Brett Goldstein, the breakout star on Ted Lasso, laces up and lets the expletives fly so people can finally have something to smile about. Get to know the actor like never before in the Q&A below. But first, the basics.
Go-to workout routine: I exercise every day for at least half an hour and I do Pilates.
Favorite sporting moment: When Lucas Moura brought his baby onto the pitch after scoring a hat trick.
Last vacation: Greece.
Best advice: You’ll be dead soon, so you may as well do it.
Men’s Journal: Congrats on all the Emmy noms!
Brett Goldstein: It’s mental. Truthfully, none of us expected anyone to watch the show. It feels like it’s a prank and I keep waiting for people to go, “Only joking!”
Why do you think Ted Lasso is so endearing to viewers?
I’ve thought about that a lot and think the show’s success is a reaction to all the negative public discourse that’s been all over our screens, in the media, in the news that’s become so mean and unpleasant. People were proud of being horrible to each other and it was ugly and disturbing how normalized it had all become. So the success of Ted Lasso speaks to how starved we are to see people look out for each other, despite challenges in their own life. The show tapped into this need for decency.
Your character, Roy Kent, could use some work on his manners.…
Well, I love that character. We have a lot in common.
How did you go from being a writer on the show to being cast as Roy?
I really understood him, but I also knew that no one was thinking of me for the part. So I made a video of me doing five things as Roy and I emailed it to the producers, saying, “Look, if this is embarrassing or shit, you can just pretend you never got it. However, if you like it, I think I could play Roy.” And then they just couldn’t be bothered to keep looking, so I got the part.
How close is Roy to your own self?
The only difference is he’s a better footballer than I am and I’m probably a bit more emotionally articulate than him. And I have the gene that worries about what people will think of me if I’m rude, whereas Roy Kent doesn’t have that. But the level of anger is the same. I just hide it better.
When was the last time you got angry?
This morning. I’m angry all the time.
Is Jason Sudeikis as positive as his character, Ted Lasso?
I think the philosophies are the same, yeah. Ted’s a slightly more exaggerated version of the real Jason.
What’s it like working with Jason?
I’ve learned a lot from him, how every line, every scene and every joke matters. Nothing is an accident. Fans write essays about different scenes, so that tells us that all the hard work was worth it.
Have you taken Jason out for a proper session in London?
Yes, we have! It was tricky because of Covid but we’ve had some fun. He held his own!
Do you follow football?
Yes, I support Tottenham Hotspur, so I know the phrase, “It’s the hope that kills you.”
So what happened in the Euro final?
England played really well. We deserved it as much as anyone and penalties are a fucking nightmare.
You don’t think it was a mistake to have a 19-year-old (Bukayo Saka) take the most important shot for England in the past 60 years?
No. You have no idea and anyone at any age could have missed that penalty. The reality of that kind of pressure is something you can’t practice for. Well done to them all.
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Tom Hopper has made a career out of being the built British bruiser. Towering at 6’5” over his onscreen colleagues in Black Sails, Game of Thrones, and The Umbrella Academy, the former rugby player is a rare breed in Hollywood. A studied dramatic actor, he’s found himself one of the new go-to gents in the action world.
“Growing up in that team sports environment, I really respond to a challenge,” says Hopper, over Zoom while on set in Vancouver.
So when the challenge is, say, be a hulking knight or an elite SAS soldier, Hopper trains like he’s going to war. Doing that for a decade has been a unique learning experience for the rising star. Not just physically, but also mentally in dealing with expectations from himself—and everyone else.
Now Hopper is hoping to share what he’s learned with others, both on social media and through campaigns with companies he believes in—like Viome—which helps improve gut health by adjusting food habits.
Men’s Journal spoke with the actor about his bumpy road to clean eating, struggling with self-image, and exciting projects he has on the horizon.
Men’s Journal: What was your introduction to fitness?
Tom Hopper: I was a skinny boy growing up. I remember when the rugby season came around, I was playing with all these kids who were bigger than me. They were massive, and it’s the kind of sport where size really matters. I remember even at that age thinking, ‘I need to hit the weights.’ But the Internet wasn’t around like it is today, and if you wanted to get information, you had to go into actual shops to buy fitness magazines.
I actually remember emailing some random bodybuilder I found in one of the magazines to ask him if creatine would be beneficial for me when I was a teenager. That just goes to show you how desperate the measures were. I was walking around with this very specific idea of what a real man was supposed to look like, and it led me down the wrong path. I was going to the gym with a real unhealthy mindset, thinking only of aesthetics.
How did that initial mindset impact the start of your acting career?
