Chris Pratt Talks Male, Female Objectification In Superhero Movies

05/05/2017 01:45 pm EDT

Chris Pratt has not always been a Hollywood sex symbol. There was a time where he was the doughy, but still lovable, Andy Dwyer in Parks and Recreation. However, as he has transformed his body, he has become more aware of how he is viewed.

The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 star said that there are times he feels like part of the set, moreso than a human. While he tried to make light of the subject in the interview with Collider, he remained respectful of how Hollywood has used sexiness to exploit female stars for years.

"It hasn't hurt my career," he said. "We are objects. It's true. We're props. They paint us up with make-up, and they take a camera and point it at us. Half the time, what ruins it is us talking.

"As a man, I can say that, but I have to be careful because, for generations and for millennia, women have been objectified in a way that there's a pretty horrifying past around, so it is a little bit different. I don't know if you'd call it a double standard, but I think you have to deal with them separately because there's a history of objectification that is a sensitive issue.

"So, I can say objectification is good for me because, when I turned my body into an object that people like, I got paid a lot of money, and now my grandkids are gonna go to a great college because of that object. But you have to be a little sensitive about that because there are a lot more great roles that are written for men than there have been for women."

Pratt lost over 60 pounds to shift his image for the first Guardians movie, and has since bulked up for Jurassic World and his reprisal of Star Lord in the now-released Marvel follow-up film.

His co-star Elizabeth Debicki -- playing the all-Gold Ayesha in the film -- said that she has been selective in her use of sultriness. Preferring substance of skin.

"It always has to be about context," she said. "For me, as an actress, whenever I've made the choice to do something like that, it's always about the context you're shooting it in, the story, and what you're trying to say with your director and with the other actors.

"I have personally never felt objectified, but I really think about it. I think it has to have purpose, always. It has to progress the story or a relationship or the image of whatever your character is onscreen. It was lovely to play Ayesha because she's powerful and she keeps all her clothes on. Sometimes a lot of heavy clothing."

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is written and directed by James Gunn (Slither). The film marks the return of the original Guardians, including Chris Pratt (Jurassic World) as Peter Quill/Star-Lord; Zoe Saldana (Star Trek Into Darkness) as Gamora; Dave Bautista (Spectre) as Drax; Vin Diesel (Furious 7) as the voice of Groot; Bradley Cooper (American Sniper) as the voice of Rocket; Michael Rooker (Jumper) as Yondu; Karen Gillan (The Big Short) as Nebula; and Sean Gunn (Gilmore Girls) as Kraglin. New cast members include Pom Klementieff (Oldboy), Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby, Everest), Chris Sullivan (The Knick, The Drop) and Kurt Russell (The Hateful Eight, The Thing).

Next up for Marvel is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 on May 5, 2017. Spider-Man: Homecoming lands on July 7, 2017, followed by Thor: Ragnarok on November 3, 2017. After that Black Panther debuts on February 16, 2018, while Avengers: Infinity War hits theaters on May 4, 2018. Ant-Man and the Wasp is slated for July 6, 2018, followed by Captain Marvel on March 8, 2019.

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[H/T Marvel Studios]

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