35 Celebrity Transformations Inspired For Movie Roles

It’s easy to think that the Hollywood life is all glitz and glam, but there is work that needs to be done – even the richest can’t get things done in a snap. Actors and actresses have been going through insane physical transformations in order to portray characters in film and TV. Today we are looking at 35 of the most incredible fitness transformations in Hollywood. Keep on reading!

Nick Jonas – Kingdom

Kicking off this list is one of the Jonas Brothers’ greats, Nick of course! In order to transition from pop-star to movie-star Jonas went through a physical transformation centered on martial arts. Jonas went from a boy-band popstar into a true physical stud.

Gerard Butler – 300

Butler is a good looking guy, no doubt, but he hit historic levels of fitness in 300. Butler pioneered what would become the famous Spartan Workout, one we would of course never try ourselves. Like ever.

Henry Cavill – Man of Steel

Cavill had to turn his body into overdrive in order to take on the role of Superman in Man of Steel. Cavill packed on the pounds, carved out his abs, and turned into Clark Kent himself.

Kevin Hart – Central Intelligence

Comedian Kevin Hart decided to get into killer shape for his co-starring role with Dwayne Johnson in Central Intelligence. Hart and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson hit it off and now banter back and forth about their physical exploits.

Chris Pratt – Zero Dark Thirty

Pratt traded his environmental education/Parks & Rec body for something a little… buffer. Pratt went from flabby funny-man to jacked Navy SEAL for his work on Zero Dark Thirty. Keep your eyes peeled, we’ll be coming back to him later.

Tom Hardy – Bronson

Hardy went from a slight-bodied star in films like Rock’n’Rolla and Blackhawk Down to the biggest beefcake around in Bronson. Hardy put on ridiculous mass while training with ex-US Marines in order to get into shape for his prison-gangster character.

Hugh Jackman – X Men

Look at Hugh Jackman in his first appearance as the superhero Wolverine. Now look at him in the film Logan. Jackman has continually pushed his body to the limit in order to bring the brawling, clawed fury to life.

Chris Hemsworth – Thor

Sustainable cities could run on Chris Hemsworth’s sweat alone, probably. Hemsworth was actually a tall and skinny guy before scoring the role of Thor. He had to pack on a ton of mass in order to wield the hammer, Mjolnir. In any case, we are so not worthy of the handsomeness that is Chris Hemsworth.

Joe Manganiello – True Blood

Manganiello was never small but he certainly changed his ways for True Blood. Manganiello had to cut down on calories, focus on eating tons of protein, and hit the gym nearly every day to carve his body of pure muscle. The commitment is real, folks.

Paul Rudd – Ant Man

Rudd has leading man good-looks and now he has a true Marvel body. Rudd got into ridiculous shape for Ant Man by focusing on mobile exercises, no carbs, and no alcohol. Rudd simply states, “Eliminate anything fun for a year and then you can play a hero.” Yikes, commitment to its fullest!

Bradley Cooper – American Sniper

In order to get into Army shape, Bradley Cooper went through a rigorous training and dietary routine. Cooper put on 40lbs in order to play the real life figure of Chris Kyle. The gigantic beard alone probably added a pound or two.

Christian Bale – The Machinist

It’s more than charity to start our list off with Christian Bale — one of the most dedicated physical actors in the business. You could run the sustainable development of a startup gym with his work ethic alone. Christian Bale is probably the most famous physical transformation as he dropped down to 110 pounds for his role as the emaciated character, Trevor.

Ryan Reynolds – Blade: Trinity

Reynolds always had charming good looks but he earned the body to match for his work on Blade: Trinity. Despite being critically panned, this role would serve as Reynold’s big break toward all-around heartthrob and smoldering husband and father too.

Jake Gyllenhaal – Southpaw

Gyllenhaal put on 15lbs of muscle in order to portray a world champion boxer in Southpaw. Gyllenhaal worked out for three hours a day while adding in rigorous boxing training as well. Committed? Yeah, we’d say so.

Chris Evans – Captain America

We could just make a list of Marvel heroes and cover the same territory. Evans trained with a physician for three hours a day, for three months, in order to get into Captain America shape. Needless to say, it worked.

