01of 12
SHAILENE WOODLEY FORADRIFT
Courtesy of STXfilms
02of 12
MICHELLE PFEIFFER FORSCARFACE
Everett
During a panel celebrating the 35th anniversary ofScarface, the actress revealedshe was living off a diet of “tomato soup and Marlboros"to embody Elvira, the movie’s tragic heroine who’s addicted to cocaine.
“I was playing a cocaine addict so that was part of the physicality of the part, which you have to consider,” Pfeiffer said of prepping for her role. “The movie was only supposed to be, what? A three-month, four-month [shoot]? Of course, I tried to time it so that as the movie went on I became thinner and thinner and more emaciated.”
03of 12JENNIFER LAWRENCE FORRED SPARROWMurray CloseAlthough Lawrence resisted dieting for a movie role for years, she changed her mind when it came to playing a former Russian ballerina inher 2018 film,Red Sparrow.“Red Sparrowwas the first time that I was really hungry, and disciplined,” the actresstoldVanity Fair. “I can’t be in character as an ex-ballerina and not feel like an ex-ballerina.“Lawrence shot her dancing scenes first so she could get back to her regular eating schedule — which was definitely appreciated. “I can’t work on a diet. I’m hungry. I’m standing on my feet. I need more energy,”Lawrence said. “I remember having a meltdown, freaking out that I had eaten five banana chips.”And once she was done with the ballet scenes inRed Sparrow, Lawrence found her go-to meal as she continued to film in Hungary.“I discovered this Viennese kielbasa sausage in an uncircumcised French-bread roll, with pickle relish. I had that almost every day in Budapest — which you can see, because I continue to grow in the movie,” she said, laughing. “Dieting is just not in the cards for me.”
03of 12
JENNIFER LAWRENCE FORRED SPARROW
Murray Close
Although Lawrence resisted dieting for a movie role for years, she changed her mind when it came to playing a former Russian ballerina inher 2018 film,Red Sparrow.“Red Sparrowwas the first time that I was really hungry, and disciplined,” the actresstoldVanity Fair. “I can’t be in character as an ex-ballerina and not feel like an ex-ballerina.”
Lawrence shot her dancing scenes first so she could get back to her regular eating schedule — which was definitely appreciated. “I can’t work on a diet. I’m hungry. I’m standing on my feet. I need more energy,”Lawrence said. “I remember having a meltdown, freaking out that I had eaten five banana chips.”
And once she was done with the ballet scenes inRed Sparrow, Lawrence found her go-to meal as she continued to film in Hungary.
“I discovered this Viennese kielbasa sausage in an uncircumcised French-bread roll, with pickle relish. I had that almost every day in Budapest — which you can see, because I continue to grow in the movie,” she said, laughing. “Dieting is just not in the cards for me.”
04of 12RENÉE ZELLWEGER FORBRIDGET JONES’S DIARYRenee Zellweger as Bridget Jones.EverettTo play the always-dieting Bridget Jones, Zellweger packed on30 lbs. for her first turn in the role— and was rewarded for it with an Oscar nomination. To reach her goal weight, she munched on pizza, burgers, milkshakes and candy bars, eating 4,000 calories a day. Though she took off the weight after the first film wrapped, she did it again for the film’s sequel,Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, going from a size 4 to a size 14. For the film’s third installment, she offered to once again bulk up for the part, but instead, director Sharon Maguire told her not to. “Sharon was hoping we could show that Bridget had achieved her ideal weight, but at the same time it didn’t mean her life was perfect,” Zellweger said.
04of 12
RENÉE ZELLWEGER FORBRIDGET JONES’S DIARY
Renee Zellweger as Bridget Jones.Everett
To play the always-dieting Bridget Jones, Zellweger packed on30 lbs. for her first turn in the role— and was rewarded for it with an Oscar nomination. To reach her goal weight, she munched on pizza, burgers, milkshakes and candy bars, eating 4,000 calories a day. Though she took off the weight after the first film wrapped, she did it again for the film’s sequel,Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, going from a size 4 to a size 14. For the film’s third installment, she offered to once again bulk up for the part, but instead, director Sharon Maguire told her not to. “Sharon was hoping we could show that Bridget had achieved her ideal weight, but at the same time it didn’t mean her life was perfect,” Zellweger said.
