Special Report

Extreme Actor Transformations for Iconic Roles

Actor body transformations have become a modern Hollywood tradition, though few examples exist prior to Robert De Niro’s iconic portrayal of boxer Jake LaMotta in 1980’s “Raging Bull.”

For the role, De Niro not only increased his strength and skills, but gained significant weight to depict LaMotta’s later physical decline – one of cinema’s most famous transformations.

Since then, numerous actors have followed suit, pushing physical limitations to fully inhabit important roles. The intense commitment likely imparts a mental effect as well, helping the performer walk in their character’s shoes. Though sometimes the accompanying film disappoints, the actor’s total commitment does not. (On a related note, here are the hardest-working actors in Hollywood)

To compile notable transformations, various sources like IMDb were consulted for instances of actors losing or gaining substantial weight or muscle for a specific part. The movie or TV show each actor participated in had a major body transformation come from IMDb.

Click here to see actors who made major body transformations for roles

Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

Christian Bale

To prepare for the role of insomniac Trevor Reznik in this psychological thriller, the British actor reportedly ate just one can of tuna fish and a single apple per day.

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Courtesy of Filmax

Christian Bale
> Movie / TV series: The Machinist (2004)

He dropped over 60 pounds in the process and weighed as little as 110 pounds during the filming of the movie.

Christopher Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

Chris Hemsworth

Before joining the MCU, Aussie star Chris Hemsworth cut a relatively lean physique.

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Chris Hemsworth
> Movie / TV series: Thor (2011)

With help from personal trainer (and former Navy SEAL) Duffy Gaver, the actor bulked up for the role of Thor. He was similarly beefed in subsequent Marvel movies.

Michael Tran / FilmMagic via Getty Images

Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt’s most adoring fans still remember him as pudgy Andy Dwyer in the comedy series “Parks and Rec.”

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Chris Pratt
> Movie / TV series: Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)

For the role of Peter Quill aka Star Lord, the actor adopted a strict diet and fitness regimen. He lost 60 pounds in about six months while simultaneously building muscle.

Courtesy of Open Road Films

Jake Gyllenhaal

The once somewhat scrawny star of movies like “Donnie Darko” completely reinvented himself for the 2015 boxing drama “Southpaw.”

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Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

Jake Gyllenhaal
> Movie / TV series: Southpaw (2015)

He reportedly worked out for as much as six hours per day for six months in a row. Early stills showed Gyllenhaal raging in the ring, his body covered in muscle.

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Jonah Hill

After gaining 40 pounds for his role in 2016’s “War Dogs,” Hill started hitting the gym on a regular basis.

Courtesy of Netflix

Jonah Hill
> Movie / TV series: Maniac (2018)

He was noticeably slimmer by the time he appeared in this surreal Netflix series, about two strangers who undergo a mysterious pharmaceutical trial. The actor routinely gains and loses weight and not always in tandem with an upcoming performance.

Bauer-Griffin / GC Images via Getty Images

Matthew McConaughey

McConaughey underwent both a physical and career transformation when he starred in the acclaimed biopic “Dallas Buyers Club,” playing AIDS victim Ron Woodroff.

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Courtesy of Focus Features

Matthew McConaughey
> Movie / TV series: Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

To prepare for the role, he maintained a calculated diet plan and lost about 3.5 pounds per week on average. The film went on to win three Academy Awards, including Best Actor.

Michael Caulfield / WireImage via Getty Images

Christian Bale

Bale’s legendary weight fluctuation continued with a fact-based crime drama, in which he plays a portly conman.

Courtesy of GEM Entertainment

Christian Bale
> Movie / TV series: American Hustle (2013)

In the actor’s own words, he spent two months eating “doughnuts, a whole lot of cheeseburgers, and whatever I could get my hands on.” He added about 43 pounds to his waistline as a result.

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Russell Crowe

Fairly lean and muscular at the height of his career, Russell Crowe weighed as much as 257 pounds when he starred in a geopolitical thriller.

