Way Back When: Henry Cavill

Before he was the 'Man of Steel,' Henry Cavill already established himself in both the small- and big-screen worlds. Chances are, you might have seen the work of this Superman star (or perhaps his abs of steel) and not even realized it. We take a look back at Cavill's earlier work, before he landed the role of his career.

'Laguna'

Henry Cavill's very first role was in the 2001 film 'Laguna.' At just 18 years of age, Cavill played the role of Thomas Aprea, a kid who was exiled to the United States when his parents were murdered by the mafia. As an adult, Thomas returns to Italy to discover the truth about his parents' death. In this clip, you can see a shirtless Cavill cavorting around with a pretty young lady:

'The Count of Monte Cristo'

Up next for Cavill was the role of Albert Mondego in 'The Count of Monte Cristo,' based on the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas. The scene below features a very awkward birthday toast for Albert.

http://youtu.be/nvi8E14SozQ

'Goodbye, Mr. Chips'

Cavill only had one scene in the 2003 TV movie 'Goodbye, Mr. Chips,' about a kindly and beloved boarding school teacher named Mr. Chipping. Cavill plays the part of a former student and wounded World War I soldier.

http://youtu.be/Sz07oW0tO6s

'Hellraiser: Hellworld'

This 2005 direct-to-video entry in the long-running 'Hellraiser' franchise stars Cavill as Mike, a guy who plays an online video-game version of 'Hellraiser' and becomes obsessed with the mythology. In the clip below, Mike tries to convince his lady friend to join him at a 'Hellraiser'-themed rave, which sounds like a horrible idea.

http://youtu.be/05BsKrqEKzs

'Tristan & Isolde'

In 2006, Cavill had a supporting role in 'Tristan & Isolde,' often referred to as the original 'Romeo & Juliet,' in which the second in line to the British throne (James Franco) falls for an Irish princess (Sophia Myles) in the midst of a feud between the two countries.

http://youtu.be/CKbqAmLLFG0

'Red Riding Hood'

That same year, Cavill starred as the hunter in 20th Century Fox's whimsical re-telling of 'Red Riding Hood.'

http://youtu.be/iCSBLkKwSvo

'Stardust'

Next, Cavill played the role of Humphrey in the 2007 fantasy film 'Stardust.' In the clip below, Tristan (Charlie Cox) brings a gift to Victoria (Sienna Miller), and tries to show off his sword-fighting skills to Humphrey. You may not recognize Cavill with blonde hair and a goatee.

http://youtu.be/vM7CUc8wSHQ

'Whatever Works'

In 2009, Cavill played the role of Randy, the handsome British gentleman who steals Evan Rachel Wood away from Larry David in the Woody Allen comedy 'Whatever Works.'

http://youtu.be/C30BUftRTFQ

'The Tudors'

From 2007 to 2010, Henry Cavill starred as Charles Brandon on the hit Showtime series 'The Tudors.' In the scene below, Charles is escorting Margaret of Lisbon on a boat to marry the King of Portugal, and the two strike up an affair.