Young Thor actor Dakota Goyo reflects on Marvel debut

Well, it's been 15 years since Thor first smashed onto our screens.

And before the hammer and the hero, there was Dakota Goya,

the tiny actor who played the young God of Thunder.

When I'm king, I'll hug the rofters down and slay them all.

Just as you did, Father.

A wise king never seeks out war.

It's easier sometimes to go through war.

So Dakota went on to star alongside Hugh Jackman in real steel.

He voiced Jamie Bennett in Rise of the Guardians

and even played young Noah in the Russell Crowe epic.

Let's go. Dakota joins us now from Toronto in Canada.

Nice to see you.

Hello. Thank you for having me.

Welcome to the show.

Hey, 15 years on.

It must have been like an absolute dream role to land that as an 11-year-old.

Do you remember when you first found out that you got that part?

I do. Yeah, it was two weeks after filming real steel.

I got the call.

And there was no audition process.

They told me we would like you to play young Thor.

And I was very excited because I was a comic book kid.

So I read all the comics.

And yeah, it was very exciting for sure.

Oh, dream role.

The film features so many huge stars.

Like, of course, Chris Hemsworth at the Hopkins Natalie Portman.

What was that like working alongside that such greats?

Truthfully, I only met Anthony Hopkins.

I didn't get to meet Chris Hemsworth, unfortunately.

Well, how could you because you had lunch?

I met Tom Hiddleston on a plane on a separate occasion on a flight to London.

But yeah.

Do you remember, did you get any advice that really stuck with you as a young kid on that film set?

On Thor, I did get some good advice.

If I'm going to give you one piece of advice, it would be something I got from real steel.

It would be from Hugh Jackman.

And it would be to never practice too much because you can taint the authenticity of the performance.

Let it flow naturally, let the scene breathe.

That would be the best piece of advice for everybody.

Well, that's also the philosophy that you practice here.

Yeah.

You have to practice it all.

It's my philosophy.

It's very similar.

Just let it flow as it comes to you.

Oh, you're way to lunch.

Just let it go.

You still want to take for performance.

I don't.

But notice that this film may have had an impact on your workout routine.

What was your end goal to look like Thor?

Oh, no, not at all.

I don't have the Australian genetics.

But it was just sort of off as a small goal to improve my health.

And I fell in love with the lifestyle, pushing myself and fell in love with the discipline.

So I won't be looking back.

I'll be keep going.

But I wouldn't call it bodybuilding.

I would just call it fitness, keeping fit.

Okay.

Well, I mean, if you're going to hang out with people and be inspired by people,

it might as well be a huge act when it criss-hams with, right?

Of course.

Yeah.

I mean, sure.

I don't have the Australian genetics, though.

Let's keep that in mind.

I'm not going to be that big.

Did you, when you were 11 years old on these film sets, did you think,

this is something I want to do for the rest of all time, for the rest of my life?

I did.

Yes.

It's a very young age.

I knew that I have an extreme passion for this.

On the contrary to what you may read online about me being retired,

I am not retired.

I'm actively pursuing my career.

And I will always have a passion for it.

And I'm very proud of what I have accomplished.

Oh.

Well, it's so good to check in after all these years.

Dakota, thanks for your time this morning.

Thank you so much for your time.

Thank you for all growing up.

Thank you.

And thank you for reminding me, from your heart, not to practice.

I appreciate that.

That's it.

It's an important take away.

I believe it's true.

Love it to see you this morning.