New 'Superman' was fat kid!

Actor Henry Cavill, who will debut as the caped 'Superman' in forthcoming film "Man Of Steel", says he never dreamt he would slip into the role someday as he was a fat child.

He was so chubby that he had landed the nickname 'Fat Cavill', and now the 30-year-old admits he can't wait for his childhood tormentors to see him toned and athletic on the big screen, reports dailystar.co.uk.

"I was fat... I was Fat Cavill," the actor told Details magazine.

He said he he lost 21 pounds after landing his first big part in a film adaptation of "The Count of Monte Cristo" at 17. Then there was no looking back.

"I lost one and a half stone and I wasn't Fat Cavill anymore," he added.

However, he had to beef up a bit to play Superman.

"I will say I was a lot bigger as Superman... I'm not saying how much. It's modesty about the weight; I've always been worried about my weight. I also don't want to invite that debate: 'Henry weighs this, so he's the perfect Superman.' Or, 'Henry doesn't weigh this, and therefore he's not believable in the role.'

"But I'm not eating 5,000 calories a day anymore," he said.