The Making Of A Movie Star - Martyn Ford

Muscle & Fitness chats to British actor

- Danni Levy

HE’S TAKING HOLLYWOOD by storm, but what’s really behind the man mountain that is, Martyn Ford?

“I’ve always been very sports orientated,” says Martyn. “I don’t like losing and I believe focus and determination is key.”

Second place is simply not an option for the British movie star.

“Being the best is paramount for me,” Martyn grins. “I don’t take part in anything to come second.”

Martyn excelled at athletics as a youngster, but it was cricket that made its mark on his youth.

“I’ve always been really good at discus, javelin and shot put,” he says. “I really enjoyed these events at school, but at the age of 12 I started playing cricket and that was my forte. I played for Warwickshire County Cricket Club until the age of 19. I spent a lot of time with the England Academy and was loving life, but a sudden injury put a stop to my cricket career. The thought of returning to the sport after injury just never felt like a strong option to me. And so, I decided to leave cricket behind and move on in life.”

Martyn then started university at the age of 20, where he studied sports science.

“My university course opened up my eyes to all kinds of sports and different ways of training,” he says. “It was during this time that I developed a passion for weights.”

Martyn admits he is naturally very long and lean. In an effort to bulk up and alter his appearance, he started training heavy in his early 20s.

“I added masses of muscle and masses more tattoos,” he jokes. “I felt as if I was starting to create the real me. My role models were Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Vin Diesel.”