Chris Pratt reflects on failed auditions for Avatar and Star Trek

Chris Pratt has reflected on a disappointing time in his career when he failed in auditions for the likes of Avatar and Star Trek.

The 44-year-old is now one of the most bankable stars in the world due to his performances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Jurassic World trilogy.

What are the top 10 most popular shows on Amazon Prime right now?

Tuesday 10 February 2026, 14:38

What are the top 10 most popular shows on Netflix right now?

Monday 9 February 2026, 15:27

However, like many actors in Hollywood, he went through numerous failed auditions before finally landing his big break, which came via the popular sitcom Parks and Recreation.

"I didn't come close. It was a real - I know I've made light of actors feeling rejection, but I didn't come close," he said on the Smartless podcast.

"It was so not close that it was really demoralising and made me actually truly question my potential or what I should be aiming for as an actor... For both of those. I remember... I was reading to play the role in Avatar, and in another one I was reading for Captain Kirk...

"Anyways, I just remember reading this character description, 'He walks in and he has the It Factor'. I was feeling a little overweight, I hadn't been taking great care of myself physically, and I was in a relationship when we were drinking a lot. I walked in and I started sweating immediately.

"I had enough of those in that very lean stretch in my career where I didn't get hired for a couple of years. It was shortly before Parks and Rec... Early on in my 20s, I was in pretty good shape, I was working out a lot, I was young.

"I was mostly getting auditions for 'douchebag boyfriend.' "

Though Pratt became a well-known actor in Hollywood thanks to Parks and Recreation, he truly reached the stratosphere when cast as Peter Quill in The Guardians of the Galaxy.

A more mature Chris Pratt

Despite being a leading man now, he has matured to the point where he no longer sees the need to create an acting "empire".

"Inevitably, I have changed. I've grown a lot, just because I grew up in a pretty small town. I've just been exposed to a lot more in my life," he explained.

"I'm still ambitious, but I see peers of mine who are prolific actors, and stars of movies and brands and icons. I don't want that. I don't wanna spend all of my time trying to build an empire. You see some folks that are really driven in that way, and that's great for them, but for me, I really feel like I want to work to live."

Pratt recently made an appearance as Quill in The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3.