Rourke Up Off Canvas to Wow Film Festival Crowds

Mickey Rourke’s new film role as a lonely has-been wrestler took the Venice Film Festival by storm yesterday.

Those behind The Wrestler received a standing ovation from some reporters during the US film’s press conference, as parallels were drawn with Rourke’s own troubled past.

Much mention has been made of a lack of a Hollywood presence at this year’s festival.

But as the event draws to a close excitement mounted as Rourke was tipped to scoop “best actor” awards.

Rourke plays Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson who has a blossoming romance with an ageing stripper played by Marisa Tomei.

In the 1980s, Randy was a headlining professional wrestler, but 20 years later he ekes out a living performing in gyms and community centres around New Jersey.

Estranged from his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood), a heart attack forces him into retirement.

Of his character, he later continued: “There is no worse feeling to be feeling shameful all the time and usually you’re to blame for it.

“You have nobody to blame but yourself. The Ram is a mess.”

He joked he did not have a problem with the deep loneliness in his character.

Asked about what he thought of people already talking about “best actor” awards and his comeback, Rourke said: “A lot of people use the word comeback. Defining it is real hard.”

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