Dolph Lundgren has dozens of iconic films under his belt — but the Rocky IV alum still gets nervous every now and then.
“My most nerve-wracking scene was in Aquaman: big dramatic scenes with Nicole Kidman and Willem Dafoe,” Lundgren, 67, reveals exclusively in his 25 Things You Don’t Know About Me feature in the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now. “I didn’t have too much action — the first time I’d done that — so I was nervous.”
The action star — who is also the founder of Hard Cut Vodka — worked hard to earn his role in the 2018 superhero film.
“I auditioned two, three times for Rocky IV and Aquaman,” he told Us. “When you lose out on a role, you try to learn if you did something in the audition that should have [been] done differently.”
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Keep scrolling for more fun stories from Lundgren — including his most embarrassing on-set moment:
1. Sometimes when I meditate, I get emotional. It’s mostly crying out gratitude for being alive.
2. If I wasn’t an actor, I would probably be a chemical engineer. Maybe an oil company CEO. Or a karate instructor.
3. My favorite comfort meal is spaghetti bolognese with some red wine.
4. I love being a newlywed [he married Emma Krokdal in 2023]. You’re with [someone who] enriches every moment of your life. [My marriage] has great energy and positivity.
5. If I could watch only one movie for the rest of my life, The Godfather would be No. 1.
6. My dream collaborator would be Quentin Tarantino.
7. My favorite place to hang out as a teen in Sweden was my karate dojo. I was sick as a kid, and I had problems with my dad, so this was a place to escape.
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8. My celebrity crush growing up was Lynda Carter. She was hot.
9. My most nerve-wracking scene was in [2018’s] Aquaman: big dramatic scenes with Nicole Kidman and Willem Dafoe. I didn’t have too much action — the first time I’d done that — so I was nervous.
10. [After] my dad took me to see a Bond movie as a kid, I started looking up to Sean Connery. I met him later.
11. I was about 10 or 11 [when I got] my first job at the cafeteria in a big company. It was a good experience, but that’s when I decided to go to college.
12. My go-to drink order is a 5:1 martini with Hard Cut Vodka and three green Italian olives.
13. Sly Stallone is my oldest friend in the industry. Actually, I’ve known Arnold Schwarzenegger the longest. I was going out with Grace Jones, and I visited his second Conan movie in 1983. And then I met Stallone in ’85.
14. I’m binge-watching Sex and the City. My wife has seen all the episodes. She dragged me along.
15. [For a role], I prepare, prepare, prepare. Then on the day of shooting, I try to relax and joke around. There’s always some unknown, so you can’t be too set in your ways.
16. I knew there was something special about Emma after five seconds of speaking to her.
17. I would love to revisit my character Drago from [1985’s] Rocky IV — a spinoff but focusing more on his family and his son.
18. My most embarrassing on-set moment was with [2010’s] The Expendables. Stallone was directing. He’s a friend but a pretty tough guy. [I had to] redo my monologue about 17 times. There was a lot of press there.
19. I auditioned two, three times for Rocky IV and Aquaman. When you lose out on a role, you try to learn if you did something in the audition that should have [been] done differently.
20. My favorite place to vacation is Italy — Sardinia or Rome.
21. The most famous people in my phone are those two gentlemen from before [Stallone and Schwarzenegger]. I’m friends with Kelsey Grammer, too
22. My most starstruck moment was when I was going to a house party a couple years ago. There was an old Honda in front of us. The driver got out, and it was Clint Eastwood. I said hi.
23. The proudest moment of my career was attending the Aquaman premiere in London with my two daughters [Ida, 29, and Greta, 23].
24. I was in Bora Bora 35 years ago on my way to Australia, and going back is on my bucket list. It is a magical place.
25. If I’m short for time, my go-to is a Pilates core workout. If I have a little more time, I would go for a combination of martial arts and weights afterward.
