06 Sep '08 - 188 W - + 4 - 1 Mickey Rourke Goes Gold!

A huge star in the ‘80s, Mickey Rourke’s career seemed to go into a terminal nose-dive in the 1990s. For a while the one-time boxer even went back into the ring instead of onto the screen. But now he’s back - with a vengeance!

When he was offered the lead part in his latest movie, The Wrestler, by director Darren Aronofsky, this one-time high-earning actor was given a tough deal. According to Rourke, the director told him: “'You're a great actor but you messed up your career and no one wants to hire you.' 'I have a film I want to do with you. But you have to listen to me, you must never disrespect me, you can't go out every night - and I can't pay you either.'"

Amazingly, Rourke took the role. And it looks like he made a wise choice. Anyone who thought that Rourke’s movie career was a thing of the past can think again. The Wrestler has just taken the top prize, The Golden Lion, at the prestigious Venice Film Festival.

Welcome back, Mickey!