05of 12EMMA STONE FORBATTLE OF THE SEXESTwentieth Century FoxStone’s lithe, willowy frame isn’t exactly what you’d normally associate with a powerhouse tennis star, so she had to bulk up to play iconic athlete Billie Jean King. Her trainer Jason WalshtoldUSA Todaythat she started an intense strength training routine (she deadlifted up to 185 lbs.!) and changed her diet, adding in protein shakes that were high in calories. Walsh revealed Stone wasn’t afraid of bulking up a bit to play the tennis legend. “She took it seriously,” he said. “She wanted to do the story justice.” She ended up gaining 15 lbs. of muscle for the part.
05of 12
EMMA STONE FORBATTLE OF THE SEXES
Twentieth Century Fox
Stone’s lithe, willowy frame isn’t exactly what you’d normally associate with a powerhouse tennis star, so she had to bulk up to play iconic athlete Billie Jean King. Her trainer Jason WalshtoldUSA Todaythat she started an intense strength training routine (she deadlifted up to 185 lbs.!) and changed her diet, adding in protein shakes that were high in calories. Walsh revealed Stone wasn’t afraid of bulking up a bit to play the tennis legend. “She took it seriously,” he said. “She wanted to do the story justice.” She ended up gaining 15 lbs. of muscle for the part.
06of 12ANNE HATHAWAY FORLES MISERABLESEverettOn the opposite end of the spectrum, to play Fantine — a prostitute living in poverty who is also battling tuberculosis in the film adaptation of the world-famous Broadway musical — Hathaway lost 25 lbs. She later called her diet, which consisted of two squares of dried oatmeal paste per day, for the film “definitely a little nuts.” The impressive feat of willpower paid off, however: She won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for the role.
06of 12
ANNE HATHAWAY FORLES MISERABLES
On the opposite end of the spectrum, to play Fantine — a prostitute living in poverty who is also battling tuberculosis in the film adaptation of the world-famous Broadway musical — Hathaway lost 25 lbs. She later called her diet, which consisted of two squares of dried oatmeal paste per day, for the film “definitely a little nuts.” The impressive feat of willpower paid off, however: She won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for the role.
07of 12
CHARLIZE THERON FORMONSTERANDTULLY
08of 12CHRISTIAN BALE INTHE MACHINISTANDAMERICAN HUSTLEParamountBale is famous for going above and beyond to get into character, and his performances inThe MachinistandAmerican Hustleare perfect examples of that dedication. To play an emaciated insomniac inThe Machinist, Bale underwent one of the most drastic transformations in Hollywood history. He whittled his weight down to just 121 pounds — practically nothing on the frame of a six-foot tall male.“Interestingly, I did find that mentally it was very, very calming being that skinny, because you really didn’t have any energy for expending on unnecessary things, so you just kept it simple,” he told MovieWeb of the weight loss. He ate just an apple and a can of tuna a day to lose the weight.For his role inAmerican Hustle, however, Bale gained 43 lbs., topping out at 228 — a 100-lb. difference from where he was when he filmedThe Machinist.“I ate lots of doughnuts, a whole lot of cheeseburgers and whatever I could get my hands on,“he said of his efforts to gain weight. “I literally ate anything that came my way.”
08of 12
CHRISTIAN BALE INTHE MACHINISTANDAMERICAN HUSTLE
Paramount
Bale is famous for going above and beyond to get into character, and his performances inThe MachinistandAmerican Hustleare perfect examples of that dedication. To play an emaciated insomniac inThe Machinist, Bale underwent one of the most drastic transformations in Hollywood history. He whittled his weight down to just 121 pounds — practically nothing on the frame of a six-foot tall male.“Interestingly, I did find that mentally it was very, very calming being that skinny, because you really didn’t have any energy for expending on unnecessary things, so you just kept it simple,” he told MovieWeb of the weight loss. He ate just an apple and a can of tuna a day to lose the weight.
