Joe Allan - Chris Pratt--The Biography

Maybe one day Ill be able to know I did a great job while Im on set, but Im not there yet. I was still just really embarrassed and full of anxiety that I was blowing it the whole time.

Chris Pratt, after completing work on GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY HUFFINGTON POST

T heres a moment, just after the halfway point in Guardians of the Galaxy, when the titular band of misfits who have only just managed to put aside their differences and form a very uneasy alliance appear to be falling apart. This most unlikely gang of intergalactic heroes consisting of a deluded space pirate, a female assassin, a vengeful warrior, a genetically mutated talking racoon and a walking tree faces a seemingly insurmountable challenge, hopelessly outnumbered and vastly outgunned. It is at this crucial moment when their leader, Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord) a half-human, half-alien bounty hunter steps up and proclaims, I have a plan. Immediately shot down by the rest of the team, he reasserts himself with, I have part of a plan, only to face further derision. On finally being asked, What percentage? he adamantly counters, I dont know: twelve per cent. Taken at face value, its not exactly the most rousing speech youre likely to hear, much less the rallying cry of the hero in a potential franchise-launching, $170 million action movie. It leaves you wondering if the speech Mel Gibson delivered as William Wallace in 1995s Braveheart would have inspired the gathered clans of Scottish freedom fighters quite as much if hed demanded only 12 per cent of his freedom from the English oppressors, or what the amassed followers of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr would have made of his not-quite-so-stirring, I have twelve per cent of a dream speech. The fact that the actor in the role of Peter Quill is Chris Pratt at that point best known for playing likeable but dim-witted, overweight slobs, such as Andy Dwyer in the television comedy series Parks and Recreation makes the scene all the more incongruous.

Just over a decade earlier, Chris entered the acting profession with a similarly shaky plan but his strategy was undoubtedly one that fell a few percentage points short of twelve. After charming his way onto a movie set, via a stint living rough in a converted van and working as a waiter in Hawaii, Chris accumulated an enviably eclectic acting CV in a relatively short period of time. It ranged from the broadest of comedies to a handful of more serious dramas, including several Best Friend roles opposite the likes of Channing Tatum and Vince Vaughn, to supporting roles in three Best Picture Oscar-nominated features working alongside some of Hollywoods most acclaimed filmmakers and actors, including Kathryn Bigelow, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain. In under five years Chris went from headlining a gross-out comedy, which bordered on soft porn and contained virtually no laughs whatsoever (Deep in the Valley) to becoming the lead in the USs highest-grossing movie of 2014 (Guardians of the Galaxy). As he entered 2015, he was enjoying the prospect of headlining three very different movie franchises well into the next decade and beyond, with roles already confirmed in sequels to Guardians and The Lego Movie and his future in the Jurassic World saga largely dependent on his ability to outrun a genetically modified mega-dinosaur. While all this is undeniably impressive, the really extraordinary achievement is that he has done all of this without seeming overexposed or turning into the typically Hollywood-created, egocentric nightmare.

Much of his down to earth charm and good humour can be attributed to his working-class roots, his close-knit family upbringing and, more recently, his relationship with the comedienne and actress Anna Faris. The strength of Chris and Annas marriage is noteworthy and comes as a direct consequence of their ability to work together and successfully navigate the pressures and pitfalls associated with their shared profession Anna already had a very successful film career when they met and, with her ongoing role in the sitcom Mom, she continues to be one of Americas most consistently funny comediennes. But surviving and, indeed, thriving within an industry fuelled by gossip, rumour and scandal is not easy. Their obvious stability as a couple probably has more to do with their apparent decision to shun much of the glitz and glamour, as well as the intrusive media coverage which inevitably follows the type of sustained success they have experienced in Hollywood. While Chris and Anna may have all the obvious characteristics necessary to become a typical Hollywood Power Couple, they have shown little interest in exploiting their success to feed their own fame or celebrity status. Unlike Hollywoods other golden couples, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (Brangelina) or Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner (Beniffer), Chris and Anna are rarely photographed leaving star-studded industry events or fashionable celebrity hang-outs and, besides, Chranna is probably the worst superstar couple name ever. Instead, the couple seem much more interested in spending their free time at home together, raising their son, Jack.

Fiercely protective of their privacy, they have chosen to shield Jack from minute-by-minute media coverage and unsolicited paparazzi attention in a manner that Kanye West and Kim Kardashians baby daughter North might only dream about.

But behind the image of Chris as the devoted family man, with the apparently easy-going attitude and slacker personality he has portrayed so successfully in multiple roles, there is someone who wants to be seen as something more; someone determined to prove himself as an accomplished, all-round actor. Initially perhaps fuelled by that twelve per cent of a plan his career aspirations were limited and it seemed unlikely he would progress beyond bit parts and walk-ons, seemingly unwilling or unable to shift from first gear. As an untrained actor, he remained unconvinced about his own versatility, constantly undermining himself with doubts as to his abilities and satisfied to carve out a respectable niche using his admittedly formidable skills as a naturally comedic performer.

Chris had seemingly found the perfect outlet for his talents on US television in 2009, with the character of Andy Dwyer Parks and Recreations lovable bonehead and he would serve as one of the shows key players throughout its seven-year run. But despite his own misgivings and being constantly told by casting directors that he didnt have The It Factor, he never stopped auditioning for lead parts. However, soon after failing to win a string of high-profile jobs, with his confidence understandably dented, he decided to focus more directly on one type of role. As a character actor, aiming predominantly at supporting roles, he insisted on being the best he could possibly be in whatever parts he could land. It was this distinct shift in focus that led him to a greater understanding of his rare power as an actor. He now approached each job with renewed dedication, leading to the creation and portrayal of a wide range of characters, while still striving to find truth and something recognisably connected to his own spirit and personality in every one. Whatever the role, he went the extra mile. Whether that preparation involved extensive research, learning new skills, or the type of physical transformation that required massive weight gain or crash-dieting, he showed he was a hundred per cent committed to every project and the individual character he had been hired to play. This newfound clarity helped him deliver a series of supporting but often scene-stealing performances in a string of successful comedies, while simultaneously highlighting his evolving versatility in some quietly understated dramatic roles. Chriss apparent willingness to challenge himself and defy peoples expectations of him as an actor led to a rapid increase in his stock as a relatable and far more importantly in terms of success in the movie industry a bankable leading man. And, finally, when it comes to Hollywood at least, it never hurts to show the world youve got killer abs, even if it does come via a my brother made me do this photo on Instagram.