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Russell Crowe
> Movie / TV series: Body of Lies (2008)

To prepare for the role of CIA veteran Ed Hoffman, he stuck primarily to a high fat diet and sedentary lifestyle. “Bring on the burgers, baby!” he said in an interview from that same year.

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Renee Zellweger

Iconic character Bridget Jones takes control of her life — or at least tries to — in the comedy smash, tracking her own attempts at weight loss.

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Courtesy of Miramax

Renee Zellweger
> Movie / TV series: Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001)

For star Renee Zellweger, that meant gaining about 30 pounds before shooting began. Themes of body image and health would similarly play a role in the 2004 sequel, “Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason.”

Christina Radish / Redferns via Getty Images

50 Cent

The hip hop star and actor combined a liquid diet with intense treadmill workouts in preparation for a sports drama.

Courtesy of Image Entertainment

50 Cent
> Movie / TV series: Things Fall Apart (2011)

He went from 214 pounds down to 160 pounds and appeared almost unrecognizable in early photos. In the film, he plays a promising college football player who struggles with cancer.

John Shearer / WireImage via Getty Images

Jared Leto

An india drama follows Mark David Chapman, played by Leto, as he stalks and then murders rock icon John Lennon.

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Courtesy of Peace Arch Films

Jared Leto
> Movie / TV series: Chapter 27 (2007)

For his portrayal of the infamous killer, actor Jared Leto gained a whopping 67 pounds. A number of critics praised the performance, but still panned the film.

Jon Kopaloff / FilmMagic via Getty Images

Matt Damon

Matt Damon called his 30-pound weight gain for a 2009 dramedy “very, very easy” and “very, very fun.”

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Matt Damon
> Movie / TV series: The Informant (2009)

He went on to explain, “I just basically ate everything I could see for a few months.” It tells the true story of company executive turned delusional whistleblower Mark Whitacre (played by Damon).

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Mila Kunis

Having little to no dance experience, Mila Kunis spent months training for her role as a ballerina in the gripping thriller “Black Swan.”

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Mila Kunis
> Movie / TV series: Black Swan (2010)

She also maintained a strict diet regimen so as to push her physical abilities to their very limits.

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Natalie Portman

Like co-star Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman also put her body through the wringer in preparation for “Black Swan.”

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Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Natalie Portman
> Movie / TV series: Black Swan (2010)

It was a rude awakening for the actress, who dreamed of being a ballerina when she was younger. She explained, “You don’t drink, you don’t go out with your friends, you don’t have much food, and you are constantly putting your body through extreme pain.”

Rodin Eckenroth / Getty Images

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway did far more than cut her hair when prepping for the role of a homeless working girl in the blockbuster musical “Les Miserables.”

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Anne Hathaway
> Movie / TV series: Les Miserables (2012)

To understand her character on a deeper level, the actress performed extensive research on sex slavery and human suffering.

J. Countess / WireImage via Getty Images

Jared Leto

Well-known for his method approach, Jared Leto took the role of transgender AIDS activist Rayon to heart.

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Courtesy of Focus Features

Jared Leto
> Movie / TV series: Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Not only did he shed over 25 pounds for the portrayal, but he stayed in character both on set and out in the real world. He later claimed, “To get a little judgment, some meanness, a little condemnation was a useful thing for the part.”

Dave M. Benett / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy is another actor who famously transforms himself from one role to the next.

Courtesy of Magnet Releasing

Tom Hardy
> Movie / TV series: Bronson (2008)

For this gripping prison drama, he gained approximately 40 pounds in just five weeks. He also spent time visiting prisons and meeting with his character’s real-life counterpart.

Ron Davis / Archive Photos via Getty Images

Demi Moore

Like the character she plays, Demi Moore shaved her head and underwent serious training for the military drama “G.I. Jane.”

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

Demi Moore
> Movie / TV series: G.I. Jane (1997)

She also teamed up with an actual Navy SEAL instructor during the shoot, who helped her maintain a diligent mindset and dedicated workout routine.

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Charlize Theron

To play real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos, Theron gained 30 pounds, plucked her eyebrows, and sported withered prosthetic teeth (among other things).

