Although many people think that acting is all glitz and glamour, it’s a job that takes an extreme amount of skill and commitment. Here are six famous actors who underwent extreme body transformations to accurately portray their characters as authentically as possible.
6 Examples of Body Transformations
-
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Matthew McConaughey lost over 40 pounds to play AIDS patient Ron Woodroof in the film Dallas Buyers Club. McConaughey explained that even though others were concerned for his health, he found that he had plenty of energy throughout the shoot because he lost weight in a healthy way. He met with a nutritionist and gave himself four months to lose weight, in which he lost 3.5 pounds a week to finally reach his goal weight.
-
Chris Hemsworth, Thor
One of the most notable examples of a celebrity who has undergone an extreme transformation for a movie role is Chris Hemsworth as Thor, a founding member of the Avengers. In preparation for the first movie, Hemsworth trained with former Navy SEAL Duffy Gaver to achieve his desired body. Hemsworth followed a bodybuilding approach, primarily focusing on gaining lean muscle in his arms and shoulders. In the end, Hemsworth ended up gaining 20 pounds for his role.
Although many people believe Hemsworth used steroids to achieve his figure, Gaver cited protein powder, red meat and heavy weights as contributors to his muscular physique.
-
Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables
Anne Hathaway was extremely committed to playing Fantine in Les Miserables, losing a total of 25 pounds for the role. While some rumors suggested that she was on an extreme crash diet in which she ate fewer than 500 calories a day, her representative denied these allegations.
However, these rumors aren’t too far from the truth, as Hathaway lost 15 pounds by eating just two squares of dried oatmeal paste a day. She stated that losing weight for the role was an all-consuming experience, resulting in both physical and emotional deprivation.
-
Will Smith, Ali
Prior to filming Ali, Will Smith was slim, standing at 6 feet 2 inches tall and 185 pounds. However, he ended up gaining 35 pounds of muscle to look appear as a professional boxer. Although critics were skeptical that Smith could achieve Ali’s physique, he achieved his goal by working out five days a week for six hours a day. Smith also engaged in endurance training and was able to increase his bench press by 190 pounds, from 175 to 365 pounds right before filming began.
-
Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy
Although you may know Chris Pratt from his role as Andy Dwyer on Parks and Recreation, he was actually filming Guardians of the Galaxy during the show’s sixth season. In fact, Pratt lost 60 pounds in just six months in preparation for his role as Peter Quill.
Pratt worked with nutritionist Phil Goglia, who increased his caloric intake to 4,000 calories a day and had him drink one ounce for every pound he weighed. In addition to following a Paleo-style diet that consisted of low carbs, Pratt also ran, swam, boxed and even completed a triathlon. Even though filming for Guardians of the Galaxy has ended, Pratt still follows a low-carb, high-protein diet that has allowed him to maintain a healthy weight.
-
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Natalie Portman lost 20 pounds for her role as Nina Sayers in Black Swan, a ballerina who’s described as suffering from anorexia and bulimia. Not only did Portman spend eight hours a day in rehearsals, but she survived on a diet of mainly carrots and almonds. Although Portman won an Oscar for her portrayal of Sayers, she explained that the film left her emotionally and physically drained, even thinking on some nights that she was going to die.
The next time you think that acting is an easy job that virtually anyone can do, you may want to think about these actors who went to great lengths to accurately portray their characters by undergoing extreme body transformations.
Finnegan Pierson loves business and has a passion for technology and films. As a freelance writer, Finn hopes to influence others so they can have a positive business experience.
