In 2011’s ‘Captain America: The First Avenger,’ Chris Evans was tasked with playing an actual superhero. And of course, in order to look like Captain America himself and save the world, one must look rather intimidating and strong. So, Evans transformed himself into Steve Rogers, training for more than two hours every day for a period of three months. His diet? Nothing more than grilled turkey and protein shakes.
Even though Evans recalls the experience as “grueling” and something he would often try to find an excuse not to do, he made a commitment and had to go through with it until the end. Not only did the actor do it and nail the part, but he also went on to play in several more superhero movies, bulking up with crazy training regimes every single time.
Mila Kunis Became a Full-time Ballerina for 'Black Swan'
Mila Kunis is known for being one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood, and that includes her gorgeous physique. But that still wasn't enough for Kunis to portray the extremely thin ballerina Odile, in Aronofsky's 'Black Swan.' The actress had to lose 20 pounds in just five short months, engaging in a low-carb, high-protein, 1200-calorie diet and rigorous training five hours every day of the week. Kunis even had a private food delivery service that brought her salads every day.
Kunis said the whole experience left a mark on her, as she understood for the first time what actual professional dancers have to go through to make it to the top. "I weighed 95 pounds...I had no shape…All you saw was bone. I was like, This looks gross.”
Hugh Jackman Stopped Eating for 'Les Miserables'
In Tom Hooper's 2012 film adaption of the epic story 'Les Miserables,' an unrecognizable Hugh Jackman plays Jean Valjean. Jackman claims to have gone to extremes to look as authentic as possible for the role, confessing that he stopped eating and, on some days, even drinking water! All for the sake of a scene in which Valjean, still in prison, performs manual labor in water looking almost emaciated.
But the actor also had to work out for 3 hours every day, so he could still have some muscle. "You lose up to 10 pounds of water weight, mainly from the exterior of the body. But it was really brutal. About 20 hours in, a headache came. Then I wanted to drink water out of the ocean! I see the scene now, and I look really thin, really sunken.” People, do not try this at home.
Jennifer Lawrence Became a Thin Russian Ballerina in 'Red Sparrow'
The beautiful Jennifer Lawrence has definitely proven herself to be an outstanding actress in recent years. But above all, people have commended her for her very outspoken beliefs that actors shouldn't endure traumatizing diets for any role. It seems, however, that everybody has their exception, and Lawrence's was playing a Russian ballerina in the 2018 film, 'Red Sparrow.'
The actress not only endured a harsh, albeit short, diet, but she also worked closely with a ballerina coach so she could play the character as authentically as possible. Lawrence said that it was the first time she'd been "really hungry and disciplined." Fortunately, the director allowed her to film the dancing scenes first so she could stop dieting and go back to eating regularly for the rest of the filming.
Gerard Butler Became a True Spartan in '300'
Gerard Butler cemented his name in Hollywood after starring in the epic war action film, '300.' For part of Leonidas I, Butler had to go through four arduous months of hard training, which included working out for six hours a day. For two of those six hours, Butler and the rest of the cast endured a special training that included deadlifts, pull-ups, push-ups, box jumps, and more, in order to keep all the men in perfect shape. After all, they were playing Spartans.
Butler has said that he was inspired by seeing the other members of the cast train so hard too, and it pushed him to do more every day. He has said that "it was a very powerful place to be."