I realized early on there’s a niche opening in the marketplace for British dudes who are super fit. At the time, the majority of those guys were coming from America. I’m 6’5” and figured if I put on some real muscle I could brand myself in the action world. I dedicated myself to that process fully like it was sports training camp. That’s really what started me on this whole fitness journey. It wasn’t long before I was auditioning for all these big movies and TV shows.
Were there high expectations regarding your fitness for a role?
The biggest turning point in my career way when I got Black Sails. The movie 300 had just come out and there was all this hype around how jacked everyone was in Zach Snyder’s film. It was definitely a moment in the culture. So, in turn, with us playing these brutal pirates, this image was expected of us. I think there was pressure to look a certain way. Some of it was self-imposed because of what we were seeing in Hollywood. But the studio would also check in and get sent photos to make sure we were sticking with our plans. They set us all up with a personal trainer, James White, who ran the Roark gym in Cape Town, South Africa, close to set. That was the first time I felt the pressure to look a certain way for a role.
How did that affect you behind the scenes?
On the outside, and to everyone watching the show, I looked very fit and healthy. But during that time, I was feeling sluggish and found myself nodding off in the middle of the day. It was a real rollercoaster, from feeling great to completely crashing. I was wondering why I couldn’t get to where I wanted without such a struggle, and for a while I was blaming genetics. Eventually I decided I needed to take more control and really investigate why I was feeling the way I was.
There was another time we were preparing for a promo shoot for Black Sails, and we all went maybe a little too extreme with the calorie counting. I’m surprised my lovely wife stuck around to become my wife after that period because the diet made me a horrible human being. After one of the photo shoots, she bought me a special lunch to celebrate. I blew up at her because I wanted very specific “treats,” and she bought the wrong ones. She said, “Do you hear yourself?” I had to step back and really reevaluate what I was doing.
Courtesy of Netflix
What did you begin to work on?
I learned a lot about training from James during our sessions, but where I was really struggling was my nutrition. Back in the day, nobody was talking about it the way they do now. It was just about getting a certain amount of calories, and less about where they came from. I was eating burgers with cheese and fries to put on weight. There wasn’t a lot of sense about it. I had a friend, who always felt great, who told me to just try eating clean for a while. I decided to give it everything I had.
How soon did you feel the benefits?
The difference was pretty instantaneous. It was crazy to me how much better I felt when I was consuming real food and staying away from all the processed snacks I was craving. I was addicted, and the only solution I saw was to go cold turkey. That’s when I realized how much power they had over me. Passing by those shops, I was in actual pain from walking away without buying anything.
I started to see how unnatural it was for me to be craving those sugars so intensely. They’d created a massive imbalance in my body. I was being ruled by them. That was an awakening. I decided to wean myself off it all. Not an easy task with an addictive personality, but once I turned that corner, I actually became addicted to feeling good—to not waking up with headaches and not being tired all the time for no reason. I became addicted to enjoying my workouts again.
What was the hardest snack to give up?
Haribo gummy bears. I used to walk past the shops with Toby Stephens, who played Captain Flint on Black Sails, and he’d say, “Oh mate, I need some gummies.” And I would be right there with him.
Any recent challenges on the wellness journey?
During the start of The Umbrella Academy, they wanted me to bulk up and turn myself into a bit of a monster. Then, just a few weeks before filming, they decided we were going to use this massive muscle suit. I immediately had to lean down after putting on so much mass. That led me to experiment with things like fasting and the keto diet.
I don’t think most people stick to the true principles of keto, which is checking your body constantly for whether or not you’re in ketosis. For me, it’s something I dip in and out of. I’d feel great for a few days, then start to deplete a bit. The intermittent fasting worked straight away. Even when I’m not sticking to it firmly throughout the day, I’ll practice in the morning—including on set when there’s usually a breakfast laid out and someone’s asking what you want to eat. I got into the habit of telling them I wasn’t going to need anything until the afternoon.
It was around the end of the first season when I first came across this company Viome. I read they were doing microbiome testing for your gut based on your stool. At first I was a little standoffish about the concept, but eventually reached out to them.
What was the turning point?
A friend, Bobby Maximus, had used them to fix a serious stomach issue he was having. They helped him find out what foods had a negative impact on his system and basically healed his gut—with food. That got me curious.
Not only was I researching ways to improve my own health, but also for my son Freddie, who’s autistic. What I learned is that bad gut health can make the symptoms of autism more severe. At the time, my wife and I were going through quite a tough time with Freddie, and we were looking for anything to make our lives easier. So we decided to do the microbiome tests together as a family, and when we received the results we committed to following them.