Adrien Brody – Predators

Brody lost a ton of weight for The Pianist before reversing directions for Predators. Adrien put on 25lbs of pure muscle while following a strict diet in order to get into shape – he claims to have cut out all sugar, alcohol, and romance. Ummm….whoa.

Christian Bale – Batman Begins

From 110lbs in The Machinist to 180lbs in Batman Begins, Christian Bale has swung and transformed greater than anyone else on this list. Bale focused on plyometric and resistance training in order to beef up for the role.

Alexander Ludwig – Lone Survivor

Ludwig was a scrawny child star in Race to Witch Mountain but nowadays you wouldn’t even recognize him. He packed on mass and muscle to perform in Peter Berg’s Lone Survivor.

Christian Bale – American Hustle

Wouldn’t you know it, we’re back to Bale! Christian Bale went the opposite direction for American Hustle as he gained an incredible 43lbs of fat to portray the character. Incredibly, this is the one role that Bale got injured preparing for – he slipped a disc from the weight.

Jason Statham – The Transporter

Did you know that Statham wasn’t always the epitome of action movie star looks and it all started with The Transporter. Statham whipped himself into shape by increasing his gym time and focusing on mixed martial arts.

Tom Hardy – The Dark Knight Rises

In order to portray big bad Bane, Hardy had to put on 30lbs of pure muscle. Most of that muscle ended up right between his shoulders as he sported the biggest traps in the business.

Jamie Foxx – Any Given Sunday

Foxx has always been in killer shape but he went to the next level for Any Given Sunday. He beefed up to 200lbs before cutting down to 180 after going through football drills for a few weeks.

Matt Damon – Courage Under Fire

Before Matt Damon was, you know, Matt Damon – he had to hustle for every minute of screen time. Damon lost 50lbs just to play one scene in Courage Under Fire. That’s pretty insane!

Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

Rourke trained with a professional wrestler, Afa the Samoan, in order to get into shape for his Oscar nominated role. Safe to say, it worked out in his favor.

Matt Damon – The Informant

Damon packed on a ton of weight for his role in the off-beat dramedy, The Informant. Damon would put on 30lbs of fat for the role, losing any semblance of Jason Bourne in the process.

Edward Norton – American History X

In order to play an embattled Neo Nazi, Edward Norton had to hit the weights and change his diet. Norton gave up sugar and focused on high protein meals around the clock. Something most of us choc-a-holics’ could never do.

Natalie Portman – Black Swan

Portman, an already tiny individual, would lose 20lbs in order to play a ballet dancer in Black Swan. The work would pay off in spades as her critically acclaimed work would win Oscar attention.

Will Smith – Ali

Mr. Smith trained with Darrell Foster, a renowned boxing coach, while preparing for the role of Muhammad Ali. Smith even brought in an Islamic instructor to make sure his mind was in the right place during the performance.

Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club

In order to play the AIDS stricken lead in Dallas Buyers Club he would have to lose a stunning 38lbs. Gone was the beach body fans were so used to.

Chris Pratt – Guardians of the Galaxy

You can’t save the universe without a six pack, right? Chris Pratt would improve on his Zero Dark Thirty body even more in order to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. (If you still admiring his picture, don’t worry, so are we.)

Mark Wahlberg – Pain & Gain

Marky Mark looked more like Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson than ever when he co-starred with the wrestler in Pain & Gain. Wahlberg beefed up to a jaw dropping 212lbs to play the fitness buff.

Daniel Craig – Casino Royale

You have to look good in order to play the dreamy, bad a** Agent 007. Craig blended power lifting and compound lifts in order to portray the secret agent. And it worked.

Brad Pitt – Troy

If you are playing the greatest mythological warrior of all time then you need to be in great shape. Pitt would get into legendary shape for Troy and fans are still buzzing about it years and years later.

Rooney Mara – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Mara became a chameleon for this underrated film as she dropped 15lbs from her already slight frame before getting over a dozen actual piercings.

50 Cent – All Things Fall Apart

The famous rapper tried to work his way into showbiz back in 2011 with his emaciated role in All Things Fall Apart. 50 Cent would lose a full 60lbs in order to play a cancer-stricken football player.