Mark Wahlberg sings Sydney’s COVID praises after F45 workout

Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg has stopped by a Sydney gym for a workout, meeting punters and posing for pictures.

HOLLYWOOD superstar Mark Wahlberg has commended Australians on how they’ve responded to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Stopping by F45 Woolloomooloo for an early morning workout, the Boogie Nights star said “it has been a pretty wild” year while describing Australia’s mandatory two week quarantine as “difficult but necessary” as we “try to deal with the new normal”.

“It seems like everybody here really did it right,” Wahlberg told The Daily Telegraph in his only Australian interview.

Mark Wahlberg arrives at the F45 gym on William Street, Sydney. Picture John Grainger

“The two weeks quarantine seems to be a bit of a downer but you are getting real results, people are able to go around and be able to function, working out together, going in to restaurants and that sort of thing. I wish we (the US) would have followed suit.”

COVID-19 cases in the US hit a record 16 million last week with deaths now exceeding 300,000.

Los Angeles-based Wahlberg, 49, is in Sydney for a whirlwind three day visit to shoot a television commercial for online betting business, Ladbrokes.

That comes after he self-funded the two week quarantine in a private estate near Byron Bay with his management team that includes a chef and doctor.

On Sunday, he attended the F45 annual Christmas Party at Sydney’s Riley Street Garage. Wahlberg is a shareholder in the Australian fitness business, helping with its global expansion.

Mark Wahlberg at F45 Woolloomooloo.

“I am just looking forward to coming back,” Wahlberg said of his Australian trip. “Every time I’ve come so far, I haven’t really had time to actually just enjoy the country, visit people, hang out, spend some quality time. So hopefully the next time around I will be back to enjoy instead of just working.”

Candice and David Warner were among those to take part in the F45 class with Wahlberg, as well as Jordan and Zac Stenmark and Amy Pejkovic.

Wearing grey tracksuit pants, a black T-shirt and F45 cap, Wahlberg mingled with punters - most of whom were diehard club members - before heading to the ICC Sydney to shoot the commercial.

“The most important thing is you are getting real results,” Wahlberg said. “People come in at any level of fitness and can participate and whatever they think their goals are, they can easily exceed those goals. The sense of community, the energy, the enthusiasm, my wife and I do it together now. At any level of fitness, you can be in fantastic shape and get the workout of your life. World class athletes come in and completely get gassed within 10 or 15 minutes or you could kind of go in and know that you are in good hands and that you are safe starting at a beginners level.”

Wahlberg is expected to fly home to the United States mid week to spend Christmas with wife Rhea Durham and their four children — Grace, Brendan, Michael and Ella.

“I’ve got a wife and kids waiting for me to get back for the holidays,” he said. “It has been a bit of a journey but I’m excited to be here and I’m looking forward to coming back when things are back to normal.”