Sylvester Stallone reflects on career highs and lows
Stallone, 72, skyrocketed to fame in 1976 with his Oscar-winning boxing movie "Rocky"
(REUTERS) - Actor Sylvester Stallone on Friday (May 24) took to the stage in Cannes, entertaining guests with stories about his long career during a special "Rendez-vous With Sylvester Stallone" event.
The actor and filmmaker was given a rapturous welcome as he arrived for the afternoon event in the Palais des Festivals.
Stallone, 72, skyrocketed to fame in 1976 with his Oscar-winning boxing movie "Rocky" and went on to become one of Hollywood s biggest action stars through the "Rambo" and "Rocky" film franchises.
Stallone told audiences he never expected to make it in the film industry due to an accident at birth which affects his speech.
"I knew it was bad when Arnold Schwarzenegger said you have an accent . I got I have an accent? Excuse me, what? . It s true. Arnold and I should open up a school for speech lessons. It would be perfect," he joked.
The actor also reflected on his most famous roles.
"Rambo deals with the very dark side of nature that unfortunately a lot of people live with because they feel isolated and Rocky is different, he s the more optimistic, he realises he is not a special man but he tries to be special," Stallone said.
"So, you have optimism and pessimism in these two characters," he said, also telling audiences of the struggles he faced to get "Rocky" made.
His performance in "Rocky" - the first film in the franchise - earned Stallone Best Actor nominations at the Golden Globes, Oscars and BAFTAs - but he failed to win any of those awards.
