“Was a Tough Day for Him”: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Documentary Director Reveals How She Burrowed the “Hardest” Conversations About His Infidelity

Bodybuilding icon, Arnold Schwarzenegger has left the world in a daze, with his charismatic persona and undaunted motivation. His high-achieving career spanning across various disciplines is simply the fruition of his passion for life. However, the star’s journey was full of ups as well as downs. While the world is aware of his failures too, Arnie might not be the best at speaking up about those aspects of his life. 

His latest Netflix documentary, Arnold was promised to be his most candid feature ever, and honestly, it did deliver the promise to a certain extent. The star athlete spoke about his infidelity, and breaking his family’s trust, but only after massive efforts and strategies by the director, Lesley Chilcott. Therefore, a recent interview discussed how she unpacked Arnie’s lowest moments. 

Getting Arnold Schwarzenegger to speak up wasn’t easy for Lesley Chiclott

Talking to the sources, the two-time Academy award-winning director disclosed how she urged the legend to discuss his past infidelities and his divorce with ex-wife, Maria Shriver. She looked to pierce beyond Arnie’s starry image and expose the real person behind all the hails and stardom. “I would keep asking the question until he gave a real answer,” Chilcott said on the matter. 

Moreover, the director claimed that even Arnie was willing to comply with her mission, but it was not easy for him to get candid about sensitive topics on camera. The star athlete openly spoke about his failed marriage and love affair for the first time, and Chilcott provided him with enough time to get comfortable. She revealed, “It was a good six months in where I felt he was ready.” 

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Deeming these conversations as the ‘hardest’ to capture, the American director continued in the interview with Insider, “It was a tough day for him and he was willing to go there and talk about all these issues and he was exhausted afterward.” Initially, Chilcott was unable to get Arnie to face the camera, but regular Face Times and phone calls built that understanding which allowed the IFBB icon to unveil his tough times in front of her. Besides the documentary, the former athlete also shed light on his failures in a recent interview. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger acknowledges his failures

In an interview with CNN’s Chris Wallace, the 75-year-old icon didn’t flinch on answering a sensitive question thrown at him on his controversial love affair with Mildred Baena. Referencing his Netflix docuseries, Arnie elucidated that his life was overwhelmed with huge successes as well as big failures too.

Therefore, the affair was one of his failures, which he, certainly, is not proud of. “I despise it, but it is what it is, and I feel terrible about it,” he reflected in the public interview. Moreover, the actor asserted that his documentary made it clear enough for the audience to understand his sense of apology and regret. 

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While Arnie’s successes are sky-reaching, his failures also hold a significant place in his career. It came as a reality check for the actor, after he lost his beloved wife and family due to his mistake. Left with no option but to accept his past, the star has learned to live with it and looks forward to a positive future.