Mark Wahlberg isn't ready to tell his kids about his troubled past

Wahlberg in "Broken City"

The 'Broken City' actor - who has children Ella, nine, Michael, seven, Brendan, four, and Grace, three, with wife Rhea Durham - was in trouble with police more than 20 times when he was a teenager and eventually sent to jail for assault, and while he isn't ashamed of his past, doesn't want his kids to think it is acceptable to behave recklessly.

He told Red Bulletin magazine: "They are still young, and I'm not telling them anything until I have to. I will wait until the last possible minute.

"I certainly don't want to hide my past, but I don't want to make it seem like, 'Daddy went through bad stuff and he came out OK. We can do what we want, it will work itself out,' because that isn't the case.

"I don't know any other success stories of people who survived the kind of place I grew up in and the choices I made and still have the freedom and luxury to talk about it."

Mark feels lucky to have escaped his past, especially when he thinks about what has happened to his old friends.

He said: "Let's say I was a petty criminal for a while, but I was lucky enough to be able to get clean, unlike most of my friends from that time, who are dead or in jail. Today, the only real vice I have is golf."

‘Pain & Gain’ star Mark Wahlberg loves 'Jersey Shore'

Wahlberg stars in the upcoming film "Pain and Gain"

The 'Pain & Gain' actor used to secretly watch the now cancelled MTV show - but only when his children Ella, nine, Michael, seven, Brendan, four and three-year-old Grace, didn't know.

He said: "I enjoyed watching 'Jersey Shore' when my kids weren't around, it's one of those things you can't turn off."

While the 'Jersey Shore' men are renowned for their buff bodies and love of the gym, Mark recently got in shape for 'Pain & Gain' and while his wife, Rhea Durham, was initially impressed, she wasn't happy when the training led to him getting injured.

Mark, 41, told Us Weekly magazine: "At first she was excited to see me get fit. But then she realized I'm not young anymore. I got tears in both shoulders and a couple of herniated discs."

Mark also now hates getting spray tans after having to endure a number of them to make the action-comedy film.

He said: "The film's director Michael [Bay] insisted I be as tan as possible. So, he'd make me get a spray tan. I'd do it on my balcony of my hotel room, which was on the 17th floor. You would think you'd be free from all the cameras and paparazzi, and there I was getting photographed in my underwear getting a spray tan. Not a good look."

'Pain & Gain' star Mark Wahlberg hates getting spray tans

Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson star in Pain & Gain

The 41-year-old actor - well known for his love of fitness - revealed he was forced to apply fake tan regularly to play a bodybuilder in his new movie 'Pain & Gain' because he was so pale.

He told Refinery29.com: "I don't do anything really weird, in respect to gym routines. But, the weirdest thing and the most uncomfortable thing I've done was for this movie, having to get a spray tan every week.

"I don't like the sun, it's not good for me, but (the film's director) Michael (Bay) insisted I be as tan as possible. So, he'd make me get a spray tan. I'd do it on my balcony of my hotel room, which was on the 17th floor! You would think you'd be free from all the cameras and paparazzi, and there I was getting photographed in my underwear getting a spray tan. Not a good look."

According to Michael, Mark also put on a lot of extra muscle for the film, which is about a trio of bodybuilders in Florida who get caught up in an extortion ring and a kidnapping scheme that goes terribly wrong.

He told E! News: "Mark could pound chicken very good. He ate nine meals a day, he gained 40 pounds, he's like a machine. He told me, 'Week two is going to be my peak so get all your beauty shots week two, week three, 'cause then I got to lose 40 pounds and go on a Denzel (Washington) movie next.'"

Mark Wahlberg thinks Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is a "gentle giant"

Mark Wahlberg

The 41-year-old actor stars opposite the veteran action hero in Michael Bay's new film 'Pain and Gain' and enjoyed tackling the role of an unlucky bodybuilder who gets caught up in an extortion ring alongside his muscular co-star.

He said: "[It's] Awesome. It's built on energy and excitement. People will be very surprised to see how good Michael is with comedy. It feels a lot like the Coen brothers meets 'Bad Boys'. The Rock is a freak of nature. But what a gentle giant.

"We're playing bodybuilders but the acting is very layered and very particular - finding that balance of doing absurdly horrible things and remaining likeable."

Mark will be teaming up with director Michael again later this year when he begins filming 'Transformers 4' and he hinted his role in the franchise will be "something special". 

He revealed to Total Film magazine: "It's definitely going to be its own thing. I'm excited about it. I think this can be something special. I'm going to approach it like any other role, but whenever I approach a role I approach it like it's the important role of my career."

Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Adam Sandler, are the world's highest earning actors

Tom Cruise in the "Rock of Ages"

The 'Rock of Ages' star - whose third wife Katie Holmes filed for divorce from him last week after five years of marriage - topped the annual list by Forbes after earning $75 million between May 2011 and May 2012.

