​Mark Wahlberg Regrets Playing Porn Star At Start Of Career

Actor Mark Wahlberg has a back catalogue of many iconic roles, although there's one from his early career that he's perhaps not quite so proud of - having once told a crowd of young children that his decision to play a porn star during his early career 'may not be okay' with God.

Wahlberg, a devout Catholic, has previously admitted he's made some 'poor choices' in the past, implying that he regretted his turn as adult film star Dirk Diggler in 1997's Boogie Nights, an ensemble drama about the rise of the porn industry in LA.

Speaking at a Q&A in Chicago back in 2017, the star said: "I just always hope that God is a movie fan and also forgiving because I've made some poor choices in my past."

New Line Cinema

When he was asked which of his films in particular he regretted, Wahlberg replied: "Boogie Nights is up there at the top of the list."

He added: "I've never been shy about sharing my past and the bad decisions I've made and being affiliated with gangs, being incarcerated, so absolutely I think they can identify with me on a personal level, and that's why I've continued to try to do as much as I can to help young people."

In a later interview with People, he clarified a bit more about what he'd meant, explaining how at the time he'd been speaking to a large audience of children.

Alamy/New Line Cinema

Speaking to the outlet at the premiere of Daddy's Home 2, he said: "I was sitting in front of a couple of thousand kids talking about and trying to encourage them to come back to their faith, and I was just saying that I just hope he has a sense of humour because I maybe made some decisions that may not be okay with him."

Wahlberg added that the conversation initially started with a question about whether or not he would take on a similar type of role, with his family now being a consideration.

"I don't know if that would make my wife [Rhea Durham] all that comfortable," he said.

Wahlberg continued: "So, I don't want to compromise my artistic integrity or choices based on my faith or my family, but I also have other things to consider, and being a little bit older and a little wiser, the idea of having to explain that movie and the reason behind it to my kids is another issue."

Topics: Entertainment, Celebrity, Mark Wahlberg

Jess Hardiman

Jess is a journalist at LADbible who graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics - indecisiveness at its finest, right there. She also works for FOODbible and its sister page Seitanists, which are both a safe haven for her to channel a love for homemade pasta, fennel and everything else in between. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

@Jess_Hardiman