Chris Evans Opens Up About How His Body Has Changed Since Quitting Captain America

It’s hard to imagine any other actor taking up the role of Captain America. With his disarming charisma and quick wit, not to mention that chiselled jawline and the kind of gym-honed physique you’d expect of a fitness influencer whose very livelihood rests on the presence of a perpetual six-pack, Chris Evans seemed born to play the part. Even so, to take on such an iconic character was no easy feat and given the physicality of Captain America, it was also a role that saw Evans put his body through a rigorous training routine and strict diet all so he would look the part. 

Since hanging up the shield, Evans has continued to impress on the big screen with roles in Knives Out and the upcoming, The Gray Man, which will see him play the bad guy in what is being touted as Netflix’s biggest movie to date. He’s also serving as a voice in Lightyear, which is something of a prequel to Toy Story, where he plays the action figure that goes on to inspire Tim Allen’s action figure in the original movies. Safe to say, these roles have been something of a welcome departure from the gruelling schedule of the MCU. 

Speaking to Yahoo Entertainment correspondent Kevin Polowy, Evans expressed just how much of a change his life has taken since stepping away from his character of Captain America within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which he played from 2011’s The First Avenger to 2019’s Endgame. Not only did the actor express how varied the roles he’s now taking on are, but he also went on to admit that his training looks a lot different now, too as he carries a lot less muscle. 

“[It’s] a literal weight off,” said Evans. “I’ve shed like 15 pounds. Every time people see me, they’re like, you OK? You’ve lost a little bit of weight…I haven’t had to hit the gym as hard.”

Evans added, “You know, it’s different, it’s different. For 10 years, you always have a movie around the corner, for 10 years it’s always, you finish one and then your life is scheduled by, OK, in six months we have press, six more months we start the next movie. To kind of have open water is, there’s parts of it that are nice, and parts of it that I really really miss, because it was a role that meant a lot to me, and I love those people, and it’ll be the best 10 years of my professional life, without any question, forever.”