Cruise enjoyed a successful year after 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' earned more than $700 million at global box offices.

Leonardo DiCaprio - who was last year's top earner - came joint second with funnyman Adam Sandler, who both earned $37 million.

Former professional wrestler Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson was in fourth, earning $36 million after one of his films 'Fast Five', took in an impressive $626 million at the box office.

Comedian Ben Stiller was at number five with $33 million, while Sacha Baron Cohen was just behind him, taking $30 million.

Others in the top 10 included Johnny Depp and Will Smith, while Taylor Lautner beat his 'Twilight Saga' co-star Robert Pattinson into 11th place. 

In compiling the list, Forbes considers factors including upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements and advertising work.

Forbes' top 10 highest earning actors from May 2011 to May 2012:

1 - Tom Cruise

2 = Leonardo DiCaprio

2 = Adam Sandler

4 - Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson

5 - Ben Stiller

6 - Sacha Baron Cohen

7 - Johnny Depp

8 - Will Smith

9 - Mark Wahlberg

10 - Taylor Lautner

Mark Wahlberg is going back to school to earn his high school diploma

Mark Wahlberg

The 41-year-old actor - who had a brief stint in prison aged 16 and has previously spoken of his behaviour problems as a teenager - never finished high school but is now embarking on an online degree programme in order to complete his education, though he admits he is "nervous" about tackling some subjects.

He said: "They had this new programme in Massachusetts where you can take the courses on line so I'm starting this month and getting my high school diploma.

"I've got to take on all the courses I've missed so I'm a little nervous.

"I'm going to make it happen though. I have a lot of downtime on movie sets in the trailer and stuff so I'm just going to blast through it in eight months or so hopefully."

Mark also revealed he had been in the running for a place in New Kids On The Block, his older brother Donnie's group, until he was sentenced to 45 days at Boston's Deer Island House of Correction aged 16 for beating a man.

Mark - who has children Ella, nine, Michael, six, Brendan, three, and two-year-old Grace with wife Rhea Durham - quipped to TV talk show host David Letterman: "I wind up going to jail and watching them on TV, they're making millions."

The 'Fighter' star added that after the group performed at his jail, he boasted to fellow inmates: "I was in that group", to which they replied: "Well you're the dumbest motherf*****r ever, cause now you're in here!"

Boston Irish Mark Wahlberg finds it hard not to spoil his kids

The 40-year-old ‘Contraband’ actor – who has children Ella, eight, Michael, six, Brendan, three and one-year-old Grace with wife Rhea Durham – admits he likes to treat his brood but insists they understand the importance of giving back.

He said: “I do spoil them to a certain extent but they also understand that not a lot of people have this life.

“My kids like giving back. My daughter’s always telling me: ‘Pop, I’m going to take these toys to the hospital for the sick kids and the less fortunate’. They still live in the real world but it’s a fine line. I certainly want my kids to have everything that I never had but you also want them to appreciate the value of things.
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“Nobody in my family, my parents or their parents, had money or success. I worked hard to get what I have and I still work hard every day.”

Having been raised by as the youngest of nine children in Boston, Massachusetts, Mark believes fame and fortune haven’t diluted his working-class attitude.

He told the Metro newspaper: “Obviously, I am still the same at the core. Just because you have money doesn’t really change you.

“Listen, I’ve always thought that at any time it could all go away and I could end up right where I came from. I have a lot of people keeping me grounded: my wife, my mother and my friends.”

Mark Wahlberg admits he cried when he saw "The Help"

Mark Wahlberg

 The 'Contraband' actor - who has children Ella, eight, Michael, five, Brendan, three and two-year-old Grace with wife Rhea Durham - admits he is an "emotional" guy and even broke down watching a family film recently.

He said: "I'm an emotional guy. I went and saw 'The Help' with my wife and I must have cried 10 times.

"Watching 'Real Steel' with my sons got me. When the kid turned to his father and said, 'I just wanted you to fight for me' and the father's neglecting the kid, I looked at my son and said, 'Would daddy fight for you?' and he turned to me and said, 'Yes!' You know?"
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Mark - who is known for his wild past, including a prison term for assault - admitted he loves taking on film roles where he gets to "go off" because he identifies with aggressive characters.

He told Shortlist magazine: "I like playing a part where I get to go off whether it be physically or verbally. Preferably both.

"My past helps me identify with these characters and play those parts in a more believable way, but you can turn it on and off."

Really! Mark Wahlberg stays in shape by playing golf

Mark Walhberg in "The Fighter"

The 'Contraband' star doesn't mind have to put on weight or bulk up for film roles but when he is not working he admits his exercise regime is simple.

