Actors Who Made Major Body Transformations for Roles

McConaughey underwent both a physical and career transformation when he starred in the acclaimed biopic “Dallas Buyers Club,” playing AIDS victim Ron Woodroff.

To prepare for the role, he maintained a calculated diet plan and lost about 3.5 pounds per week on average. The film went on to win three Academy Awards, including Best Actor.

Bale’s legendary weight fluctuation continued with a fact-based crime drama, in which he plays a portly conman.

In the actor’s own words, he spent two months eating “doughnuts, a whole lot of cheeseburgers, and whatever I could get my hands on.” He added about 43 pounds to his waistline as a result.

Fairly lean and muscular at the height of his career, Russell Crowe weighed as much as 257 pounds when he starred in a geopolitical thriller.

To prepare for the role of CIA veteran Ed Hoffman, he stuck primarily to a high fat diet and sedentary lifestyle. “Bring on the burgers, baby!” he said in an interview from that same year.

Iconic character Bridget Jones takes control of her life — or at least tries to — in the comedy smash, tracking her own attempts at weight loss.

For star Renee Zellweger, that meant gaining about 30 pounds before shooting began. Themes of body image and health would similarly play a role in the 2004 sequel, “Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason.”

The hip hop star and actor combined a liquid diet with intense treadmill workouts in preparation for a sports drama.

He went from 214 pounds down to 160 pounds and appeared almost unrecognizable in early photos. In the film, he plays a promising college football player who struggles with cancer.