“My Dad Is Old-School”, Joseph Baena Burst Out About His Relationship With His Father Arnold Schwarzenegger

Joseph Baena, the 24-year old son of the ‘Terminator’ actor features on the cover of the Men’s Health March 2022 issue, unveiling his fitness regimen and bond with his father Arnold Schwarzenegger. He described, why he does not use his father's last name when pursuing his career as an actor.

10 years after Arnold revealed his secret son

Arnold revealed after a decade that he has a 13-year-old son, named Joseph Baena. Until 2011, both the public and the Baena found out the identity of his father, who had previously employed Mildred Baena as a housekeeper for Schwarzenegger and his then-wife Maria Shriver. Baena said, ‘his life was forever changed.“I was 13 then”, Joseph told Men’s Health Magazine. “Your body’s transforming; your mind is transforming. And now my life transformed before my eyes”, he told.

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Passion for Gym

The 24-year-old fitness enthusiast, Baena’s realized his passion for the gym, when he experienced trial and error with athletics in high school. Sooner, he develop his confidence in the swimming pool and followed his father's footsteps when it came to fitness after the former bodybuilder gave a copy of his book ‘The Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding. Once Baena touched 18, the two began training together.“I was being observant, trying to see what he was doing and why he was acting”, he said. “I was able to acquire a bodybuilding mentality-that I could shape my body however I want”.But Baena keeps his passion resides at a lower level than his dad’s. “There are so many other things that I cared about more than fitness. There is a balance. It’s not just fitness all the time”.

Follow his dad’s footsteps, when it comes to chasing the dreams

“My dad is old-school; he doesn’t believe in handouts. He believes hard work pays off, and so do I. I love the word honor, and I’m very prideful in the sense that if I use my dad’s contacts or ask him for favors, I wonder what honor is that gonna bring me?” he explained.

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He wanted to keep his identity separate

“When I go to auditions, they don’t know who I am, because we do not have the same last name. When the hard work pays off, I know it’s all me”, he said.

He wants to make his path

He told that “It took a little bit for me to realize that I don’t have to do what my dad did”. He continued, “I don’t have to get into acting or bodybuilding. I’m very motivated and driven. I’m happy about my relationship with my dad. But I’m happier that I am finding joy in what I’m doing and that I’m doing exactly what I’ve always dreamed about”.“A lot of guys struggle with trying to make their dad proud or trying to get out of their dad’s shadow. But as long as you’re doing what you want to do, then that all comes. Of course, maybe those guys don’t have such nice dads”, he added.