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Courtesy of Media 8 Entertainment

Charlize Theron
> Movie / TV series: Monster (2003)

She snagged an Academy Award for the effort and soared to the top of Hollywood’s A-list.

Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

Chris Hemsworth

In anticipation for the water-based adventure “In The Heart Of The Sea,” Hemsworth unveiled his radical body transformation on Instagram.

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Chris Hemsworth
> Movie / TV series: In The Heart Of The Sea (2015)

The actor’s dirty face, long beard, and lanky frame took numerous fans by surprise. ‘Just tried a new diet/training program called “Lost At Sea,”‘ read the adjoining caption.

Jeffrey Mayer / WireImage via Getty Images

Tom Hanks

To best represent his character’s journey, Hanks gained about 50 pounds before filming began on the acclaimed survival drama “Cast Away.”

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Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Tom Hanks
> Movie / TV series: Cast Away (2000)

The production was then stalled for an entire year so that he could lose all the weight he’d gained (and then some). He later told EW, “The only thing I did not give up was coffee.”

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Matthew McConaughey

No stranger to physical transformation, McConaughey packed on 47 pounds for the crime drama “Gold.”

Courtesy of TWC-Dimension

Matthew McConaughey
> Movie / TV series: Gold (2016)

Loosely based on true events, it follows desperate prospector Kenny Wells (McConaughey) on a risky venture.

Courtesy of United Artists

Robert De Niro

Scorsese’s seminal boxing drama required two separate body transformations from De Niro, who bulked up to play a young Jake LaMotta.

Courtesy of United Artists

Robert De Niro
> Movie / TV series: Raging Bull (1980)

True to his character’s story arc, the actor then let his muscle turn to fat. He also trained with LaMotta for over a year before filming began, and even competed in three organized bouts.

Courtesy of IFC Films

Michael Fassbender

Fassbender exercised regularly and ate only 900 calories a day for the biographical drama, in which he plays IRA prisoner Bobby Sands.

Courtesy of IFC Films

Michael Fassbender
> Movie / TV series: Hunger (2008)

According to reports, the actor’s diet consisted primarily of sardines, nuts, and berries. As a result, he dropped down to a mere 127 pounds.

Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

Daniel Radcliffe

Based on a true story, this gripping saga depicts Yossi Ghinsberg’s struggle to survive while lost in the Amazon.

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Courtesy of Momentum Pictures

Daniel Radcliffe
> Movie / TV series: Jungle (2017)

To best capture the mental and physical deterioration of his character, Daniel Radcliffe lost 14 pounds over the course of the shoot. He also contended with a number of jungle hazards, including raging rapids and poisonous snakes.

Doug McKenzie / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Ben Kingsley

Ben Kingsley’s most iconic role put him in the life and mind of legendary activist Mahatma Gandhi.

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Ben Kingsley
> Movie / TV series: Gandhi (1982)

Not only did the actor temporarily adopt his character’s vegetarian diet, but he also practiced yoga and meditation. He ultimately lost 20 pounds for the performance.

Vera Anderson / WireImage via Getty Images

Emile Hirsch

Emile Hirsch underwent two separate phases of weight loss for the role of real-life adventurer Christopher McCandless.

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Emile Hirsch
> Movie / TV series: Into the Wild (2007)

After shedding 26 pounds before shooting began, he lost another 15 pounds for the film’s final act.

Jean Baptiste Lacroix / WireImage via Getty Images

Rooney Mara

Following her role as a college student in “The Social Network,” Rooney Mara took on a drastically different appearance for this David Fincher thriller.

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Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Rooney Mara
> Movie / TV series: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)

Playing hacker Lisbeth Salander, she donned shorter hair, numerous piercings, and a boatload of (temporary) tattoos.

Jason LaVeris / FilmMagic via Getty Images

Colin Farrell

Colin Farrell did not turn into a lobster for this surrealist dramedy, in which his character must either find love or become a crustacean.

Courtesy of A24

Colin Farrell
> Movie / TV series: The Lobster (2015)

The actor did, however, gain 45 pounds for the role. To achieve this feat, he consumed up to 4,000 calories a day and avoided all exercise for two months.

 

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