From Austrian village to Hollywood royalty, the action star shares his early American dream
Arnold Schwarzenegger has opened up about the moment he first “fell in love with America” — a dream that would eventually shape his entire life and career.
Now 77, the iconic action hero, bodybuilder, and former California governor recalled his early fascination with the United States during a candid chat with The Wall Street Journal. Long before the muscles, movies, and million-dollar paychecks, young Arnold was just a boy in Austria marveling at grainy school film strips.
“At age ten, I fell in love with America,” he said. “They were about things like the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge, and cars with huge fins driving on U.S. highways with six lanes on each side. All of it was over the top. I was blown away.”
That early exposure to the American dream lit a fire in him — one that wouldn’t burn out until he made that dream a reality.
“I said to myself, ‘What am I doing here?’ I wanted to be in America and to become famous and rich.”
From Muscle to Movie Star
Schwarzenegger’s journey began with bodybuilding — where he rose to global fame with titles like Mr. Olympia — but his heart was always set on Hollywood. Despite success in fitness, he admits he spent much of his youth daydreaming about stardom.
“All of my time was spent in this world of physical fitness, building up muscles to compete in contests and fantasising about movie stardom.”
But when he retired from bodybuilding in the ’70s and set his sights on acting, not everyone was supportive.
“You’re Too Big – It’ll Never Work”
Arnold recently spoke with his son Patrick Schwarzenegger for Variety’s Actors on Actors, where he revealed the resistance he faced breaking into film. At the time, lean, dramatic actors like Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino were the norm — not 250-pound muscle machines.
“Everyone said, ‘Arnold, it’s never going to happen. Your name — Schnitzel or whatever — no one will remember it. You’re too big.’”
“In the ’70s, it was Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino, Woody Allen. They weigh 140 pounds. Look at you — 250, like a monster.”
Yet, Schwarzenegger’s self-belief proved unstoppable. From “The Terminator” to “Predator”and “Total Recall”, he eventually soared past all expectations — reportedly earning $30 million per movie at the height of his career.
The American Dream, Realized
Today, Arnold Schwarzenegger stands as one of the greatest symbols of the American dream: a man who came from modest beginnings, armed only with ambition, and carved his name into both cinematic and political history.
What began with film reels in a classroom has become a legacy that continues to inspire generations worldwide.
