Actors Who Underwent Major Transformation for a Role

You may be surprised that so many actors and actresses underwent major transformation for a role. Part of being Hollywood actors and actresses involves not just acting the part, but also looking the part. The change may seem a bit drastic but the results are phenomenal. Here are a few yet memorable dramatic changes that are no less pleasant and enjoyable.

Ryan Reynolds, Blade: Trinity

To be able to play his role in Blade: Trinity, Reynolds had transformation 35 pounds on a of diet 3,200 calorie count while hitting the gym six days a week for 3 months. He had to look like the exact replica of his comic book counterpart.

Natalie Portman, The Black Swan

Relying mostly on a carrot and almond diet, Portman eventually had to shed off a total of 20 pounds for her role as Nina Sayer in the critically acclaimed film “The Black Swan.” An addition to that mix is the 5-8 hour sessions on cross-training, ballet and swimming.

Natalie Portman, Black Swan — Photo Source:
nydailynews.com

Christian Bale

Probably considered as one of the most drastic weight changes of all is when Batman actor Christian Bale reportedly shed 63 pounds for his role in the movie The Machinist. How he achieved this? Bale had to do some running and had to survive from a daily diet of apple and a can of tuna. Only a few months later that Bale had to gain 30 pounds for his role in Batman and another in American Hustle. Talk about fast.

Robert de Niro, Raging Bull

Actor Christian Bale was not the only who had to put his body into some major changes for an upcoming role consecutively. Robert de Niro once had to gain 60 pounds for his role as the legendary boxer Jake LaMotta in the film Raging Bull. His efforts paid off when he won both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for his role.

George Clooney, Syriana

Aside from the fact that he had to shave his hairline and grow a beard, Clooney had to gain 35 pounds ot be able to play CIA agent Bob Barnes in the political thriller Syriana. Although he won the Academy Award for best supporting Actor, he was not so keen on remembering the experience.

Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The ever so beautiful Rooney Mara had to toughen up her very feminine looks by dying her eyebrows, piercing parts of her face and shaving an ample amount of hair from her head. The result: an Academy Award nomination. Not bad?

Rooney Mara - The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo — No Copyright Infringement Intended

Jared Leto, Chapter 27

Leto’s drastic change for this role had some dire side effects. Aside from the fact that he had to gain a whopping 67 pounds, his weight gain had caused some serious health issues. Leto recalls how he had to be strapped to a wheelchair for him to go around the set.

Charlize Theron, Monster

Aside from the fact that Theron had to wear prosthetic makeup and teeth she also had to gain 30 pounds for the role. She narrates how the smallest details had really counted on how she was able to achieve her look.

Tom Hanks, Castaway

For the movie Castaway, filming was halted for one year so actor Tom Hanks would be able to lose some weight and apparently grow some hair as well. The result was that aside from the fact that he had grew a horrendously long beard, he also lost a whopping more than 50 pounds to give the character a shipwrecked look well, in this case, a plane wrecked look.

Tom-Hanks-in-Castaway — Photo Source:
mirror.co.uk

Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables

To get the look of the famous Fantine in the Oscar Winning movie Les Miserable, actress Anne Hathaway had to lose 25 pounds for the role. She underwent detox diet and food depravation and exercise to shrink that fast. Talk about dedication.

Anne-Hathaway-in-Les-Miserables — Photo Source:
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Matt Damon, Courage Under Fire

To portray the role of a drug addict in the film Courage Under Fire, Matt Damon had to lose an impressive 50 pounds. This was not the first time that an actor had to suffer the ill effects of their transformation, aside from Leto, Damon also suffered bouts of illness during and after filming.

Rene Zellweger , Bridget Jones’ Diary

This known petite actress had to gain about 20-30 pounds to get the look of Bridget Jones. Her secret? Eating very fattening foods.

Renee-Zellweger-Bridget-Jones-Diary — Photo Source:
nydailynews.com

50 Cent, All Things Fall Apart

Rapper 50 Cent had to lose 50 pounds to play a football player diagnosed with cancer. His secret? Hard core liquid diets treadmill for 3 hours.

Matthew McConaughey, The Dallas Buyers Club

This usually buff actor had to lose nearly 40 pounds to be able to play the role of Ron Woodruff for the movie The Dallas Buyers Club. He also claims that he did not have to undergo such extreme measures by eating very small amounts of food.

Dallas-Buyers-Club-Matthew-McConaughey — Photo Source:
electric-shadows.com

Chris Pratt, The Guardians of the Galaxy

Known for his rather new hunky look, Pratt was not all that buff before he took on the role of Star Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy. The actor admitted that he transformation by gained a lot weight in the past years but had to buff up his physique for his role.

Chris Pratt - Guardians of the Galaxy — Photo Source:
latimes.com

Jake Gyllenhaal, The Night Crawler

Gyllenhaal had to lose about 20 pounds to get into his role. What is quite different about this is that it did not require him any special diets or exercise plans. He simply said that his transformation was through his mindset.