<p class="p1">These actors are proving that difficult sacrifices can make or break a film.</p>

<p class="p1">Every <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/channing-tatum-movies-shes-the-man-magic-mike" target="_blank" rel="noopener">actor</a> or actress must prepare prior to playing their next <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/heath-ledger-best-movies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">role</a>&mdash;whether it be simply memorizing lines or the more intense strategy of method acting. Sometimes, however, more permanent sacrifices to their physical appearance and way of life must be made. The likes of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/men/jared-leto-interview-finneas-billie-eilish-morbius" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jared Leto</a>, <a href="https://lofficielbaltics.com/en/lifestyle/mila-kunis-is-unrecognizable-in-new-job" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mila Kunis</a>, and <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/Culture/after-isolation-in-australia-tom-hanks-is-back-in-the-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Hanks</a> have committed to their roles so fervently that they underwent <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/kate-winslet-titanic-weight-body-shaming" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drastic changes</a>. Oftentimes, this dedication leads to a beautiful, award-winning film. <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/kristen-dunst-best-movies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Major motion pictures</a> like <i><a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/12-most-iconic-jared-leto-roles-movies-tv-joker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dallas Buyers Club</a>, Black Swan, and Cast Away&nbsp;</i>are testaments to that. In celebration of these devoted performers, check out this list of movies that required their actors to truly embody their respective roles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In director Ridley Scott's movie,<em> G.I. Jane</em>, <a href="https://lofficielbaltics.com/en/lifestyle/demi-moore-releases-a-shocking-memoir" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Demi Moore</a> was tasked to shave her head, while on screen, and gain some muscle weight. Moore took on the role of <span>Lieutenant Jordan O'Neil, a woman who undergoes special operation training before heading to war.</span></p>

<div class="wDYxhc" data-md="50" lang="en-US" data-hveid="CCEQAA" data-ved="2ahUKEwjt5-SohKfwAhWRZd8KHZDLBwMQkCkwJXoECCEQAA">
  <div class="PZPZlf hb8SAc" data-attrid="description" data-hveid="CCEQAQ" data-ved="2ahUKEwjt5-SohKfwAhWRZd8KHZDLBwMQziAoADAlegQIIRAB">
    <div jscontroller="DGEKAc" jsaction="SKAaMe:c0XUbe;rcuQ6b:npT2md">
      <div jscontroller="DGEKAc" class="kno-rdesc kno-desc-sh" jsaction="seM7Qe:c0XUbe;Iigoee:c0XUbe;rcuQ6b:npT2md"><span><span>In <em>Boys Don't Cry</em>, Hilary Swank plays a <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/10-trans-models-fashion-industry-representation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transgender</a> man named Brandon Teena. In order to inhabit this role both physically and mentally, Swank read countless novels on the transgender experience and even lived as a male for a month, cutting off all her hair, and strapping down her chest.</span></span></div>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<p>In order to prepare for the film<em> Cast Away</em>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/tom-hanks-demi-lovato-justin-timberlake-joe-biden-presidential-inauguration-day-event-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Hanks</a> went on a strict year-long diet that caused him to drop over 50 pounds. Additionally, the actor grew a long beard so that he appeared as the shipwrecked FedEx employee he was hired to play. At this point in time, Hanks was no stranger to strenuous preparation for film roles, as he dropped 30 pounds to play an AIDS patient in the movie, <em>Philadelphia</em>. Due to his volatile weight gain and loss, Hanks developed type 2 diabetes.&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Monster<span>&nbsp;</span></em>(2003)</p>

<p><span>When preparing for her role as a prostitute named Aileen Wuornos in the film <em>Monster</em>, <a href="https://lofficielbaltics.com/en/beauty/6-things-charlize-theron-does-to-have-luminous-skin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Charlize Theron</a> gained 30 pounds and wore prosthetic teeth. These stark changes allowed her to achieve a more rugged appearance.</span></p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Chapter 27</em> (2007)</p>

