Devin J
Acting is more than memorizing lines and showing up on set. For some roles, actors go to incredible lengths to fully embody their characters, undergoing dramatic physical and mental transformations. To celebrate such dedication, here is a list of 20 instances where actors completely transformed themselves into characters, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
Christian Bale: The Machinist (2004)
Christian Bale is infamous for his extreme transformations, and his role in The Machinist is a prime example. To portray Trevor Resnik, an insomniac factory worker, Bale dropped to a shocking 120 pounds by consuming a mere 260 calories a day, consisting of an apple, a can of tuna, and black coffee. This drastic weight loss not only altered his appearance but also affected his mental state, leading him to describe it as a “zen” experience.
Charlize Theron: Monster (2003)
For her role as Aileen Wuornos in Monster, Charlize Theron underwent a stunning change. She gained 30 pounds, shaved her eyebrows, and wore prosthetic teeth to embody the notorious serial killer. Theron immersed herself in the character, studying Wuornos’s life and mannerisms, which resulted in a chilling and empathetic performance.
Robert De Niro: Raging Bull (1980)
In Raging Bull, Robert De Niro’s transformation into boxer Jake LaMotta is legendary. He gained 60 pounds to portray LaMotta’s later years, indulging in a diet of pasta, ice cream, and other high-calorie foods. This commitment to authenticity was so intense that he reportedly had to shut down production for several weeks to allow for his weight gain. De Niro’s performance, coupled with his physical transformation, won him an Oscar.
Natalie Portman: Black Swan (2010)
Portman’s dedication to her role as Nina Sayers in Black Swan was extraordinary. She lost 20 pounds and trained for a year in ballet, practicing up to eight hours daily. About her experience, she once reported, “There were some nights that I thought I literally was going to die.” Portman also worked with a choreographer to perfect her movements, which were crucial for portraying a professional ballerina.
Jared Leto: Chapter 27 (2007)
To play Mark David Chapman, the man who assassinated John Lennon, in Chapter 27, Jared Leto gained nearly 70 pounds. His diet consisted of pizza, pasta, and melted Häagen-Dazs ice cream with olive oil. The rapid weight gain led to health issues, including gout, yet Leto remained committed to the role.
Renée Zellweger: Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) and Judy (2019)
Playing Bridget Jones involved gaining 20 pounds, which Renée did by indulging in comfort foods like cheeseburgers and doughnuts. For her role in Judy, she lost weight and transformed her appearance with prosthetics to portray Judy Garland in her later years. She researched extensively and studied hours of audio recordings and interviews to get the character’s pitch right.
Rooney Mara: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
For this role, Rooney Mara transformed strikingly to play Lisbeth Salander. She dyed her hair black, shaved her eyebrows, and got multiple piercings. Mara also trained in kickboxing and motorcycle riding to authentically portray the character’s tough exterior.
Hilary Swank: Boys Don’t Cry (1999) and Million Dollar Baby (2004)
The actress’s commitment to her roles is exemplified in both movies. For Boys Don’t Cry, she lost a significant amount of weight and bound her breasts to portray Brandon Teena, a transgender man. In Million Dollar Baby, she trained rigorously in boxing, working out for up to six hours a day. Swank’s transformations for both roles earned her two Academy Awards.
Daniel Day-Lewis: Lincoln (2012)
Known for his method of acting, Daniel Day-Lewis stayed in character as Abraham Lincoln for the entire production of Lincoln. He insisted on being addressed as “Mr. President” and even adopted Lincoln’s voice and mannerisms off-camera. The actor perfected his character by reading as he read over one hundred books to study his character accurately.
Tilda Swinton: The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
In The Grand Budapest Hotel, Tilda Swinton underwent a remarkable change to play the elderly Madame D. She spent five hours in the makeup chair each day, utilizing extensive prosthetics to achieve the character’s appearance. Tilda was completely unrecognizable when fans saw her on screen.
Margot Robbie: I, Tonya (2017)
Margot Robbie’s transformation for I, Tonya involved extensive ice skating training and a commitment to embodying the controversial figure of Tonya Harding. She trained for several months, learning to skate and perform complex routines while working on her character’s mannerisms and speech. She was also given prosthetics to achieve the uncanny resemblance.
Adrien Brody: The Pianist (2002)
Adrien Brody immersed himself in the role of Holocaust survivor Władysław Szpilman by losing 30 pounds and learning to play Chopin on the piano. Brody also isolated himself and gave up his apartment and car to understand Szpilman’s experience of loss and survival. His dedication resulted in an Oscar-winning performance.
Lily Collins: To the Bone (2017)
In To the Bone, Lily portrays a young woman battling anorexia who transforms by losing a significant amount of weight. Collins drew on her own experiences with eating disorders to bring authenticity to her role, showing the emotional and physical toll of the character’s struggles. Her performance was powerful and poignant, resonating with audiences and critics alike.
Demi Moore: G.I. Jane (1997)
Moore left no stone unturned while preparing for this part. The transformation included shaving her head and undergoing intense military training. She trained for six months, waking up at 4 a.m. to prepare for the physically demanding role of a Navy SEAL recruit. Demi worked with Navy SEAL instructor Stephen Helvenston to prepare for the role.
Ashton Kutcher: Jobs (2013)
To get to the core of the character, Ashton Kutcher adopted a strict fruitarian diet to portray Steve Jobs. He followed this diet for a month, which ultimately led to health issues, including a trip to the hospital due to pancreas problems. He got so into the method acting that, according to his co-actors, he wouldn’t break his character even when he was off-set.
Jared Leto: Suicide Squad (2016)
For his portrayal as the Joker in Suicide Squad, Jared Leto took method acting to an extreme level. To stay in character, he sent bizarre gifts to his co-stars, including live rats and bullets. Leto’s commitment to the role also included a significant physical transformation, making his portrayal an excellent interpretation of the iconic villain.
Angelina Jolie: Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Her transformation for Girl, Interrupted, involved shaving her head and immersing herself in the character of Lisa Rowe, a sociopath in a psychiatric hospital. Jolie’s dedication to the role included spending time in a psychiatric ward to research her character’s behavior and mindset. This performance earned her an Academy Award.
Leonardo DiCaprio: The Revenant (2015)
To convincingly play the 19th-century frontiersman, DiCaprio faced extreme physical and mental challenges. He endured freezing temperatures in the Canadian wilderness, often filming in harsh conditions that tested his endurance. Despite being a longtime vegetarian, he ate raw bison liver for a scene. Leonardo also learned primitive survival skills, including how to build fires, speak Native American languages, and shoot muskets.
Halle Berry: Bruised (2021)
She directed and starred in Bruised, playing a disgraced MMA fighter. Berry underwent an intense training regimen to prepare for this physically demanding role, dedicating up to six hours a day to learning mixed martial arts for six months. She trained with professional fighters, honing her skills in various disciplines, including boxing, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling. In interviews, Berry expressed that the process was grueling but rewarding.
Lupita Nyong’o: Us (2019)
In Us, Lupita Nyong’o played dual roles, requiring her to master different voices and physicalities. She extensively researched doppelganger mythology and worked with a vocal coach to create distinct sounds for each character. To create the character of Red, Nyong’o developed a unique voice that was haunting and unsettling, which she described as a “growl.”
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