Sam Claflin is one of four different cover stars of Glamour UK's Women of the Year issue (July). Sam just happens to be Glamour's Man of the Year this year, and was honored at the Women of the Year Awards last night in London (see the photos and video from the awards here).
We've transcribed the article from GlamourUK for you below.
"There was huge pressure mounting over me initially." An understatement of the highest order, one might argue. For when Brit actor Sam Claflin beat a host of names, including Armie Hammer, to win the coveted part of Finnick Odair in the second installment of the Hunger Games movie franchise, the internet and his wife all had an opinion. And not prevalently positive ones...
"I couldn't help but come across comments on my casting. They were just everywhere," laughs the 27-year-old from Suffolk. "I started the process thinking I was going to have to have serious surgery to make everyone happy. With a young Brad Pitt's face, Zac Efron's abs, Dwayne Johnson's pecs, and Channing Tatum's left calf! But it's impossible to please everyone. I trusted the team that brought you Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. They had their reasons for picking me and i worked my butt off to prove to any doubters that I was the man for the job."
That he certainly did, with glowing reviews and a global box office gross of $865 million and counting for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Which in part may be due to the world's infatuation with his co-star, Jennifer Lawrence. Sam himself is a huge fan.
"She's this young, talented klutz who has won an Oscar at such a young age and has the entire world loving her. But she deserves every bit of praise she's received. I can safely say that she genuinely hasn't and never will let any of it go to her head. She's an inspiration to me as much as everyone else and I've loved having the opportunity to work with her."
But the main woman in Sam's life is his wife of one year, actress Laura Haddock. "Getting married was easily one of the greatest achievements of the past 12 months. To have a wife with such wondrous, creative imagination, who planned every inch of it, made the day all the more special. Every five seconds I find myself falling harder and deeper in love with her."
Professionally, things couldn't be sweeter, either. Two huge movies due for release this autumn are set to cement Sam's leading man credentials - romantic comedy Love, Rosie opposite Lily Collins and The Riot Club alongside fellow Brit actors Douglas Booth and Max Irons.
And as for being anointed our newest Man of the Year, Sam remains uncharacteristically humble.
"It was a tad unexpected, to say the least, but i feel very honored. I'll continue to do what I'm doing so as not to let you down! I feel truly privileged to have my name along all the previous winners. Thank you very much."
Handsome, talented, charming, romantic and polite. Why are all the good ones taken?