Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Henry Cavill On Returning As Superman, The Rock, Best Advice He's Ever Received

Episode Date: November 1, 2022

Henry Cavill (@henrycavill) is an actor known for playing Superman and for his roles in films and TV series like Enola Holmes, The Witcher, Mission: Impossible - Fallout, and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. He joins Chris Van Vliet to talk about returning as Superman in Black Adam and how much Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson helped to make that happen, his American Akita dog named Kal, playing Sherlock Holmes in Enola Holmes 2 on Netflix, having to prove himself in Hollywood, the best advice he has ever received and more! For more information about ENOLA HOLMES 2 visit: http://www.netflix.com/EnolaHolmes2 If you enjoyed this episode, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast/iTunes? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests. For more information about Chris Van Vliet and INSIGHT go to: https://podcast.chrisvanvliet.com Follow CVV on social media:  Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter: twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube: youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet TikTok: tiktok.com/@Chris.VanVliet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All systems are going. Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Van. Oh, it is so good to see you. Welcome back to another audio adventure on Insight. We got a big one today. Superman himself, Henry Cavill, joining us on this episode. And it's always so good to be able to share a conversation with Henry. This is our fourth interview together.

And even if it's a mini interview or a mini view, as I like to call it, like this one, He's just, he's the best. He is such a gentleman. And sure, Superman was the role that really changed his career, and it's what he's best known for. But come on. He is incredible in The Witcher, Mission Impossible Fallout, The Man from Uncle,

and as Sherlock Holmes in Anola Holmes and the new movie, Anola Holmes, too. You'll see that on Netflix starting this Friday. He stars in it with Millie Bobby Brown. So Friday, you'll open up Netflix for the weekend. you'll go, ah, there it is, Anoa Holmes too. Oh, and we are so close to a thousand ratings on Spotify. So if you're listening on Spotify right now, it would mean a ton to me if you could just take the three seconds that it takes to go in there and click those stars. And hopefully, hopefully,

we'll be at a thousand ratings before the next episode of the show. And if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, a rating and review go, a very long way out there. So if you're feeling generous, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure you know a Henry Cavill fan or two, so please share this episode with them and let us know that you're listening.

Snap a screenshot, tag us on social media. It's just our names at Henry Cavill, at Chris Van Fleet, and let's do it. Please welcome the one, the only, Henry Cavill. Henry, it's always so good to see here.

Likewise. I'm going to ask, is Cal with you today? Cal is not in the room I probably shouldn't have said his name he'd be freaking out he's in the room next door coincidentally I also have my dog here for the interview

so Luna's great yeah what a week for you yes quite the week quite the week I interviewed the Rock a few weeks ago when it was still a secret that you were in Black Adam

and he was like a proud father he pulled me aside he's like what did you think of that mid-credit scene like he was so happy about it how much of a role did the Rock play in getting you to come back as Superman. Oh, I mean, look, it's always tough to say after the fact there's so many voices which have gone into this and so much work,

whether it be Danny Garcia working endlessly and tires to make this happen or Hiram Garcia and indeed the Rock as well, but there are other voices too. And it's just what is really the important thing is that I just feel so fortunate that there are those people doing that and also the opportunity to actually be back and to look to the future and to build something exciting.

We're glad to have you back. Thank you, my friend. When you take on an iconic role, like Superman, like Sherlock Holmes, how do you approach it knowing that fans already have an idea in their mind of how that character should be? Well, this Sherlock Holmes has a very unique situation

in that he exists in the Anola Holmes universe. And none of the other Sherlock Holmes have that. And so especially with Sherlock as a supporting character, rather than the lead character, this is not a universe that revolves around him. He is a color to this universe. And so for me, the approach was to collaborate with Harry and Millie

and make sure that every decision I made, everything that I did, tied into their plan for Anola's arc and for the story. of the movie. And that's how I approached it. It's, it's, the important thing is recognizing there's a difference. Anola is, is that unique difference. And that does change a lot about Shorla. There's a big theme in this movie of Anola trying to prove herself to everybody. When was the moment in your career where you really felt like you had to prove yourself? I feel like I have to prove myself every day.

I don't think there's, there's any letting up of that. Because, you're only as good as your last day of acting. And you've got to keep it up. There's no relaxing. You've got to keep on giving 100% every day. And yeah, I don't think there's any point where I'm like, yeah, I don't need to try anymore. I've got it. Henry, what's the best piece of advice that you've been given in your career?

That's a good question. I'm not too sure that I have the answer on the tip of my tongue, to be honest. But my best friend, or one of my best friends, he says love living. And life is for living. And I take that with me because work is really enjoyable. But it can also be very tough. and it can be very consuming as well. And for me, it's really important to have that balance.

And if there isn't balance, so you can't be doing the life stuff as well as work stuff, if work is that all consuming in that period of time, to be enjoying it. And if I'm not enjoying it, then I'm doing it wrong, especially at this stage, especially 22 years in, and things are going well. If I'm not enjoying it,

something is going really badly wrong. So that, I suppose, is the best advice. it's not directly career-related, but it actually does apply to both work and life. I love that. It's always such a pleasure to speak with you. And on the rarer occasion, someone will say, you know what? You kind of look like that actor, Henry Cavill. I'm like, that is the greatest compliment I have ever received.

You so are a far better looking than I. Thank you. That is a total lie. So you are a great actor. All right. Henry Cavill, ladies and gentlemen, and Anola Holmes, too, is streaming on Netflix beginning this Friday, November 4th. What a guy.

What a gentleman. We did this interview over Zoom, which is why it sounded a little bit funky. For some reason, my computer wasn't picking up the mic that I'm talking on right now, like the good mic. And it defaulted to my computer mic, so that's why it sounded the way that it did. But Henry Cabell is the only person that I've done an interview in person with them, and they're like sitting in a chair, you're at a hotel, and there's a different reporter going in every few minutes for an interview. He gets up from his chair, walks to the door to greet you, shakes your hand at the door,

walks you to your chair, and then waits until you sit down until then he sits down afterwards. I mean, it's just like the definition of a gentleman, and it's always such a pleasure to speak with him. Please share this episode with anyone who you think would enjoy this, especially that part about the best advice he's ever received. Man, that was so good. He is at Henry Cavill if you tag him. I'm at Chris Van Fleet, and I'll leave you with this great quote from Dr. Seuss.

Sometimes the questions are complicated, and the answers are simple. Be great. Be grateful. We will see you on the next one for some more insight. The Hammer Alley podcast, an 80s flashback mockumentary. Back in the 80s, There were a thousand bands trying to make it in the world of rock.

But there was one band that had it all. Hammer Alley. Whatever happened to Hammer Alley? How did they go from top of the rock? I'm looking for a music video. They're a band from 1987. Hammer Alley. Ever heard of then?

To Rock Bottom. Dude, I was born in 1987. I can't believe he's doing this. Hammer Alley. Follow and listen on your favorite platform.