Mark Wahlberg discusses fighting with friends

Mark Wahlberg’s friends avoid his calls “for the most part” after helping him train for The Fighter.

The actor had a full-size boxing ring installed in his home as he prepared to play Micky Ward in the Academy Award-winning film. Mark says although his friends are keen to spar with him, it has made some reluctant to speak to him afterwards.

“It’s still there,” he exclaimed in an interview with Kyle and Jackie O radio show. “Of course [I spar with them] – every chance I get.”

When asked if his pals avoid his calls after stepping into the ring with him, Mark joked: “For the most part!”

Mark has been in a host of popular movies including The Fighter, The Departed, Planet of the Apes and The Italian Job. The 40-year-old star doesn’t have any pre-conceived ideas before committing to a script.

“You think some have more of a chance to be critically praised than others, but it really depends on the film,” he said of award season.

“I’ve definitely been in films where I’ve regretted taking part but you’ve got to learn from that. You go in with the best intentions hoping that every movie is going to be great but it takes a lot of hard work for a movie to turn out good.”

Mark is currently starring in and producing Baltasar Kormákur-directed Contraband. He was thrilled to work alongside the dedicated filmmaker.

“The great thing about it is that Baltasar has never really had a big budget, he’s always used to doing small, independent films, so he shoots so efficiently. He knows exactly what he wants and how to get it,” he said.

“That’s really how I prefer to work – everything is so fast-paced. I don’t like sitting around in my trailer and twiddling my thumbs. I like getting in there and doing it.”

Mark loves producing.

The star thinks being part of the filming process behind the camera gives him a better idea of how the movie industry works.

“I think it makes you understand the business better, certainly the most important part of making a movie is not the acting – it’s a very collaborative process,” he revealed.

“Sometimes actors get caught up in doing their own thing and don’t take into consideration everyone else’s jobs.”