'Thor' Stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman Talk Chemistry In New Video
Portman calls beefed-up leading man 'a god' in new video from movie's set

MTV.com, 10 June 2010
By Kara Warner

Hot on the heels of the release of the first official photo (and alleged concept art) from "Thor" comes a video report straight from the Santa Fe, New Mexico, set, courtesy of "Entertainment Tonight."

The clip features a charming exchange between two of the film's stars, Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Natalie Portman (Jane Foster): The duo discuss their chemistry and Hemsworth's impressive build. Portman also expresses delight upon discovering that Hemsworth was on Australia's version of "Dancing With the Stars."

The topic of Hemsworth's toughness and physique are played up in the video, along with a few brief action scenes. "He's a god," Portman says of her co-star, even alluding to his healthy, "big appetite." Later, Portman pokes fun at herself with a fake teaser: "Chris and that little midget girl, starring in Thor!"

Director Kenneth Branagh praised Hemsworth's dedication to the role, saying the actor worked himself into peak condition.

"He took seriously the challenge that had to be taken on by whoever was going to play Thor, to find this combination we wanted of a sort of Herculean strength, and gosh, he's strong," Branagh said. "We've had him doing all sorts of physical feats on it. Some of it's practical — lifting people up, lifting two people up, and doing it for a long time over the course of a day. I sort of said, 'Oh, you've got to get your shirt off. Do you mind?' And he said, 'Do I mind? I spent six months getting into shape for this! No, I don't mind!' "

"It's pretty exciting," Hemsworth says in the clip when asked about stepping into the boots of the storied God of Thunder. "The whole thing is surreal."


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