15 Superstars Who've Played Superheroes (PHOTOS)

Chris Hemsworth wowed Natalie Portman — and female moviegoers everywhere — when he went shirtless in the 2011 summer blockbuster Thor. Armed with good looks, a dash of arrogance, and a mighty... hammer (eyes up here, people!), Thor can take down pretty much anyone and anything — including his power-hungry stepbrother, Loki.

After landing the part, the Australian actor invested himself in grueling workouts to achieve his impressive physique. Chris dished to The Los Angeles Times, “I got the part and immediately started looking at the comic books, and the guy is 500 pounds or something and looks like Schwarzenegger. And I thought, ‘OK, I’m not gonna get to that.’ But I have to get bigger.”

But he got a little too big: When he arrived for filming after a spate of intense workouts, he didn’t fit into his costume! Clearly, they worked it out, giving us the chance to drool over Chris in both Thor and The Avengers.