From Hugh Jackman to Brendan Fraser: Hollywood stars weight transformations for movie roles

Movies stars will go to great lengths for a great role in a film. Here is a look at the extreme steps that Hollywood stars took to look convincing in their career-defining role. From losing 10 kilos to putting on weight these talents pulled out all the stops.

Hugh Jackman will reprise his Wolverine character in the upcoming third instalment of ‘Deadpool’, also featuring Ryan Reynolds. Hollywood actor won’t rush it and will give himself six months to prepare for his role The actor said he took no steroids and that his transformation as Wolverine was ‘all-natural’. The actor revealed in a recent interview that his impressive transformation to play Wolverine in the X-Men series was done the ‘old-school’ way and without the use of any steroids. Jackman recently admitted to Chris Wallace on HBO’s ‘Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace’ that he never used steroids to transform into the character.

Brendan Fraser's transformation in 'The Whale' is part of one of the most talked-about performances of the year. In the Darren Aronofsky-helmed film, Fraser plays Charlie, a house-bound 272 kg English teacher who teaches students virtually with his camera blacked out. He's also working to salvage his relationship with his estranged daughter, played by Sadie Sink, reports Variety. Fraser gained some weight for the role, but prosthetics makeup designer Adrien Morot was tasked with transforming the actor much more dramatically. Morot relied on 3D printing technological advancements to print the suit.

Stars are sometimes required to lose weight and gain weight rapidly. They are not given adequate time either. Reports claim that Chris Hemworth has to alter his appearance by going from 215 pounds to 185 pounds for his movie ‘Rush’, and then get back to his original weight, plus 35 pounds, for his role at Thor.

Sometimes in life, things don’t go as planned. Take the instance of Ryan Gosling who put on 60 pounds only to lose his role in ‘The Lovely Bones’, as the makers thought he did not look good in the altered appearance. Gosling was dropped from the movie and replaced by Mark Wahlberg.

For her iconic role in Oscar-winning ‘Black Swan’, Natalie Portman lost 10kg to look the part of the petite ballerina. In ‘Thor’, she was reportedly asked to get ‘as big as possible’. So it’s safe to say Portman is no stranger to movie transformations. The actor said her ‘Black Swan’ rehearsals ran for eight hours daily, during one of which she even dislocated a rib. Along with the strict training, Portman said her diet was nothing ‘more than carrots and almonds’.

More recently, the actress played the female version of Thor for which she trained for 10 months to beef up and look the part of an Asgardian deity, the male version of which is played by Chris Hemsworth.

Jared Leto piled on 30 kilos for his role as John Lennon's assassin, Mark David Chapman, in ‘Chapter 27’, which reportedly gave him gout. The actor told media that he binged on pizza, pasta and ice cream to put on the weight. Later, he said, “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.” He vowed to never risk his physical health again for a role.

Charlize Theron gained 13kg for her role as real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the movie ‘Monster’. Her efforts, along with her superior acting skills, ensured that she won the Oscar for Best Actress.

Joaquin Phoenix won praise for his role as the villain Joker. In order to look the part, he had to lose 52 pounds. Phoenix told The Hollywood Reporter: "It turns out that affects your psychology. ... You start to go mad." Phoenix mentioned to Access Hollywood that the weight loss was done in a safe way. "It's something I've done before and you work with a doctor regimented and overseen and safe," he said.

In yet another dramatic transformation Matthew McConaughey lost almost 47 pounds for his Oscar-winning performance in the 2013 film Dallas Buyers Club, in which he played an HIV-positive man who was given a month to live. In an interview with BBC the actor shared "A nutritionist and I met. I gave myself a four-month deadline to shed the pounds. I consumed my scheduled meals."