Mark Wahlberg opened out about his relationship with religion while wearing a crucifix on his forehead during an interview on the Today show.
In his most recent film role, Father Stu, the 51-year-old played a boxer turned priest and has been open about wanting to share his ‘rewarding’ religion with viewers.
Last week, the Hollywood celebrity appeared on the show wearing an ashen cross just over his eyes, a Catholic sign of humility and mercy.
‘It’s a balance,’ he stated to Savannah Guthrie. I don’t want to force it down anyone’s throat, but I refuse to reject my religion. That’s an even larger sin.
‘I know it’s not fashionable in my field, but I can’t deny my beliefs. It’s critical for me to share this with others.
‘But, I have friends from all walks of life and from other faiths and religions, so it’s vital for me to respect and honour them as well.’
Mark remarked that his faith meant ‘everything’ to him since it had provided him with so many chances.
He also mentioned how crucial the ‘discipline’ that faith provides him has been in his work.
‘Once I started getting into movies and transitioned from music, I realized I needed a lot of discipline in my life, and that discipline has afforded me so many other things,’ he added.
‘I’ve been rewarded for it so much, and I want to share that with people. So whether that’s with fasting, working out more, detaching from other things and just spending more time with God, in prayer or in thoughtful reflection. Those things are important.’
Mark famously began his musical career at the age of 13, when he joined New Kids On The Block alongside his brother, Donnie Wahlberg.
He went on to have a successful solo career before making the leap to the big screen, making his film debut in The Replacement in 1993.
The Hollywood celebrity went on to feature in major motion pictures such as the Transformers trilogy, Ted, The Italian Job, and The Departed, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor.
During a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight to promote Father Stu, he stated that he wanted to focus more on projects that might ‘benefit’ others and on’meaningful’ work.
‘I feel like this is starting a new chapter for me in that, now, doing things like this – real substance – can help people,’ he said.
‘I definitely want to focus on making more. I wouldn’t say necessarily just faith-based content but things that will help people.
‘So, hopefully, this movie will open a door for not only myself but for lots of other people in Hollywood to make more meaningful content.’