Dolph Lundgren

The Rocky Road to Stardom

Photo credits: KH photography
Best known as baddie Ivan Drago in the 80s blockbuster Rocky IV, Swedish superstar Dolph Lundgren has been living in Marbella for a decade with his wife Anette and daughters. Giles Brown caught up with the actor at the Qi gym….

Dolph, what are you up to at the moment?
I’m working on a European TV action project that I’m putting together and trying to produce. I’ve already directed a couple of movies – The Defender, The Mechanik and Missionary Man. In New York I’m working on this vitamin supplement line and I’m also launching a skin care range for men, and I’ve got a couple of film projects in LA – one to direct, three to star in and produce, that I’m trying to get off the ground.

Sounds like you’re a busy man…
I’m spending a lot of time on planes but I don’t really mind. The trip to London from here is great, because its only two-and-a-half hours which is perfect. LA is a little more brutal because it’s 11 hours from London. I rack up a lot of air miles, but I think that it’s worth it. My family love it because they’re here, away from the hustle and bustle of LA, so I think that it’s good for them.

So how do you stay fit with all this flying?
Keeping in shape is difficult when you’re constantly running around and it takes a lot of planning and focus. But I’ve got places that I can work out and spar in Marbella, London, New York and LA, so I can call ahead and book in a session when I’m on the road. I have to remember that the reason that I’m doing interviews and have a great house is because of my physique, so I’m trying to keep it for as long as I can. Even though I still like to go out and drink tequila and stay out late!

How did you get into acting?
I was studying chemical engineering in Sweden and won scholarships to the US and Australia. I went back to the US to do a master's degree. I met a girl in New York ( the Amazonian diva Grace Jones) who was a singer and I did some modelling and then got into acting. Pretty soon I landed the Rocky IV role and before I knew it I was famous, so it was kind of an unusual way for it to happen – usually you have to study and struggle and work as a waiter and do a couple of bit parts…

Can you see yourself acting with Sylvester Stallone again?
I doubt that Stallone will bring Ivan Drago back, and I think that it’s better to keep that the way it is! Another fight picture would be fun to make, though. I’m trying to stay in the action adventure genre, but play different, more mature roles. It’s not bad thing to be stuck in these roles if you’re writing and directing and twist the genre.

Do you ever wish that you could have been a bigger star?
It’s a blessing in disguise. I’m not Tom Cruise and I don’t have to travel with 20 bodyguards and I’m glad for my kids’ sake. I can make these modest movies and be fairly well known worldwide, and I can also move onto producing and directing, and if I get a kick out of that then I’m happy. I’m lucky that I’ve had the run that I’ve had, and I hope that I keep it going for a few more years.

How did you end up in Marbella?
Anette used to come here when she was a kid, and she dragged me here on our honeymoon. We were supposed to go to Marrakech and Marbella and do a wine trip that I’d planned, but we got here first and stayed for three weeks. We kept coming back and finally brought a place in 97, and now we split our time between London and Marbella.

How do you relax away from the movies?
I try and take a day off a week – no appointments, just spend time with my kids and see nobody. If I’m in LA I don’t even go out of the house. And I do like my occasional Tequila night in Marbella with the boys – I am a Viking after all!