He recently opened up about his past, admitting that he was overweight as a teenager and the recipient of cruel jibes.

And, although Henry Cavill has since moved on – becoming one of Hollywood’s finest emerging talents and playing the role of superhero icon Superman – he still admits he has his days where he feels less than secure about his looks.

Speaking to The Guardian’s G2, the handsome Brit discussed the pressure of having to look like his on-screen alter-ego, even when he’s off camera.

Scroll down for video

Feels insecure: Henry Cavill admits he still has his days where he feels less than secure about his looks despite playing the iconic role of Superman

Hunky: The actor said he feels he has to look like Superman whenever he gets his ‘kit off’

‘I’m very self-critical and I use that to motivate myself. If I look in the mirror, I might say, ‘You’re looking good!’ Other days, like today, I’ll say, ‘Look at you, you fat f**k’,’ he said.

He also added that the burden of playing one of the movie world’s hottest hunks can affect him when he’s trying to work his charm on potential dates.

‘I tell myself, ‘Mate, you’re a mess. If you were to meet a bird out in a bar and bring her home, she’s expecting Superman. This is not Superman and she’s going to be mega-disappointed.’

The Man Of Steel actor continued, of his insecurities: ‘There’s a blessing in being Superman. You get more attention. But there’s also a curse, which is that you’d better f***ing look like Superman any time you need to get your kit off.’

Pressure: The Brit said if he brings a girl home after a date, he worries she is going to be ‘mega-disappointed’ when he doesn’t look like Superman

Latest role: The hunky 32-year-old  is currently in the midst of promoting his latest movie, Guy Ritchie’s The Man From U.N.C.L.E

The hunky 32-year-old – who is currently in the midst of promoting his latest movie, Guy Ritchie’s The Man From U.N.C.L.E – might surprise with his self-deprecating comments, especially considering his impressive muscular frame, honed expertly for the big screen.

Currently single, he has been busy travelling the world with his co-stars, including Armie Hammer and Alicia Vikander and the movie’s director Guy, looking dapper on the various red carpets.

He recently discussed his childhood weight issues in Men’s Fitness, admitting he was targeted because of his size.

‘They used to call me Fat Cavill. I actually had rolls of fat on me,’ he told the magazine.

‘They also called me a “lemon”, a guy who gets nowhere with the girls.’

Henry looks adorable as a chubby-cheeked youngster in flashback images showing him sitting on the front row of his cricket team photo at St Michael’s Prep School in Jersey.

Teased as a child: The actor recently opened up about his past, admitting that he was overweight as a teenager and the recipient of cruel jibes

On the market: Currently single, Cavill has been busy travelling the world with his co-stars, including Armie Hammer (right) and Alicia Vikander and the movie’s director Guy Ritchie (centre)

The teasing only got worse when, aged 13, he arrived midway through the first term at Stowe, one of Britain’s most prestigious public schools where fees are more than £9,000 a term.

Henry was made to feel an outcast from the start and would cry down the phone three times a day to his parents because he was so homesick.

But he is now a bona-fide chiselled heartthrob and, although he’s seemingly currently unattached, he could easily attract a partner.

The star’s most high-profile relationship so far was with MMA fighter-turned-actress Gina Carano, although the pair split at the end of 2014, after they gave their romance a second shot.

He also briefly dated Big Bang Theory actress Kaley Cuoco for just two weeks in March 2014, but it ended very abruptly.

His tryst with the sitcom actress came in-between seeing Gina, who he originally hooked up with in 2012.

Prior to seeing Gina, he was engaged to international showjumper Ellen Whitaker, but they ended their three-year relationship in summer 2012.

TV appearance: The hunky actor was interviewed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon earlier this week

Perks of the job: Speaking to The Guardian, Cavill admitted that the blessing of he Superman role was that you ‘get more attention’