Hollywood stars have undergone incredible physical transformations to land their roles. From weight loss to extreme diet changes, these actors pushed their bodies to new limits to get it right.
Austin Butler’s recent body transformation for “Caught Stealing” was a far cry from his Elvis look. To achieve the buff physique, he worked with trainer Beth Lewis and gained 35 pounds. In contrast, his Elvis look was partly achieved through eating donuts and melted ice cream.
Butler’s experience is not an isolated incident. Andra Day lost almost 40 pounds to play jazz singer Billie Holiday, while Cillian Murphy had to lose weight to play atomic bomb scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer. Joaquin Phoenix lost 52 pounds to portray the Joker, and Nicole Kidman shed 35 pounds for her role in “Philadelphia”.
These transformations often require more than just diet and exercise. For example, Renee Zellweger’s prosthetics, braces, and wigs helped her play Tonya Harding in “I, Tonya”, while Matthew McConaughey lost extreme weight to play an HIV/AIDS patient. Heath Ledger’s posthumous Oscar win was for his chilling performance as the Joker, which required him to sleep in makeup for weeks.
Hilary Swank, who won two Oscars for her roles in “Boys Don’t Cry” and “Million Dollar Baby”, dramatically altered her appearance to play a real-life transgender man. Gary Oldman’s four-hour daily makeup sessions were needed to portray Winston Churchill, while Natalie Portman shed 20 pounds to play a mentally ill ballerina.
Jared Leto lost 40 pounds to prepare for his role as an HIV-positive woman in “Dallas Buyers Club”. Brie Larson gained 15 pounds of muscle to play a mother who escapes captivity with her son. Rooney Mara’s transformation into Lisbeth Salander included piercing multiple body parts, bleaching her eyebrows, and chopping her hair.
These incredible transformations showcase the dedication and commitment required for actors to get it right in their roles.
Source: https://www.eonline.com/news/1421373/austin-butlers-body-transformation-for-caught-stealing-movie