10 Actors Who Took Great Pains To Portray Their Character Flawlessly

Jessica Wilson
Jan 11, 2023
Jan 11, 2023

A lot of the time, it is believed that actors have it easy when they just learn by heart the lines and appear beautifully on the screen. However, acting is a tough job and a lot of it can take a toll on the person both physically and mentally. Well, it often goes far beyond slipping into character to deliver a few lines, wearing some make, and so on. Some actors are willing to sacrifice their figure for extreme weight gain while others hesitatingly go on dieting for months for a role-proper weight loss.
Moreover, most of them have gone through near-universal feelings of love, loss, pain, and joy. When they tap into these emotions well, they can make a great performance and even receive prestigious awards.
We've listed 10 actors who went the extra mile to ensure they played their roles perfectly.

#1 Tom Hardy in Bronson

Source: © Stuart: A Life Backwards / British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and co-producers, Image supplied by Capital Pictures / EAST NEWS

Before starring in “Bronson”, Tom Hardy had to lose 27 lbs for a previous role. So, when saying yes to taking part in the project, he had to regain all the weight he lost. He explained, “I had to quickly put a lot of weight on my forearms, chest, and neck”.

#2 Matt Damon in The Informant!

Source: East News, © The Informant! / Warner Bros. and co-producers

Matt Damon had to say goodbye to his fit body and gain almost 30 lbs to embody biochemist Mark Whitacre. He shared, “I wouldn’t do more than 30 [lb], though — that would start to hurt”.

#3 Brie Larson in Room

Source: © brielarson / Instagram, East News

Brie Larson decided to put herself in her character’s shoes to portray a woman who was held as a prisoner inside a shed. She wrote 3 dairies as her at ages 10, 14, and 17. She said, “It was a stream of consciousness a lot of the time. I’d get really into it and get stuck in a 10-year-old mind for hours at a time”. For her great performance, she received an Oscar.

#4 Mariah Carey in Precious

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Many can’t seemingly realize Mariah Carey when she played the role of Mrs. Wess. To make her performance convincing that she was an empathetic woman helping a troubled teenager in the ‘80s, she wore her eyebags, a mustache, gray makeup, and even bound her breasts.

#5 Dwayne Johnson in Black Adam

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The Rock hired a team of chefs and a conditioning coach for his desired physique. He shared that they removed all the muscle padding and put in the real work. For the actor, Black Adam was “one of the most grueling, intense, demanding commitments of my entire career.”

#6 Lupita Nyong’o in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Source: © lupitanyongo / Instagram, © lupitanyongo / Instagram

Lupita Nyong’o shared some behind-the-scenes clips about her intense preparation for the part of Nakia. She had to crawl and walk under a pool. Seemingly, it wasn’t challenging enough, she had to carry dumbbells with her.

#7 Chris Hemsworth in Limitless

Source: © chrishemsworth / Instagram, © natgeotv / Instagram

Chris Hemsworth starred in the movie “Limitless”, which is about challenging the human mind and body to explore life and longevity. Hemsworth tested his limits by plunging into icy cold waters and dangling over a canyon. He put on an MIT-designed suit, which restricted his hearing, vision, and movement.

#8 Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn

Source: Evan Agostini / Invision / East News, East News

Michelle Williams did her homework, including devouring autobiographies, letters, and listening to interviews to embody Marilyn Monroe. Moreover, she tied a belt around her knees to imitate Monroe’s trademark wiggle.

#9 Viola Davis in The Woman King

It was a challenge to become the powerful General Nanisca. Actress Viola Davis had to undergo a strict diet and rigorous physical training. The training included running, martial arts, and strength building. Furthermore, she was at high risk for diabetes, so she had to eat in small portions every 3 hours.

#10 Mark Wahlberg in Father Stu

The actor had to stop working out at 4 a.m every day because of his role in “Father Stu”. He shared, “I put on 30 pounds and went from being a guy who was in fighting shape, to a guy who was wheelchair-bound, suffering from a rare muscular degenerative disease”. He ate even when he was full. His daily menu included dozens of eggs and bacon, baked potatoes, steak, 2 bowls of white rice, and a glass of olive oil.

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