For his role inAmerican Hustle, however, Bale gained 43 lbs., topping out at 228 — a 100-lb. difference from where he was when he filmedThe Machinist.“I ate lots of doughnuts, a whole lot of cheeseburgers and whatever I could get my hands on,“he said of his efforts to gain weight. “I literally ate anything that came my way.”
09of 12
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY INDALLAS BUYERS CLUBANDGOLD
Splash News Online
Like Bale, McConaughey has both lost and gained weight for film roles. He dropped 40 lbs. to play HIV-positive drug addict and AIDS activist Ron Woodruff inDallas Buyers Club —a performance that earned him an Oscar. McConaughey insists that he lost the weight in a healthy way, however, saying: “I’m eating fresh fish. I’m just eating small amounts. I’m not being starved … I’m taking care of myself.”
10of 12JARED LETO INCHAPTER 27ANDDALLAS BUYERS CLUBEverettMcConaughey’sDallas Buyers Clubcostar also knows a thing or two about dropping (and putting on) lbs. for a part. In the 2007 filmChapter 27, he gaineda whopping67 lbs.to play Mark David Chapman, the man who killed John Lennon in 1980. Six years later, starring alongside McConaughey inDallas Buyers Club, he lost weight, plummeting to 114 lbs. after losing 40 lbs. to play Rayon, a transgender women living with AIDS. How did he do it? He toldThe Wrap: “I stopped eating.”
10of 12
JARED LETO INCHAPTER 27ANDDALLAS BUYERS CLUB
McConaughey’sDallas Buyers Clubcostar also knows a thing or two about dropping (and putting on) lbs. for a part. In the 2007 filmChapter 27, he gaineda whopping67 lbs.to play Mark David Chapman, the man who killed John Lennon in 1980. Six years later, starring alongside McConaughey inDallas Buyers Club, he lost weight, plummeting to 114 lbs. after losing 40 lbs. to play Rayon, a transgender women living with AIDS. How did he do it? He toldThe Wrap: “I stopped eating.”
11of 12MATT DAMON INTHE INFORMANTWarner BrosGaining 30 lbs. to play Mark Whitacre, an executive who divulges his company’s more unsavory business practices to the FBI, was no challenge for Damon. “It was very, very easy to gain the weight. I just basically ate everything I could see for a few months,“he toldAccess Hollywood.
11of 12
MATT DAMON INTHE INFORMANT
Warner Bros
Gaining 30 lbs. to play Mark Whitacre, an executive who divulges his company’s more unsavory business practices to the FBI, was no challenge for Damon. “It was very, very easy to gain the weight. I just basically ate everything I could see for a few months,“he toldAccess Hollywood.
12of 12GEORGE CLOONEY INSYRIANAWarner Bros.Unlike many of his fellow actors, Clooney wasn’t a fan of bulking up, which he did for his turn in 2005’sSyriana,where he played a CIA agent in the Middle East. “There was nothing fun about it,“he told theSydney Morning Herald. “There was not a moment that was fun about shooting this film. That’s not a slap on the film or Gaghan. It’s just that everybody has that year where you age a decade and this was that one for me.”
12of 12
GEORGE CLOONEY INSYRIANA
Warner Bros.
Unlike many of his fellow actors, Clooney wasn’t a fan of bulking up, which he did for his turn in 2005’sSyriana,where he played a CIA agent in the Middle East. “There was nothing fun about it,“he told theSydney Morning Herald. “There was not a moment that was fun about shooting this film. That’s not a slap on the film or Gaghan. It’s just that everybody has that year where you age a decade and this was that one for me.”
source: people.com
