Zac Efron Says It Was 'Jarring' Standing Around in His Underwear onIron ClawSet: 'Where Do You Put Your Hands?'

Mar. 15, 2025

Zac Efron on Nov. 8, 2023.Photo:Stewart Cook/Getty ImagesZac Efronis sharing one of the most challenging aspects of playing a pro wrestler: wearing so few clothes on set!While Efron, 36, recently discussed his new movieThe Iron Clawwith the U.K. outletMetro, the actor admitted it took time getting used to spending downtime on set in his underwear around so many people.“One of the jarring moments that I wasn’t expecting was when the wrestling stops, or there’s a cut, or in between setups or takes – you’ve just got to stand there with a whole crowd around, in your underwear,” he said. “And there’s nothing really going on.““That’s a different kind of feeling. I’ve never experienced that one before,” Efron added.Zac Efron in ‘The Iron Claw’.Brian Roedel/A24Efron portrays pro wrestlerKevin Von ErichinThe Iron Claw, which traces thereal-life story of the Von Erich professional wrestling family.Jeremy Allen Whiteplays the late Kerry Von Erich in the film, whileHarris DickinsonandStanley Simonsportray Kevin’s other late brothers David and Mike Von Erich. The film follows the siblings as they struggle to live up to their father Fritz Von Erich’s (Holt McCallany) expectations for them in the pro wrestling industry.“You just kind of gotta… like, where do you put your hands? On your hips? You can’t help – there are people everywhere, you can’t look up and have somebody not looking back at you! So that was a bit unnatural,” added Efron toMetro.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Zac Efron in ‘The Iron Claw’.Brian Roedel/A24Efron first gained attention forThe Iron Clawwhenphotos emerged of himshowinga muscly physique on the movie’s setin fall 2022. The film proved a success for the actor, filmmaker Sean Durkin and distributor A24. It carries high ratings from critics and audience members alike onRotten Tomatoesand has made more than $34 million at thedomestic box officesince its release in December.“Playing somebody who’s real and still alive adds an extra layer of complexity, I think,” Efron said of playing Kevin Von Erich at a Q&A for the movie in New York City back in November. “As an actor, it’s a fine line. You want to do everything you can to make sure it’s an honest portrayal of the character, without going so hard that it’s an impersonation. And for this movie, just knowing that he was going to be out there and would ultimately see it, I didn’t know if I was going to do a good job or not.”

Zac Efron on Nov. 8, 2023.Photo:Stewart Cook/Getty Images

Stewart Cook/Getty Images

Zac Efronis sharing one of the most challenging aspects of playing a pro wrestler: wearing so few clothes on set!While Efron, 36, recently discussed his new movieThe Iron Clawwith the U.K. outletMetro, the actor admitted it took time getting used to spending downtime on set in his underwear around so many people.“One of the jarring moments that I wasn’t expecting was when the wrestling stops, or there’s a cut, or in between setups or takes – you’ve just got to stand there with a whole crowd around, in your underwear,” he said. “And there’s nothing really going on.““That’s a different kind of feeling. I’ve never experienced that one before,” Efron added.Zac Efron in ‘The Iron Claw’.Brian Roedel/A24Efron portrays pro wrestlerKevin Von ErichinThe Iron Claw, which traces thereal-life story of the Von Erich professional wrestling family.Jeremy Allen Whiteplays the late Kerry Von Erich in the film, whileHarris DickinsonandStanley Simonsportray Kevin’s other late brothers David and Mike Von Erich. The film follows the siblings as they struggle to live up to their father Fritz Von Erich’s (Holt McCallany) expectations for them in the pro wrestling industry.“You just kind of gotta… like, where do you put your hands? On your hips? You can’t help – there are people everywhere, you can’t look up and have somebody not looking back at you! So that was a bit unnatural,” added Efron toMetro.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Zac Efron in ‘The Iron Claw’.Brian Roedel/A24Efron first gained attention forThe Iron Clawwhenphotos emerged of himshowinga muscly physique on the movie’s setin fall 2022. The film proved a success for the actor, filmmaker Sean Durkin and distributor A24. It carries high ratings from critics and audience members alike onRotten Tomatoesand has made more than $34 million at thedomestic box officesince its release in December.“Playing somebody who’s real and still alive adds an extra layer of complexity, I think,” Efron said of playing Kevin Von Erich at a Q&A for the movie in New York City back in November. “As an actor, it’s a fine line. You want to do everything you can to make sure it’s an honest portrayal of the character, without going so hard that it’s an impersonation. And for this movie, just knowing that he was going to be out there and would ultimately see it, I didn’t know if I was going to do a good job or not.”

Zac Efronis sharing one of the most challenging aspects of playing a pro wrestler: wearing so few clothes on set!

While Efron, 36, recently discussed his new movieThe Iron Clawwith the U.K. outletMetro, the actor admitted it took time getting used to spending downtime on set in his underwear around so many people.

“One of the jarring moments that I wasn’t expecting was when the wrestling stops, or there’s a cut, or in between setups or takes – you’ve just got to stand there with a whole crowd around, in your underwear,” he said. “And there’s nothing really going on.”

“That’s a different kind of feeling. I’ve never experienced that one before,” Efron added.

Zac Efron in ‘The Iron Claw’.Brian Roedel/A24

Brian Roedel/A24

Efron portrays pro wrestlerKevin Von ErichinThe Iron Claw, which traces thereal-life story of the Von Erich professional wrestling family.Jeremy Allen Whiteplays the late Kerry Von Erich in the film, whileHarris DickinsonandStanley Simonsportray Kevin’s other late brothers David and Mike Von Erich. The film follows the siblings as they struggle to live up to their father Fritz Von Erich’s (Holt McCallany) expectations for them in the pro wrestling industry.

“You just kind of gotta… like, where do you put your hands? On your hips? You can’t help – there are people everywhere, you can’t look up and have somebody not looking back at you! So that was a bit unnatural,” added Efron toMetro.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Efron first gained attention forThe Iron Clawwhenphotos emerged of himshowinga muscly physique on the movie’s setin fall 2022. The film proved a success for the actor, filmmaker Sean Durkin and distributor A24. It carries high ratings from critics and audience members alike onRotten Tomatoesand has made more than $34 million at thedomestic box officesince its release in December.

“Playing somebody who’s real and still alive adds an extra layer of complexity, I think,” Efron said of playing Kevin Von Erich at a Q&A for the movie in New York City back in November. “As an actor, it’s a fine line. You want to do everything you can to make sure it’s an honest portrayal of the character, without going so hard that it’s an impersonation. And for this movie, just knowing that he was going to be out there and would ultimately see it, I didn’t know if I was going to do a good job or not.”

source: people.com