Initially, actor Mark Wahlberg was known for his music and also for being an underwear model for Calvin Klein, he used that platform to bag roles in movies and starred in many films throughout the 1990s. He managed to gain popularity thanks to his good looks and acting skills.
Wahlberg recently revealed that he was reluctant to star in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 movie, Boogie Nights. The movie played a significant role in making actor Mark Wahlberg a household name, but why did he have second thoughts? The actor believed that it was an attempt to exploit him.
Mark Wahlberg refused to star in Boogie Nights initially
Actor Mark Wahlberg recently appeared for an interview with Cigar Aficionado magazine and talked about one of his most iconic roles, Eddie Adams in 1997’s Boogie Nights. The actor explained why he was hesitant to accept the role,
“I came from the whole Marky Mark thing, pulling down my pants, Calvin Klein underwear – I didn’t know if this was just the next level of exploiting me, and now all of a sudden we have to lose the underwear.”
Wahlberg initially gained popularity as a musician with his group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. Their music was quite popular and Wahlbger quickly became a known name. In 1992, Calvin Klein hired Wahlberg to be an underwear model.
The actor thought that the film was terrible
The actor further explained that he didn’t think the film would be successful. Just by reading its script, he started having second thoughts. He said,
“I read the first 25, 30 pages, and I kind of put it down. I was like this could be something great, or this could be absolutely terrible.”
Despite his reluctance, the casting directors kept convincing him. In the end, Wahlberg had to take the role of Eddie Adams, a young nightclub dishwasher who becomes a popular star of p*rnographic films.
Boogie Nights made Mark Wahlberg a superstar
Boogie Nights premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 1997 and was theatrically released in October 1997. It was a massive success and got nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay for Paul Thomas Anderson, Best Supporting Actress for Julianne Moore, and Best Supporting Actor for Burt Reynolds.
At the global box office, the film earned roughly $43 million on a production budget of $15 million. For Wahlberg, it became a pivotal film that changed the trajectory of his career. Looking back at it, it is safe to say that Wahlberg has no regrets.
Source: Cigar Aficionado
