‘The Hunger Games’ Sam Claflin Panicked Over Topless Scene

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was a big opportunity for Sam Claflin. While he was new to Hollywood with only a couple of film roles under his belt, landing the part of Finnick Odair in the sequel to such a massive hit ($695 million worldwide) was a major step. Even more challenging, however, was an unexpected change during filming that pushed him beyond his limits, both mentally and physically.

Sam Claflin described the intense anxiety he felt about taking his shirt off on camera. This scene marked his character Finnick’s first meeting with Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) outside of the arena, and he shared the story on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast.

Looking back at some of my early roles, I remember one film in particular that really stands out – and not in a good way. They sprung a topless scene on me just a week before filming! It wasn’t even in the original script. Honestly, I panicked. I hadn’t been hitting the gym, and suddenly I was scrambling to figure out how to handle it. It was a pretty shocking introduction to the industry, to say the least.

The character he played in Catching Fire – a role he’d repeat in both Mockingjay films – was described by author Suzanne Collins as handsome, fit, athletic, and even a bit of a heartthrob in the Capitol. Interestingly, despite this strong on-screen persona, Sam Claflin himself admits to feeling very insecure in his personal life.

I recently saw a screening of a movie I was in, and right afterward, the director and producers asked what I thought. Honestly, I told them I disliked it. It wasn’t the movie itself, but seeing my own face on screen that bothered me – I just don’t like how I look. I believe I struggle with body dysmorphia, possibly stemming from my teenage years. I went through puberty later than others and felt insecure about my appearance – I felt too short and not strong enough. This has really affected me, and I think many guys can relate.

Sam Claflin Has Gone from Strength to Strength

Prime Video

I have to admit, even though I wasn’t a fan of his American accent in The Hunger Games, Sam Claflin really hit his stride after that. Since 2019, he’s been consistently fantastic. I especially loved his work as the villain Sir Oswald Mosley in Peaky Blinders – what a show! But he’s also delivered strong performances in a lot of other things, like Me Before You, the My Cousin Rachel adaptation, the really intense The Nightingale, even the Charlie’s Angels reboot, and the mystery series Lazarus on Prime Video. And his role as Billy Dunne in Daisy Jones & the Six was truly something special – he even got a Golden Globe nomination for it, which he absolutely deserved!

Subscribe for Deeper Looks at Actors’ Journeys

Explore actors’ on-set challenges, career pivots, and conversations about body image in film. Subscribe to the newsletter for thoughtful coverage and sharp perspectives that illuminate these topics and broader industry stories you won’t want to miss.

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our

and

. You can unsubscribe anytime.

2026-02-05 18:33

Sam Claflin Has Gone from Strength to Strength

Subscribe for Deeper Looks at Actors’ Journeys

Read More