Super Fly Guy: Nick Bateman

The Canadian actor and model speaks toShwetaGandhi about fashion, fitness and the perks of his association withEtihadAirways

- Shweta Gandhi

Nick Bateman recognised his calling in life at an early age: he wanted to be a Ninja Turtle. It led him to pursue martial arts, which then went on to form the foundation of his true calling: acting and modelling. Born and bred in Toronto, Canada, the 31-year-old now lives in Los Angeles. His first acting gig in 2011, Hobo With A Shotgun, and a stint with Abercrombie & Fitch—where he worked with photographer Bruce Weber for a campaign shoot—shaped his career and brought him into the limelight. Today, the four-time martial arts world-champion has many more movies under his belt, like Tapped Out (2014), A Winter Wedding (2017) and The Matchmaker’s Playbook (2018), apart from a following of 6.7 million on Instagram. Last month, as part of his association with Etihad Airways, Bateman attended Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive ’18 in Mumbai. In a tête-à-tête with ELLE, he opened up about his feelings for India, his travel adventures, and the first love of his life—martial arts.

ELLE: Martial arts, then acting and modelling—you’ve come a long way. Is there anything Nick Bateman can’t or won’t do?