Last Saturday saw us realise a dream we’ve had for quiet sometime… no not the magical one hundred and 80 throw at a dart board not even the mythical a hole in one on the golf course something far more important than all of that. This was An Evening with Arnold Schwarzenegger!
Yes THE Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mr Universe (5 times), Mr Olympia (7 times), Golden Globe winning, Governor ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER!
This special evening was hosted by award-winning TV chat show host, Jonathan Ross, at the Lancaster London Hotel and did not disappoint.
Like the other events curated by Rocco Buonvino Productions this was an all access, no holds barred conversation with one of America’s true greats.
We were in for quite the ride – covering everything from the Austrian Army, bodybuilding, films (old and new), politics including the Presidency and of course CIGARS.
So what did we find out…? So much and here’s a few highlights…
First we got to travel back with Arnold to where it all began in Thal, Austria, where a young Arnie was in the Army as tank driver… having crashed into a building on base, severing both gas and water pipes and continued promise in the sport of competitive bodybuilding, it became clear the army was not for him!
He left, with his only star being unceremoniously torn from him (literally by his commanding officer) to become the youngest person ever to win the Mr. Universe title at just 20. He then packed his bags emigrated to America and went on to win five Mr. Universe titles and seven Mr. Olympia titles before retiring to dedicate himself to acting…
He then spoke about how he made a name for himself in Hollywood… and in 1977, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognised him with a Golden Globe for New Male Star of the Year for his role in Stay Hungry opposite Sally Field. The big break came in 1982 when the sword and sorcery epic, Conan the Barbarian, hit box office gold. In 1984, he blew up the screen and catapulted himself into cinema history as the title character in Jim Cameron’s sci-fi thriller, Terminator.
Credit on all images: Yui Mok/PA
Talking about some of the 50+ explosive movies and memorable characters including roles in Commando, Predator, Twins, Total Recall, True Lies, Eraser, Collateral Damage, Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines and The Expendables series Arnie when on to explain he’s the only actor to be in both categories of the American Film Institute’s “Hundred Years of Heroes and Villains” for roles he played in the Terminator series.
>>>NEWS JUST IN: There will be a film called Triplets, the sequel to Twins! As well as another Conan film and installment of Terminator, T5.
He served the people of California as the state’s 38th Governor from 2003 to 2010. First elected in California’s historic recall election, Governor Schwarzenegger ushered in an era of innovative leadership and extraordinary public service.
Arnold is a man with immense personal drive and when the question of the Presidency came up he unequivocally said YES, if he could he would have, without a doubt! Demolition Man crystal ball anyone?
Did Someone Say Cigars??
We couldn’t let Mr Schwarzenegger leave London without talking about cigars!
So what did we find out? He used to smoke 2-a-day, which even by our standards is pretty good going! But now he only gets to smoke around half a day which is sad times.
When asked about favourite cigars he spoke of his particular fondness of Davidoff and Cohiba cigars but his all time favourite was the CIGAR AFICIONADO CIGAR OF THE YEAR 2013, Montecristo N0.2 – and yes he is happy for anyone to gift him a box anytime!
Its safe to say if Arnold Schwarzenegger’s life was a movie, it would surely be the greatest movie ever!