Movie fans have always been fascinated by the extreme transformations Hollywood actors would be willing to go through when playing a certain role. While their dedication is inspiring, these changes can lead to mental and physical health issues, causing some actors to refuse to get ripped or slim down. Some even say this focus on physicality over performance can give fans a skewed view of what a person should look like, leading to a plethora of personal insecurities, potential bullying, etc. However, we do enjoy seeing jacked actors on the big screen, so there’s that.
Here are some phenomenal actors who got seriously buff for their roles.
1. Ben Affleck — Batman vs. Superman
Ben Affleck had superhero experience before being cast as Batman. Remember the pre-Netflix Matt Murdock from 2003’s Daredevil? Yeah, that’s him. To match Henry Cavill’s Superman, Affleck wanted a total transformation. He bulked up to 225 pounds with a focus on muscle mass, and it worked out perfectly for the movie. It’s just too bad that the film itself was a travesty.
2. Kumail Nanjiani — Eternals
Silicon Valley star Kumail Nanjiani transformed himself into a walking god for the 2021 Marvel flop — Eternals. He portrays a cosmic-powered superhero and Bollywood star, a departure from his typical nerdy roles. The actor was excited to share his progress but didn’t want to mislead fans. In a viral Instagram post, he emphasized that his transformation was possible because he had a year with top trainers and nutritionists paid for by a major studio.
3. Brendan Fraser — George of the Jungle
Fraser was a big action star in the ’90s and early 2000s. His most iconic performance was probably in The Mummy, which could have made him the next Harrison Ford, but well, something went wrong. Before that happened, he was offered a role in George of the Jungle, where he’d play a feral man from the jungle. Given that jungle people typically don’t wear shirts, he had to tone down his physique significantly. Fraser restricted his diet, worked out a lot, and even started skipping meals because, in his eyes, that still wasn’t good enough.