I liked how simple they break down foods that are helpful, foods that are fine, and foods that are like poison to your body. I was surprised to find that bananas were a food Freddie was supposed to avoid, yet it was a superfood for me. So when I was having one I’d naturally just share it with him—with no idea it was affecting him differently and causing these problems in his gut. We noticed an immediate improvement in his behavior. It was really quite shocking how quickly things changed, from his mood to sleep patterns.
How about your dietary shift? Were you feeling the benefits too?
I definitely started to see similar effects for myself. Beforehand, I’d spent a lot of energy avoiding carbs. But once I learned some of them were on my superfood list, I realized I’d been depriving myself of some positive nutrition. I was eating carbs and looking and feeling better than I ever had. I also learned to enjoy real food—because once you lose that addiction to sugars and additives, you start to really be able to taste stuff again.
The gut is constantly evolving. So when you take the test six months or a year later, you’ll see how much things can change. Sometimes foods that were on your avoid list are now fine for you to enjoy again because a specific issue has been resolved. What I’ve learned is that it’s all about making positive shifts and adapting your eating habits when necessary. I went into Season 2 feeling like a new man.
And mentally?
Absolutely. I know a lot of people are struggling with mental health, especially after the year we’ve had. We all know the obvious things that can help, like exercise. But I don’t think people talk enough about how the wrong foods can make things worse. How, for example, the vagus nerve—which connects your gut to your brain—isn’t just a one-way street. People used to think if you were feeling bad it would manifest itself in how your stomach felt. Now we know this nerve is more like a highway. An upset gut can have a negative effect on our mental health as well.
How do you deal with all the attention paid to your appearance?
I’ve struggled a lot with body dysmorphia. No matter who you are, there’s this image in your head of what you think you should look like as opposed to what you see in the mirror. For me, the way out is being content with the best version of me and pursuing it fully—and not some guy on a movie poster.
I know if I put up an Instagram post where I’m shirtless, there will be toxic comments that aren’t productive. I’ve gotten better about “posting and ghosting” these days, where I’m not really reading any of it. That time is better spent elsewhere.
What drives you to be so open on social media about your training and other wellness pursuits?
I understand I’m one of those guys who’s been branded to look a certain way. But I also want to be able to say how easy and fun the journey can be—and that so much can be done by implementing very simple lifestyle changes. People ask me all the time how I have the discipline to stay in shape. How can I enjoy life while being so restricted? I’m actually having fun with every part of the process—and enjoying every bite of real food I’m tasting.
Have there been any adjustments in your training for upcoming projects—including Season 3 of The Umbrella Academy and the Resident Evil reboot.
I always like to keep the training fresh, so I’m constantly changing the kind of movements I do. I’ll pull new programs on social media from people like Marcus Filly, my friend Bobby Maximus, and Ben Patrick. I like people who do something different and go against the status quo, especially when it works. I’m working out consistently, so when it comes to putting on mass—like for Resident Evil—it just means eating more of those good foods I’m already on. I think people are really going to enjoy the reboot, especially fans of the game.
Going into The Umbrella Academy, I had a shoulder injury which occurred while doing a pretty standard lift. It was just one of those silly things when the weight just doesn’t move right. I did stem cells and PRP, which helped heal it up nicely, and I adapted my training to put less stress on it without sacrificing what I’d built so far. That was difficult, especially because of how taxing the muscle suit can be on my arms, but I was able to make it work. This is my favorite season we’ve done so far.
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I lost a lot of weight—22 pounds—in a very short amount of time. I asked props to bring me real shackles, to turn the cell as cold as possible. And I experienced waterboarding and force-feeding.
You voluntarily underwent torture?
We had codes in case I put myself in danger, but yeah. Different movies demand different methods. I wasn’t able to make up this part in my mind and make it look real. I didn’t want to sell something. I wanted the audience to feel it. The film is not about whether you think Mohamedou’s guilty or not. It’s about human rights.
We know about most of the harsh conditions at Gitmo. Was there something you discovered during production that surprised you beyond the usual headlines?
Mohamedou’s cell. When I went on set, I needed to spend some time in the cell to just experience it. It’s shocking because you barely have the space to lie down. The light is on 24 hours a day. And it’s all made out of metal so the sound is intense. It’s scary. And then in the courtyard, you can’t even talk to a co-detainee. Mohamedou never saw another detainee except for one little moment.
What was meeting Mohamedou like?
The meeting was a memorable moment, and this encounter will stay written in my heart for life. I was so surprised to see that a man who lived through this could smile, crack jokes, talk about movies or music, and ask about your family. If it wasn’t a true story, it would be hard for me to believe. I had to ask him some touchy questions. But when we started to talk about Gitmo, he changed. He was restless. I could see the trauma coming to life on his face. I felt so bad that I stopped asking questions. I remember saying to myself, ‘Who do you think you are to bring him back there? Stop it now.’
