Ryan Wilks
Morgan Freeman has revealed the dark reason behind his gold hoop earrings.
Freeman, 86, is an American actor who is known for his distinctive voice and roles in a wide range of film genres.
He’s starred in movies such as The Shawshank Redemption, Bruce Almighty and Seven.
The Lucy star didn’t get his big break until he was 49 years old with the title Street Smart – he’s since gone on to appear in more than 50 films.
Often, Freeman is recognised for his signature gold hoop earrings and it turns out there’s a heartbreaking story behind them.
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He discussed his statement look in an Instagram post in which he wore the hoops.
“These earrings. I get asked all the time about them,” Morgan captioned the post. “The truth is, these are worth just enough for someone to buy me a coffin if I die in a strange place.”
He added: “That’s why sailors used to wear them and that’s why I do.”
Taking to the comments, one fan said: “Living legend, love this. I’m going to get myself some earrings.”
“I have earrings too that don’t really cost a lot. That doesn’t really change who you are. You are a shining old man who attracts my curiosity. Your vision is special. You are a great actor,” added another.
The Angel Has Fallen star has reportedly been into sailing for many years, having said it’s ‘a particularly effective antidote to healing from Hollywood’, as per Giornale della Vela magazine.
The outlet reports that the star has sailed around Long Island Sound, Block Island, the Elizabeth Islands, Cape Cod, the Maine coast, and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
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However, this isn’t the only reason that Freeman wears his gold hoop earrings.
The Last Vegas actor revealed in 2010 that he began his iconic look after watching Burt Lancaster in The Crimson Pirate, which tells the story of a fictional character in the Caribbean.
Discussing the 1952 pirate movie, Freeman told Fox News: “I thought that was sexy. Then I learned that sailors wore gold earrings to pay for funerals if they died in foreign lands. I’m a sailor so that nailed it.”
In a separate interview with The Guardian, the actor further delved into his ‘attachment to the sea’ and how it links back to his earrings.
“When I was around 35 I was separated from my wife and she said, ‘I’m going to pierce your ear’. I’m an avid sailor, a dyed-in-the-wool blue-water man,” Freeman explained.
The Hollywood star isn’t the only celebrity who has a passion for sailing. According to Book2Sail, comedian Stephen Colbert, CNN founder Ted Turner and Puss in Boots star Antonio Banderas have also shared an interest in the hobby.
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