**Chris Hemsworth Describes Surreal Stage Experience With Ed Sheeran**
Australian actor Chris Hemsworth, renowned for his role as Thor in the Marvel cinematic universe, has opened up about a remarkable and unusual moment during his latest television project. In an emotional recounting, Hemsworth detailed what he described as an “out of body experience” while performing on stage with world-famous musician Ed Sheeran in front of a vast audience in Bucharest, Romania.
This extraordinary event unfolded as part of the National Geographic series, *Limitless: Live Better Now*. For the series, Hemsworth, now 41, plunged into a variety of physical and mental challenges, one of which was learning to play the drums. The challenge culminated in a surprise live appearance at Sheeran’s concert, where Hemsworth joined the British singer on stage to play for an estimated 70,000 concertgoers.
During a recent question-and-answer session, Hemsworth reflected on the intensity of performing before such a massive crowd. “It really felt like I was outside myself, watching it happen,” he revealed. He went on to describe the unique atmosphere created when thousands of people move and respond in unison to live music, likening it to a shared, almost spiritual experience. “There’s this powerful sense of everyone being connected, as if the entire audience and performers are in sync, heading in the same positive direction. It felt much bigger than any one person,” Hemsworth explained.
Hemsworth’s surprise turn as a drummer was just one element of the new series, which challenges the actor to explore the limits of mind and body. Reflecting on the first season, Hemsworth did not shy away from admitting its intensity, sharing that it “almost killed me, emotionally and physically—by design.” The success and trials of the first series set a high bar for planning the next phase.
As development for a second series got underway, the creative team grappled with questions around how to push boundaries further. “We considered what new science we could tap into and what other areas we might expand upon. The aim is always to discover more about what the human mind and body can achieve,” Hemsworth noted.
In the series opener, “Brain Power,” viewers witness Hemsworth’s journey as he begins with little prior drumming experience and works tirelessly towards his debut alongside Sheeran. The London premiere for the series took place on 17 July, with Hemsworth and his family attending in support. Beyond the music challenge, the programme takes Hemsworth on a number of rigorous adventures, including scaling a 600-foot frozen wall and undergoing pain tolerance training with special forces operatives in South Korea.
The ambitious nature of the programme underscores National Geographic’s ongoing commitment to blending entertainment with scientific exploration. Each episode leverages Hemsworth’s celebrity status to draw attention to the latest discoveries in human performance, resilience, and well-being.
The new season of *Limitless: Live Better Now*, featuring Hemsworth’s heartfelt and nerve-wracking drumming performance with Ed Sheeran, is slated to launch in the UK on Disney+ on Friday, 15 August. For viewers and fans alike, the series promises an engaging look at how celebrities push themselves far beyond their comfort zones, offering both inspiration and a glimpse of vulnerability from one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.