<p>If anyone is able to shapeshift for the sake of a role, it is <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/men/jared-leto-fashion-film" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jared Leto</a>. For the film <em>Chapter 27</em>, Leto gained over 60 pounds by eating exclusively unhealthy snacks. One of the meals he religiously consumed was <span>microwaved pints of ice cream mixed with soy sauce and olive oil. This unprecedented weight gain leads him to develop some serious medical issues.</span></p>

<p>Both <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/where-celebrities-went-to-college-meryl-streep-natalie-portman-oprah" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Natalie Portman</a> and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/ballet-trend-on-pointe-tiny-pretty-things-netflix-dance-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mila Kunis</a> had to lose at least 20 pounds for their roles in <em>The Black Swan</em>, a film that details the oppressively dark underbelly of the ballet world. Natalie Portman went on to win the Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of Nina Sayers in the film.&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><em>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</em> (2011)</p>

<p>In order to embody the character of Lisbeth Salander in <em>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</em>, <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Rooney Mara received several facial piercings and shaved her head.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Les Mis&eacute;rables </em>(2012)</p>

<p>In <em>Les Mis&eacute;rables</em>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/anne-hathaway-locked-down-premiere-at-home-versace" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anne Hathaway</a> plays a French seamstress turned prostitute named Fantine. In order to achieve her sickly appearance, Hathaway dropped 25 pounds. The actress went on to speak out about how this loss negatively affected her physical and mental health. However, she ultimately won the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/inside-2021-oscars-gift-bag-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oscar</a> for Best Supporting Actress.&nbsp;</p>
<div class="partial snippet in-content-ad-wrapper in-content-ad-wrapper order-of-type-1" data-id="p9392450" data-uuid="bf4eaef8-3271-4909-9159-2ade3e64ea5a" data-layout_partial_id="9392450">
  <div id="in-content-ad">
    <div class="slot-pre-incontent-rectangle" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-38">
      <div class="bordeaux-slot-root">
        <div class="bordeaux-outer" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-109">
          <div class="bordeaux-inner">
            <div id="preemptive-4" data-google-query-id="CLnz5u2Lp_ACFU_qswodb2sNIQ"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Dallas Buyers Club</em> (2013)</p>

<p>Both Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto won <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/2021-oscars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oscars</a> in 2014 for their stellar performances in <em>Dallas Buyers Club</em>; McConaughey for Best Actor and Leto for Best Supporting Actor. To realistically portray their HIV (and then <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/jean-paul-gaultier-safe-sex-forever-campaign-socks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AIDS</a>) affected characters, the two lost roughly 40 pounds each. Unsurprisingly, such weight loss changed everyday life for the actors. When speaking on the experience, Leto said, "It changes the way you walk, the way you sit, the way you think." Nonetheless, the actors were vocal about their pride in making a film so personal to those affected by the infamous disease.&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><em>American Hustle</em> (2013)</p>

<p class="p1">The usually fit and lean <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/ni-ni-september-issue-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christian Bale</a> gained almost 50 pounds so that he could take on the role of Irving Rosenfeld, a con man-turned-FBI agent, in <em>American Hustle</em>. When reflecting on his weight gain Bale said, "I ate lots of doughnuts, a whole lot of cheeseburgers, and whatever I could get my hands on. I literally ate anything that came my way."&nbsp;</p>

These Major On-Screen Transformations Might Shock You

Tags

Related Articles

Film & TV

9 Unforgettable Uma Thurman Movies

Film & TV

Penélope Cruz's 13 Best On-Screen Fashion Moments

Film & TV

11 New Movies and TV Shows to Watch in May 2021

Recommended posts for you

Fashion

Lauryn Hill’s Eclectic '90s Style

L'Officiel Art

The Definitive Guide to 2022 Milan Design Week

Pop culture

Young Photos of Lenny Kravitz

Fashion

Stevie Nicks’ Dreamiest Looks

Fashion

The Sandbox Founders Talk Breaking Into the Metaverse

Fashion

The Sandbox Launches L'OFFICIEL Land

Beauty

7 Summer Beauty Buys to Shop This Season

Film & TV

Cillian Murphy’s Most Iconic Roles