Patrick Schwarzenegger Says Being ‘A Man of Faith’ and Praying With His Wife Helps Him Navigate Hollywood Challenges

Patrick Schwarzenegger says being “a man of faith” has helped him navigate the challenges of building a career in Hollywood.

“I’m here on this earth for a greater purpose and greater meaning than just working in acting,” Schwarzenegger told Variety on Friday morning at the Sundance Film Festival. “The film industry is a roller coaster. I’ve seen it firsthand with my own family members, with friends. What’s really important is that as you go up, down, whichever way you go, your faith is still there.”

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Schwarzenegger spoke during a Q&A with Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton at the Variety Spirituality and Entertainment Brunch, presented by the Coalition for Faith & Media. When asked to share a spiritual practice that could help the “hurting world out there,” Schwarzenegger pointed to the daily praying ritual that he shares with his wife, model Abby Champion.

“My prayers are something that helped me each and every day in my life,” Schwarzenegger said. “It’s something that helps me and my wife. We do it together. I think there was some crazy stat of husband and wives that pray together have a 67% less likely to get divorced or separated. I don’t want to be the person that’s telling everyone to go and pray every day and everything will be okay, but it’s something that is a center point for my faith and gratitude… It’s a refreshing moment for me in my day.”

“The White Lotus” star has kept his schedule packed since catapulting into the cultural zeitgeist with his buzzy role on the hit HBO series. He recently wrapped filming on the Amazon MGM Studios rom-com “Love of Your Life” with Margaret Qualley, which he expects to be released this fall. On Monday, Schwarzenegger flies to Spain for an eight-day shoot on Florian Zeller’s upcoming film “Bunker,” co-starring Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem.

“My number one goal is to work with incredible writers, directors and actors,” he said. “I have no ego per se about the size of the role or what the project is.”

Schwarzenegger’s openness about his faith reflects a broader push for more nuanced conversations around religion in Hollywood. The Coalition for Faith and Media, in partnership with HarrisX, recently launched a research study that found 70% of Americans believe Hollywood stereotypes faith, while 82% say film and TV should prioritize portraying more accurate and complex portrayals of faith and religion.

A significant finding the coalition is emphasizing during ongoing meetings with studios is that incorporating faith elements can significantly expand a film’s audience.

“Because faith is often politicized, we often don’t talk about it,” said Brooke Zaugg, executive director of the Coalition for Faith and Media. “People have the sentiment or believe this is a small, niche group. But time and time again, in the studies we’ve done, the data has been overwhelming. This is representative of the American population.”