Actors Who Made Major Body Transformations for Roles

An india drama follows Mark David Chapman, played by Leto, as he stalks and then murders rock icon John Lennon.

For his portrayal of the infamous killer, actor Jared Leto gained a whopping 67 pounds. A number of critics praised the performance, but still panned the film.

Matt Damon called his 30-pound weight gain for a 2009 dramedy “very, very easy” and “very, very fun.”

He went on to explain, “I just basically ate everything I could see for a few months.” It tells the true story of company executive turned delusional whistleblower Mark Whitacre (played by Damon).

Having little to no dance experience, Mila Kunis spent months training for her role as a ballerina in the gripping thriller “Black Swan.”

She also maintained a strict diet regimen so as to push her physical abilities to their very limits.

Like co-star Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman also put her body through the wringer in preparation for “Black Swan.”

It was a rude awakening for the actress, who dreamed of being a ballerina when she was younger. She explained, “You don’t drink, you don’t go out with your friends, you don’t have much food, and you are constantly putting your body through extreme pain.”

Anne Hathaway did far more than cut her hair when prepping for the role of a homeless working girl in the blockbuster musical “Les Miserables.”

To understand her character on a deeper level, the actress performed extensive research on sex slavery and human suffering.