Mark Wahlberg reveals shocking truth about ‘bald cap’ that’s been ‘insulting’ viewers in new film Flight Risk

We all make sacrifices for our jobs sometimes, but Hollywood actors are known for showing special dedication to their craft; from stark body transformations, gruelling workouts, restrictive diets and, sometimes, whole personality changes, it can feel like nothing’s off limits.

Maybe that’s fair enough. It’s probably a lot easier to hit the gym at 4am with a team of experts at your back, millions in the bank, and knowing you’ll eventually look like Wolverine. Still, for some, maybe, the idea of completely altering their hairpiece is a step too far.

Well, not for Mark Wahlberg:

The Ted star made waves recently when he appeared in the trailer for thriller Flight Risk, in which he ditches his full head of hair for a do some viewers have called ‘insulting’.

Mel Gibson's new blockbuster sees Wahlberg, who made his big-screen debut way back in 1994, play pilot Daryl Booth, who's tasked with transporting US deputy marshal Madolyn Harris (Michelle Dockery) and informant Winston (Topher Grace) on a trip across the treacherous Alaskan wilderness.

But while the film has come in for some stick, it's not necessarily Wahlberg's acting that's the issue, more so his luscious locks, or lack thereof.

“I will not stand for this!” wrote news producer Kristian Odland on X. “There are plenty of working actors who are bald. It is insulting and unjust to cast someone with a healthy and full head of hair to play a character who has a deeply receding hairline!”

Marky Mark showing off his luscious locks (Lionsgate)

Cautiously optimistic, another viewer described Marky Mark’s new look as ‘perversely compelling’, adding: “(It’s) like (Wahlberg’s) revealing his true form for the first time.”

Some thought Wahlberg’s questionable new style might be down to a dodgy prosthetic bald cap, but in a video posted on Instagram, The Departed star revealed his commitment to the role – showing everyone he had actually shaved his head.

“Keeping it real no bald cap NO CAP,” he captioned the video, before teasing, "The f**k are you looking at? It’ll grow back," as the film crew shaved his head for the wild new look.

It comes after a previous post this summer, which pictured a shirtless (and bald) Mark posing with a woman who maybe looks too proud to have been his hairdresser, shocking his 30.9 million fans.

The actor hasn't been shy about his haircut (Instagram/@markwahlberg)

‘Oh my god, why didn’t you just wear a wig?’, ‘Yikes’ and ‘What if it doesn’t grow back?’ were among the responses from fans – with the odd few praising Wahlberg’s characteristic work ethic, and undeniable devotion to the role.

“There was no bald cap. I shaved the middle and left the horseshoe around the sides. We just shaved it,” he told People magazine at the time. “They would shave as close to the scalp as possible everyday.”

Debuting at $12 million (£9.6 million) at the box office, critics have mixed opinions on Wahlberg’s latest turn, with the movie scoring just 25 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with Times critic Kevin Maher condemning the film’s ‘slapshod cliches’ and ‘outdated’ style.

So, at least it was worth it then.