Why Chris Hemsworth was 'hesitant' to disclose his private health issue: 'Not a death sentence'

Chris Hemsworth has admitted he was initially "hesitant" to give fans insight into a highly private health matter.

The Aussie actor has since revealed that this hesitance was partly down to a fear of stigmatisation as well as the effect he believed it might have on his acting career.

Hemsworth, 42, opened up about his predisposition to Alzheimer's in 2022, sharing that both his father and grandfather had been affected by the incurable disease.

Speaking to Variety this week, Hemsworth – who is best known for his role as Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – said that he "wondered if [he] was letting people too far in," by speaking out.

"Are they no longer going to believe in the action star or the Marvel character?" He questioned. "And do I want people to know my fears and insecurities to this level?"

Hemsworth previously disclosed that his genetic makeup includes two copies of the 'ApoE4' gene – which studies have linked to an increased risk of developing the degenerative disorder.

According to Dementia Australia, the gene increases the chance of developing Alzheimer's disease but does not make it certain.

Some people with ApoE4 never develop Alzheimer's disease, and others who develop Alzheimer's disease do not have ApoE4.

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However, the actor has made it clear that this outcome is not a given – and he has no intention of hanging up the tools just yet.

Hemsworth reflected on the media attention this revelation garnered at the time, expressing disappointment at how his candid admission had been framed to seem as though he was "destined" to succumb to the disease.

In an interview with Vanity Fair in 2024, he admitted it "pissed him off" that something so personal had been spun that way.

He was quick to clarify that the gene was not pre-deterministic, and "not a death sentence."

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"It felt like I had been vulnerable with something personal and shared this," he said.

"The story became that I have dementia and I'm reconsidering life and retiring and so on."

Recently, Hemsworth delved into he and his father's journey navigating the devastating disease in a documentary for National Geographic.

Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember sees the Thor star take his dad Craig on a road trip into their past, as they attempt to halt the progression of Craig's Alzheimer's.

The one-hour documentary, which centres on a motorcycle road trip, "highlights hopeful, science-backed tools in the fight against memory loss and cognitive decline".

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