“That was my pacifier”: Dave Bautista’s Extreme Stage Fright Made Him Adopt Iconic Look He Still Carries After Conquering Hollywood
The Man, the Myth, the Legend, Dave Bautista has had an illustrious career so far, and it is just the beginning. From being a successful professional wrestler to conquering Hollywood, he has come a long way. The Guardians of the Galaxy star has proved himself worthy of all the rage but turns out the 6ft 4in, 265 lb man who can intimidate an entire room, is a certified ‘softie’ deep down. The wrestler-turned-actor has severe stage fright and is afraid of many things. His buff build might fool people into thinking he isn’t afraid of anything, but turns out, he is.
Thus, sometimes he has to hide behind a mask that has now become his iconic look. The iconic red carpet look that Batista carries every single time without fail is not only for fashion but also for him to seek shelter when things get tough.
Why does Dave Bautista hide behind accessories on the red carpet events?
In an interview with Michael Rosenbaum, on the podcast Inside of You, Dave Bautista revealed one of his darkest fears. The actor dreads public speaking, but unfortunately, the career path he has chosen requires him to appear daily in front of the camera and speak in front of millions, eager to listen to his words. He revealed,
“I really wanted to move up, if I wanted to progress in my career — I had to be a well-rounded professional wrestler. Which means you have to start speaking and acting”
He then reiterated, “It was my nightmare.”
The actor, therefore, realized how important it was for him and started taking steps to better himself in those departments. And to keep his fear in control, he chose elaborate hats, and sunglasses, to seek shelter. This, in turn, made the look iconic and is therefore now synonymous with his name. He further added,
“People always ask me why I wore sunglasses and hats and stuff when I was doing promos in the ring — that was my pacifier, hiding behind those things.”
Not only did his trick work wonderfully, but also made him recognizable among the public and a fashion icon.
Dave Bautista was a gym addict
During his 20s, Dave Bautista found himself lost and directionless, trying to fix his life with rigorous workouts. Anything too much is not good, and what he didn’t realize at the time was that he was over-killing it. He had also developed a condition called “reverse anorexia” and could not stop himself from wanting to get bigger and bigger. He said,
“I’m just so addicted to working out. Not only do I need it physically, but I need it mentally as well. It’s a therapy for me.”
“The next thing you know,—10 years goes by, and there I am trying to borrow money to buy my kids Christmas presents.”
