Being a superhero is fun in theory, but getting into those costumes can sometimes be an actor's worst nightmare. This certainly rang true for Chadwick Boseman and Paul Bettany, who portray Black Panther and Vision respectively in the upcoming Captain America: Civil War. Costumes, prosthetics and makeup cover both actors from head to toe, and as they both acknowledge, it can be a tiring affair, though rewarding when seeing the final product.
Unlike Bettany, who already had Age of Ultron under his belt, this was Boseman's first foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and he had quite a lot to get used to."It was a gradual process seeing the different parts of it put together here [in Los Angeles], and when they finished it there," he said. And every time they’d add a part I’d be like, ‘You mean it’s going to cut off my air supply?’ Oh, okay, let me figure out how to breathe like that. It was just a process of getting your mind right. I would talk to the stunt coordinator, some of the stunt guys, and they’d be like, ‘Now you’re in there. You have to go to this Zen space."
Bettany likened the experience to a ticking clock; it's only a matter of time before the pressure starts to weigh on you. "It’s not the first day that’s a problem. It’s not really the second day that’s a problem. It’s not the third day. And then you’re waking up on the fourth day… By the time it’s the fifth day of being in it, for 12 hours or whatever, you’re waking up in the morning, and you’ve put your head on the pillow the night before, and you wake up and it’s the morning. ‘I gotta get back in the suit!’"
Despite the stress, it seems Bettany opted to zone out through meditation while on set in order to focus. "You really have to meditate. You have to meditate, and, frankly, I meditate on the long line of actors that would love to be in my position right now. You really remember how fortunate you are. But there is no getting away from the fact that it’s uncomfortable and challenging, in terms of keeping your inner peace."
It's hard to argue that both characters look beautiful onscreen when all is said and done. Be sure to watch the full interview below! Captain America: Civil War releases May 6th.