NFL cornerback Richard Sherman takes his gaming very seriously. When he isn’t on the football field, deconstructing offenses and holding interception records, the San Francisco 49er has been known to decompress with a little Call Of Duty.
“Playing video games scratches my competitive itch, while allowing me to rest my body,” Sherman tells Men’s Journal. The five-time All-Pro player has even been taking part in charity streaming events on Twitch, squadding up with fellow NFL players like Darius Slay. “There are similar feelings that come from those competitions—the release of serotonin after a great play and that sense of camaraderie with your teammates.”
Sherman’s life-long passion for gaming made him a perfect fit for Zero In, a new mini-doc series from LG OLED and Ubisoft’s recently released Assassin’s Creed Vahalla. Sherman’s episode gives an inside look at his fitness regime while showing off his cutting-edge gaming setup. The footballer handles the controller like a pro.
We spoke with the future Hall of Famer about his no-frills approach to training, gaming with teammates, and how it plays into his recovery.
Have you always been a big gamer?
I’ve been playing video games my whole life. I remember kicking it with the original Nintendo, playing games like Temco Bowl and Zelda, and it just evolved from there. These days I play a lot of Call of Duty, as well as a few different sports games, mostly basketball. I really enjoyed checking out the new Assassin’s Creed game. It’s cool to be able to have so many different outcomes and adventures, depending on the choices you make.
There’s no doubt you work hard. Does your gaming play into your recovery?
I’ll get some of my recovery in the gaming chair, no question. If there’s any chance for me to multitask, I’m going to do it. I’ll sometimes play with a piece of Game Ready or a NormaTec compression technology on. I’ll do some gaming when we’re training and in season, during my downtime. It’s nice to let my hair down, and let the stress of the day go. Obviously I’m not going hard if I’ve had a long day in camp or anything like that, but our off day is usually on Tuesday, and that’s when I get the majority of my games in. I can play for four or fives hours during a longer session.
Any snacks on hand?
The healthy snacks have to be there, of course, but I’m all about my Starburst and Gushers. I need to have those around when I’m in the mood.
What elements take your gaming experience to the next level?
My gaming chair is from Clutch, and it’s seriously comfortable. That’s important. LG’s new OLED 4K TV has added a lot as well, not just the low latency and quick response time, but also the colors; they’re just insane.
How does your gaming on the field compare with the gaming you do at home?
My competitive spirit comes through in everything I do. Gaming is no exception. I want to do everything I do well. I can’t turn that part off. That’s in my nature. I want to win at everything, and be great at everything. There are elements in the shooter games I can draw similarities to: You’re communicating and uniting toward a common goal, assessing your surroundings, and making quick decisions and movements.
Do you play with anyone from your team or the rest of the league?
I game with a few guys from the league. I played with some of my teammates just the other day. Jimmy [Garoppolo] plays a little bit, [George] Kittle is pretty good, and I play some with Mike Davis from the Carolina Panthers and Preston Smith from Green Bay. Adrian Colbert from the Giants has been getting really good. None of us are pro level as you can imagine. We’ve been smart enough to find a few pro gamers who can help us out.
Who are some of those pro gamers?
I’m with Luminosity, so I’ll occasionally grab matches with a guy on our roster called “Slacked,” who’s been known to do some crazy stuff in Call of Duty. I’ve had my views changed as far as what I believed was possible in the game. What really keeps you going when it comes to playing any kind of shooter or skill-based game, is seeing someone pull off something ridiculous and wanting to do it yourself.
Does the trash talk ever involve the season or does the field ever bleed into the virtual world?
No, that never happens actually. I think we all have an understanding on that level.
Is there anyone out there in the league you’re paying special attention to when you’re preparing for a game and studying tape?
Every person I face deserves my full effort. I treat them all the same—with a tremendous amount of respect and appreciation. They’re all superstar players. As someone who’s played in the league for around a decade, I know that anyone can show up when their time comes, so if you drop your focus at all, they all have a chance to beat you down the field or catch you.
Has your training changed at all over the years? What’s kept you on top for so long?
I have to say I’m just doing what I’ve always done. I’m taking care of my body—eating right, sleeping right, going out there and grinding. There really isn’t any secret formula to success. It’s hard work, dedication, perseverance. I don’t have a chef. I don’t look for any cheats. I stay away from red meat, most carbs, and processed foods. I don’t believe in a new school way of overcomplicating things. I know people who spend too much time on reading data, and not enough time on being great. I find guys who spend too much money and effort looking for shortcuts usually aren’t great.
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