‘It was a love letter to my father’: Chris Hemsworth reveals his fears he was letting fans ‘too far in’ with ‘deeply personal’ doc about his dad’s battle with Alzheimer’s – but says it’s one of most important things he’s ever made

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Chris Hemsworth recently discussed his documentary about his father’s struggle with Alzheimer’s, describing the project as a heartfelt tribute and a deeply personal expression of love.

Last year, the 42-year-old actor released a film called “A Road Trip To Remember.” It documented a journey he took with his 70-year-old father, Craig, revisiting places from his childhood in Australia. The trip happened after Craig was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages.

This new information builds on his 2022 documentary series, Limitless. In that series, the actor discovered he carries two copies of the APOE4 gene, one inherited from each parent, which significantly increases his risk – by eight to ten times – of developing the disease.

In a recent interview with The Guardian, Chris shared that he hesitated to make his deeply personal and emotional documentary, as he was worried about revealing his private feelings to the world.

He questioned whether he was becoming too open with the public. He worried about whether people would still see him as the action hero or Marvel character they knew, and if he even wanted to share such personal vulnerabilities and anxieties.

Look, it wasn’t a walk in the park, believe me. But honestly, seeing what this project did for Daniel Craig? It’s become everything to me. Seriously, it’s the most important thing I’ve ever been a part of, just knowing how much it meant to him. I’m completely obsessed with it because of that.

He described it as a very personal tribute, really a love letter to his father. He explained that it briefly gave his father strength and brought back memories he was losing.

It’s been incredibly moving for me to hear from people impacted by Alzheimer’s after the film came out. Many have shared that seeing it with their children was deeply important to them – a way to connect and share their experiences before it potentially becomes more difficult. It really highlights the power of storytelling and connection.

He shared that his father’s diagnosis has significantly changed how he thinks about his work. He now feels able to take things slower and doesn’t feel the same pressure to constantly work and earn money as he did before.

The Australian actor is a proud father to three children with his wife, Elsa Pataky: a 13-year-old daughter named India, and 11-year-old twin sons, Sasha and Tristan.

I’ve definitely slowed down and become more cautious,” he explained. “I’m much more aware of how easily things can change or be broken.

It hits you that your parents won’t be around forever. My children are getting older – they’re eleven and thirteen now. I used to have nightly battles with them over who got to sleep in my bed, but those days are over.

Chris got very emotional last week when he remembered the moment he learned Craig had Alzheimer’s. It was a deeply upsetting memory for him.

He discussed his father’s worsening illness on Jay Shetty’s ‘On Purpose’ podcast, describing it as a significant shock for his family. He noted the disease had become more apparent over the last two years.

Everyone experiences dementia differently. Use this checklist to help you make a note of your symptoms before you talk to your GP.
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I’ll never forget when he basically told me not to worry about it. It’s stuck with me so clearly, the way he said it… it was everything.

A couple of years after that, my mom told me she was worried about my dad and thought he needed to see a doctor because she’d noticed some concerning changes.

He’d been experiencing typical memory problems – a bit of forgetfulness, mood swings, and general cognitive shifts. He got tested and discovered he carried two copies of the APOE4 gene, just like my mother.

He went on to explain that he, Luke, and Liam all inherited two copies of the APOE4 gene, which is an unusual genetic combination.

I instantly understood how difficult this was for him, as I’d recently been telling myself to ignore the problem and hope it would resolve itself later.

Honestly, things changed really quickly, and we were faced with a tough situation. But even then, that ‘we can handle anything’ attitude was still super strong within our group. We just had that feeling we’d find a way to make it work.

As things deteriorated, it was a jarring wake-up call. It felt like everything we believed to be stable and reliable was about to change drastically.

Chris is currently promoting his new movie, Crime 101, which features a fantastic cast including Halle Berry, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Nick Nolte.

Bart Layton, who previously directed the successful crime thriller American Animals in 2018, returns to the genre with this new film, which he also co-wrote and directed.

The movie Crime 101 is based on a story by Winslow and centers around a series of sophisticated jewellery robberies happening along the Pacific Coast. At first, authorities suspect the crimes are connected to Colombian drug cartels.

But one sharp-eyed detective isn’t convinced – and soon zeroes in on a very different suspect.

I’m so excited for the movie, coming out February 13th! I caught Chris on The Graham Norton Show on Friday, and he described it as really ‘sleek and sexy,’ with characters that have a lot going on. It sounds amazing, and I can’t wait to see it!

He described the movie as a modern take on classic heist films from the 70s, 80s, and 90s – the kind everyone enjoys.

The show features well-developed characters and genuinely moving moments. It’s also incredibly engaging, stylish, and visually beautiful – honestly, it was the best script I’ve seen in years.

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2026-02-04 16:49