He said: "I don't really try to keep in shape. If I have to do it for a movie, whether it's being in shape or out of shape, then I'll do it for the job. That's part of the gig. But other than that I just like to swing a club."
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Although Mark was renowned for partying in his youth, he now enjoys a quieter life in California with his wife of over 10 years Rhea Durham and their four kids Ella, eight, Michael, five, Brendan, three, and two-year-old Grace.

He told Total Film magazine: "I loved New York when I was going out till four or five in the morning getting high. But now there are too many people stacked on top of each other. I hate having my kids in New York too. People smashing into people, cabs flying around. It's crazy."

Mark Wahlberg apologizes after 9/11 attacks comments - VIDEO

Action hero Mark Walhberg

In a major faux pas, Mark Wahlberg has made comments about 9/11 that have triggered disgust from the families of those affected by the tragedy. Wahlberg was scheduled to be on one of the flights that struck the World Trade Center in 2001, but had switched his flight at the last minute.

In an interview with Men’s Journal magazine, Wahlberg said, “If I was on that plane with my kids, it wouldn’t have went down like it did. There would have been a lot of blood in that first-class cabin and then me saying, ‘OK, we’re going to land somewhere safely, don’t worry.”

Families of the victims of 9/11, along with the general public, were outraged with Wahlberg’s comments. The movie star was quick to offer an apology.

“To speculate about such a situation is ridiculous to begin with, and to suggest I would have done anything differently than the passengers on that plane was irresponsible. I deeply apologize to the families of the victims that my answer came off as insensitive; it was certainly not my intention,” he said late yesterday.

“Dumb comment, smart apology,” said one ABC News reporter who covered the apology.

Surely, it will take some time for Wahlberg’s comments to blow over.

Here, catch the video of ABC News reporting on the story:

Mark Wahlberg claims 'intuition' led him to cast Justin Bieber in his upcoming film

Justin Bieber and Mark Wahlberg (Celebuzz.com)

The ‘Contraband’ star is planning to make a movie with teen heartthrob Justin about his favourite sport, and says it was an immediate and natural choice for them to work together.

Asked why he picked the ‘Baby’ singer, Mark told MTV: “Intuition. I'm pretty intuitive.

“I see the guy and spent time with him and you see what he does and how he does it, and then you actually have a conversation with him and it's there.”

Although 17-year-old Justin has had little previous big screen experience - aside from his documentary film ‘Never Say Never’ - Mark is confident he can make the project work, adding: "It's there - and if not, I will extract it."

Mark has previously likened the project to ‘The Colour of Money’, a 1986 film about an old pool player and his young protege, starring Paul Newman and a young Tom Cruise.

He added: "Wait till you see me and Bieber in the flick. Think of, like, 'The Colour of Money.”

Mark is hoping the film can go into production in 2012.

Mark Walhberg open Wahlburgers restaurant with brothers in Boston

The Wahlberg Brothers

Mark Wahlberg and his brothers are showcasing a new talent besides acting, singing, and dancing: cooking. The trio of brothers opened their new burger joint “Wahlburgers” on Monday night in Hingham, Massachusetts.

Mark (40), his brother Donnie (42) of “New Kids on the Block,” and their older brother Paul (42), have said that “dining in the restaurant will feel just like joining the Wahlberg family for a home-cooked meal,” according to Zap2it.com. Paul will be the chef, while the two other brothers will mainly be managing the restaurant.

Customers walking in for the first time will be able to enjoy “fresh ground beef burgers made or order, hot dogs, frappes, rock tunes and more!” according to the restaurants official description. And if you’re in too much of a rush to enjoy the hip atmosphere, take out is available.
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The joint, whose logo reads, “burgers, fries, frappes, tunes” boasts a cozy atmosphere with one side filled with old-fashioned booths, and the other side with tables and a sports bar with TV’s. On top of the bar (right next to blown up pictures of the brothers) is a giant green menu listing burgers that promise to be mouthwatering, and even more appealing is if you look straight up onto the ceiling, where the brothers have listed words and phrases to describes themselves and their true home of Southie, Boston.

According to Boston.com, the new restaurant will seat 120 people is is approximately 4,400 square feet. The entire project cost the family $900,000, and requires the town’s approval of a liquor-license in August. One of the biggest hurdles for the family, according to the website, was acquiring the name. “Wahlburger” had been the name of a burger chain based out of New York with own Tom Wahl, but the brothers did come to some sort of a deal and were able to “secure full spectrum of the name” this past summer.

Expecting his restaurant to be a success, the youngest Wahlberg stated, “We've had requests from people all around the world wanting a Wahlburgers in their hometown, but in the mean time they will make it a point to visit the first one in Hingham when they are in the Boston area.”