Guardians Of The Galaxy is probably the most unexpected hit in the entirety of the MCU. Before its release in 2014, nobody but fans of the comic would be able to tell you who Rocket Raccoon was. Two Guardians movies and the Infinity Saga later, and they're one of the most popular parts of the entire franchise.
This popularity naturally extended itself to the actors who play the characters. Some of them were already pretty well known before the movie, but all of them had their profiles raised by the success of the movie. With that in mind, here are a few interesting facts about the cast of Guardians Of The Galaxy.
Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt is one of the biggest Hollywood success stories of his generation. Going from living out of a van on the beaches of Hawaii to starring in some of the biggest blockbusters on the planet is a meteoric rise by any definition. Pratt's star power has also allowed him to be a hero off-screen as well as on.
In order to visit sick children in hospital, Pratt stole the iconic red jacket, and a few other wardrobe items. One can only imagine how much a visit from Star-Lord might mean to an ill child who probably doesn't get to be a kid nearly often enough.
Zoe Saldana
The leading lady to Pratt's leading man, Zoe Saldana, already had a few big successes under her belt before taking the role of Gamora. Before joining the MCU she had already played the role of Nyota Uhura in the J.J. Abrams Star Trek films and had starred as Neytiri in Avatar. Before that, however, she found her, "First passion," in Ballet.
Living in the Dominican Republic, she joined the Espacio de Danza Academy as a teenager. However, she eventually grew disillusioned with the world of dance. Explaining this decision she said, "in dance, you use every part of your body except your voice. I wanted to start acting because I wanted to use my voice."
Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper plays what is arguably the world's most well-known raccoon. For an actor best known for his boyish good looks and roguish charm, it's ironic that he is now best known as an abrasive trash panda. But Cooper has never let the physical appearance of a character get in the way of delivering a solid performance.
While preparing for the role of Chris Kyle in American Sniper, he added forty pounds of muscle to his frame. To accomplish this, he consumed up to six thousand calories a day. In addition to eating five meals a day, he would also supplement this with protein bars and energy drinks before and after every workout.
Dave Bautista
After Dwayne Johnson, Dave Bautista is one of the most successful wrestlers to transition over to the world of acting. Critics and audiences alike were delighted by his portrayal of Drax the Destroyer, calling him one of the most memorable parts of the film. He's also appeared in films such as Spectre and Blade Runner 2049.
Bautista has worked hard for his success. Realizing that his acting chops were not up to par, he hired an acting coach whom he consults with to this day. He also learned on the job, getting tips from actors such as Billy Zane and Dominic Purcell. When he got the role of Drax he says he, "Cried like a baby."
Vin Diesel
Vin Diesel is best known for playing growling tough, muscle-bound tough guys in films like The Fast and the Furious and The Chronicles of Riddick. Despite this, he has shown genuine range in movies like The Iron Giant, and Find Me Guilty. It was this capacity for genuine performances that helped launch his career.
In 1995 Diesel made a short film called Multi-Facial, in which he plays a mixed-race actor and his struggles with his career. Famed director Steven Spielberg saw the film at the Sundance festival and was impressed by his performance. He subsequently wrote a role for Diesel in the film Saving Private Ryan.
Michael Rooker
It should surprise no one that Michael Rooker fits perfectly into the role of Yondu Udonta, Star-Lord's adoptive father and leader of the Ravagers gang. He's been playing morally ambiguous tough guys for decades. His star-making role was playing a serial killer.
Rooker played the titular Henry in Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer. Though the movie was filmed in 1986, it did not see a theatrical release until 1989, partially due to being given an X rating by the MPAA. The film also played a part in the creation of the NC-17 rating, which denotes an adults-only film which is non-pornographic.
Karen Gillan
First rising to prominence in the role of Amy Pond on Doctor Who, Karen Gillan was a natural fit in a sci-fi adventure. While best known for her stint as the Eleventh Doctor's companion, she had appeared in the venerable series far earlier. Two years before being cast as Pond, she'd played a minor role in the Tenth Doctor episode, The Fires Of Pompeii as a soothsayer.
None of this should come as any surprise, as Gillan's mother was a huge fan of Who. She was, in fact, the first person the actress told when she received the role of Amy Pond.
Djimon Hounsou
Djimon Hounsou is one of those actors that a lot of people couldn't identify by name, but have nonetheless seen everywhere. When Hollywood needs to cast someone who can effortlessly project an air of menace, Hounsou is always a solid choice. None of this is to say he can't act though, because he most certainly can.
Hounsou has twice been nominated for an Academy Award, both times for best supporting actor. His first nomination for his role in In America made him the fourth African male to be nominated for an Oscar. Two years later he would be nominated again for his role in Blood Diamonds.
Lee Pace
MCU films have sometimes been criticized for having unmemorable villains in comparison to their well-received heroes. Lee Pace could then be said to have broken the mold somewhat in his role as Ronan The Accuser. Not only did he tell Thanos to get lost, he's one of the few characters seen to be able to handle direct contact with an Infinity Stone. Pretty damn impressive.
Pace himself managed an impressive feat when he became one of only three actors to appear in five films in a row that each grossed one hundred million at the box office. He shares this distinction with Robert Downey Jr. and Will Smith.
Benicio Del Toro
The Collector is a relatively minor character with a huge role in expanding the audience's understanding of the MCU's first story arc. He explains to the Guardians and by extension the viewer, about the nature of the Infinity Stones. Then he pretty much disappears from the movies until he is killed by Thanos in Infinity War.
This could be considered ironic, as in real life Del Toro and Josh Brolin are long-time friends. To date, they have appeared in five films together. Interestingly, he was also a peer of Mark Ruffalo at the Stella Adler Conservatory in Los Angeles.