Q: How did you get involved with the film?
CHRIS HEMSWORTH: I'm from Australia and I was shooting something in Chicago, when my manager called and said, “You have to drop everything you're doing and go meet J.J. Abrams in his offices, he's doing auditions.” So I rushed over there to his office, and he' sitting behind his desk, and … the guy's, like, “Fantastic, you start work next week.” It really happened that fast.
Q: Were you into Star Trek?
CHRIS HEMSWORTH: It's one of those things where I feel like it's something I knew about, most people do whether you're a fan or not. It's been around long enough. But consciously, I didn't watch it much growing up, but I think it just wasn't in the circles that I was involved in. I'd always had an admirations and respect for it, though.
Q: Talk to me about George Kirk as a character.
CHRIS HEMSWORTH: I think he's the commander of the ship, and at such a young age, the position he's in speaks volumes about him. He has a strong sense of justice and right and wrong, and strong morals, and I think he's a real stand up, classic, good guy who puts other people before himself.
Q: While you were filming, did you have James T. Kirk in mind at all?
CHRIS HEMSWORTH: I think the image of Kirk was in our heads when we were shooting as far as where he'd come from and what kind of father he might have had. I also think that while we were shooting J.J.’s attitude was to make these characters as real as possible and as human as we could, and play to the truth of what was on the page. One thing he loves to do is to take these larger than life characters and make them accessible to the audience.
Q: How would you describe filming itself?
CHRIS HEMSWORTH: It was all pretty mind blowing – I'd only been in the states for four months or something, and then to find myself on the Paramount studios lot, and I'm on one of the biggest films in history, and there was so much build up, you know, talk about this film, so I just kept thinking, “What am I doing here?” But I guess any insecurity I felt must have been put to rest by J.J.’s confidence and assurance, and he does instill that in all the cast and the crew; he has such a strong vision of what he wants and he's so creative – also, he gives you the assurance to experiment and try things as well. It was certainly an enjoyable experience working with someone like that.
Q: You said he was striving for realism. Did the set itself that that realistic feel to it?
CHRIS HEMSWORTH: Absolutely, yeah. It certainly was – it wasn't on a blue screen, it was a real set, and I remember at one point a bunch of us were to just busying ourselves with different controls and things, and we were thinking that could be a problem because there are so many buttons and joysticks to press and interact with. I just kept thinking, “Wow, the work that has gone into this thing” – you almost believe maybe this thing could fly!
Q: From what I understand, the look of the Kelvin is a bit more beat-up?
CHRIS HEMSWORTH: Definitely. I remember seeing both sets – the Kelvin and the Enterprise – and being equally impressed with both of them. There was certainly a period feel to the Kelvin as opposed to the chic, fresh look of the Enterprise.
Q: Is yours a relatively small role?
CHRIS HEMSWORTH: I can't really talk about it too much, because I've been told so much what NOT to say. I think it's significant in the sense that it certainly, what's the word, it sets a lot of stuff up, and builds the history to it, so it's significant in that sense.
Q: Is there anything else you want to share with me about the film?
CHRIS HEMSWORTH: Just that it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had working in the industry. J.J. and the crew had shot a few films together, but – and I think I’ve said this before – you could feel the weight of what was behind this project. As far as setting up shots and working with actors and his creativity, J.J. was such a great person. To be a part of it, and to be a part of the Star Trek legacy, was incredible.