Celebrities in Hollywood face many physical obstacles and demands throughout their careers. Sometimes having talent alone is insufficient because an actor must have a particular appearance to fit particular roles. In fact, one of the hardest things an actor has to go through is probably undergoing significant physical changes for a role. Numerous celebrities have subtly altered their physical appearance throughout Hollywood history in order to perfectly embody their characters.
They drastically alter every aspect of who they are to fit the part. Sometimes it goes beyond just needing a wig and makeup; other times it compromises their health. It implies that they must either put on 60 pounds of muscle quickly or shed 40 pounds quickly. It’s so bizarre!
Therefore, in order to pay tribute to those well-known actors who made significant emotional and physical sacrifices in order to portray their characters as truthfully and accurately as they could. Here are 11 instances in Hollywood where actors underwent the most dramatic physical changes for roles, from Tom Hanks to Mark Wahlberg. To see and learn more about the modifications these stars underwent for their craft, scroll down!
Charlize Theron, ‘Monster’
Charlize Theron underwent a complete transformation to play real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the movie. Theron changed her diet to add more than 13kg to her weight. The actress claimed that the process of changing involved more than just gaining weight; it also involved letting go of her usual strict routine in order to look the part. Given that Theron won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her efforts, it was obviously well-deserved.
Tom Hardy, ‘Bronson’
Hardy portrays Michael Gordon Peterson, a prisoner who is regarded as Britain’s most violent offender, in the film “Bronson.” He is referred to as Charles Bronson because of his skill in bare-knuckle combat. Hardy is completely bald and sporting his signature mustache in this photo. For many actors, this role could be viewed as career-defining. Tom Hardy, however, will be able to add this achievement to his long list of successes. Hardy attempted to mimic the appearance of a “brawny bare-knuckle brawler” in order to play Charles Bronson convincingly. The real Bronson, who had spent the majority of his adult life in prison, was interviewed by Hardy when he visited a prison. Hardy bulked up for the role by gaining nearly 40 pounds in just five weeks.
Jake Gyllenhaal, ‘Southpaw’
For his part as a middleweight boxer in “Southpaw,” Jake Gyllenhaal added about 7 kg of muscle. The actor spent six months working out in Floyd Mayweather’s gym in Las Vegas, six hours a day, to get ready for the movie. When discussing how he changed for the movie, Gyllenhaal said: “The amount of time you have to put into it, the sacrifice that you put into your body, it’s not something that you’re eager to do again. It’s a huge commitment.”
Natalie Portman, ‘Black Swan’
For her role as a perfectionist ballerina in “Black Swan,” Natalie Portman lost about 10 kg. Portman ate little more than carrots and almonds and spent more than eight hours a day in rehearsals, during which she dislocated a rib. “There were some nights that I thought I literally was going to die,” the actress said about her preparation for the role. “It was the first time I understood how you could get so wrapped up in a role that it could sort of taking you down.”
Christian Bale, ‘The Machinist’
In “The Machinist,” Bale plays Trevor Reznik, a man who experiences severe weight loss and severe insomnia. Bale lost close to 30 kg for the role by following a strict diet for four months. He accelerated the process even more by following a strict cardio routine. Bale claimed that the weight loss had put him in a “zen” state of mind before he had to bulk up for his upcoming role in “Batman Begins.”
Chris Pratt, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’
Chris Pratt played Peter Quill/Star-Lord, the half-human, half-alien leader of the Guardians, in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy.” For this part, he lost 27 kg by adhering to a diet and exercise plan created by personal trainer Duffy Gaver and nutritionist Phil Goglia. The star said, “three or four hours a day of just consistent, ass-kicking hard work” and “I was peeing all day long, every day. That part was a nightmare”.
Matthew McConaughey, ‘Dallas Buyers Club’
Matthew McConaughey played real-life Aids patient Ron Woodroof in the Academy Award-winning movie “Dallas Buyers Club,” who fought the US government to let other patients access unapproved medication. In order to lose 22kg for the part, McConaughey followed a strict diet that included tapioca pudding, fish, and egg whites. “I did not torture myself. I was militant. The hardest part was making the damn choice,” McConaughey said on an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience.
Jared Leto, ‘Chapter 27’
Jared Leto gained more than 30 kilograms for his “Chapter 27” role as John Lennon’s killer, Mark David Chapman. The majority of his diet consisted of pizza, pasta, and melting Haagen-Dazs ice cream mixed with soy sauce and olive oil. He developed gout after the movie. “Towards the end of the shoot, one of the glaring issues was the pain I had with my feet,” he revealed after the film premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2007. “I couldn’t walk for long distances. I had a wheelchair because it was so painful. My body was in shock from the amount of weight I gained.”
50 Cent, ‘All Things Fall Apart’
The rapper 50 Cent is renowned for having a typically trim build. In contrast, he stunned viewers in 2011’s “All Things Fall Apart” when he played a football player who had been diagnosed with cancer. He lost more than 24 kg over the course of nine weeks by following a liquid diet and working out on the treadmill for three hours each day. In order to “save time covering them,” he also had some of his tattoos removed.
Jonah Hill, ‘Maniac’
Jonah Hill has undergone a number of transformations for various roles, but “Maniac” on Netflix from 2018 marks his most notable change. The actor lost more than 20 kg for this role after gaining weight for the role in “War Dogs.” Hill revealed in a conversation on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: “I gained weight for this movie War Dogs, and then I wanted to get in better shape, so I called Channing Tatum, and said, ‘Hey, if I ate less and go to a trainer, will I get in better shape?’” Tatum’s to-the-point reply: “‘Yes … of course, you will, it’s the simplest thing in the entire world’.”
Christian Bale, ‘American Hustle’
Christian Bale is included on the list once more for his latest extreme physical change. In contrast to “The Machinist,” he put on 19 kg for his role as Irving Rosenfeld in 2013’s “American Hustle,” which was based on the notorious American con artist Melvin Weinberg. Bale also had a portion of his head shaved to mimic Weinberg’s comb-over. Bale’s actual height was shortened by three inches because he chose to have his character slouch. Additionally, the actor injured himself by herniating a disc in his back.
