I don't hate wrestlers in movies.
I just cannot stand watching them in staring roles when they have no formal acting training.
Ventura was fine in P1, partly because he was a character actor in that role.
If any one has seen Jet Lee's Fearless, they will recognize Nathan Jones who was also in the movie Troy. Giant in the begging who gets stabbed in the Neck by Achilles. This guy would be great in c creature costume like a Predator.
The guy getting his Role in Fearless had very little to do with any wrestling experience.
He got both his roles because he is 6'10" and 350 pounds of muscle. Steroids are irrelevant. Very few people on earth are that big. The guy is almost as tall as Shaq, and he is built like Lou Ferrigno.
But as much as his physical credentials make him a good character actor for the role of 7 foot monster with a bodybuiler physique, his acting skill has a lot to be desired, so it make little sense to have him as a staring character.
On a side note: Muscle is muscle, the same fibrous strands of protein tissue, regardless of what is helping cause its growth. They may have health issues because of it, but that is their business. If you do some research you will find there is a clear distinction between steroid use and abuse. They are illegal in the USA, but a lot of guys still get a hold of them.
If you spend your time researching this you will find out some things no one would originally think. Stuff like: most of the side effects are temporary, testicular atrophy is temporary and can be reversed after a cycle (specific planned period to be on) is over with fertility drugs like clomiphene citrate. Injections are far safer than orals. Oral steroids are the most harmful because they have been made toxic to avoid being broken down by your liver etc... That is just the tip of the iceberg. You can find out a lot of stuff by doing some research. Check out the steroid board over at
bodybuilding.com's message board is a place to start. Read all the stickys, then do some google'ing.
If you spend about 100+ hours reading about them, you will find out two things; 1). Steroids are not as harmful as you would think, if the user knows what they are doing and has regular blood work done by a physician to monitor for the beginning signs of serious side effect, and 2). The risks are still too high versus benefit unless you are making a living based off of the presence of your physique, such as a Pro Wrester r bodybuilder.
