Vaines, that the actor has had plastic surgery on his eyes in order to bear a closer resemblance to the real-life person he is playing. There’s method acting, and then there’s Mickey Rourke, folks.
The story of Gareth Thomas is an interesting one. For those who don’t follow Rugby, it’s an intense sport that puts any other contact sport (yes, even American football) to shame. And Thomas, nicknamed “Alfie,” was one of its best players, becoming the first Welsh-native to receive 100 caps (yes, as in hats) for playing in 100 international games. In 2009, he came out to The Daily Mail and for the last two years of his career (he retired in October 2011) he was the only openly gay man in professional sports that was still active. Besides that big story, his career also involved a marriage to a woman named Jemma from 2001-2009, as well as an assault conviction while playing in France.
Thomas‘ life has all the makings of an Oscar-worthy movie, and, from the looks of it, Rourke and everyone involved are committed to making that happen. While the man’s career has stumbled after making his comeback in 2008’s The Wrestler, there’s no denying the amount of talent and dedication that comes out when he puts his heart into a project. It should also be noted that Rourke, who’s pushing 60, is about twenty or so years older than Thomas, so it will be an even bigger feather in his cap if he successfully pulls off the role.
Production starts on Gareth Thomas‘ biopic in September.
Do you think Mickey Rourke will do Gareth Thomas justice?