10 Crazy Things Actors Did To Nail Their Roles But No One Knew 

Being an actor is never easy! This job requires not only grueling skills but also high dedication. But sometimes, dedication to the craft becomes just flat-out crazy.
In fact, in the history of Hollywood, a number of stars have gone through dramatic transformations or done something more extreme to portray their character perfectly. Therefore, sometimes they not only sacrifice their appearances but also pay for their own health. For example, they have to gain 60 pounds of muscle or lose 40 pounds in a short time. It's so crazy!
So, to honor those famous stars who give their all to the job they love, we've rounded up 10 challenges that they underwent in their craft. What do you think is the craziest thing an actor has ever done for a famous role?

#1 Tom Cruise — "Mission: Impossible — Fallout" (2018)

Source: © Mission: Impossible – Fallout/ Paramount Pictures

Tom Cruise is known for pulling off crazy action sequences without the help of a double. In "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" (2018), he performed a high-altitude, low-opening jump. To get the perfect shot, he jumped out of the plane 106 times and practiced in a wind tunnel.

#2 Kumail Nanjiani — "Eternals" (2020)

Source: kumailn

To play his role as Ikaris in the Marvel Studios film "Eternals", Kumail Nanjiani completely transformed his body. He had to maintain a strict diet and a rigid exercise regimen for a year to achieve this chiseled physique.

#3 Margot Robbie — "I, Tonya" (2017)

Source: © I, Tonya / LuckyChap Entertainment

In order to portray the infamous figure skater Tonya Harding, Margot Robbie tried her best to feel confident on the ice. She trained four hours per day, five days per week, for five months. She even spent the day before her wedding, as well as Christmas and New Year's Eve, at the rink.

#4 Henry Cavill — "The Witcher" (2019 — present )

Source: © The Witcher / Netflix

Before the shirtless scenes in "The Witcher", Henry Cavill had to dehydrate himself to make his muscles more prominent. He would drink 1.5 liters of water four days prior to the shooting and barely 0.5 liters the following day. But on the third day and all the time until filming the scene, he wouldn’t drink any more water.

#5 Joaquin Phoenix — "Joker" (2019)

Source: © Samir Hussein / WireImage / Getty Images, © Joker / Warner Bros. Pictures

For his Oscar-winning role, Joaquin Phoenix went through a physical and mental transformation. To prepare for the role of Joker, Phoenix lost 52 pounds in a short time and it affected his psychological state too much. But it also helped him get into character. However, Phoenix still said: "It's a horrible way to live."

#6 Zendaya — "The Greatest Showman" (2017)

Source: © The Greatest Showman / 20th Century Studios

During the filming of "The Greatest Showman", the film director wanted to use stunt doubles as little as possible. Therefore, Zendaya started learning to trapeze three months before filming began, and she even did some of the stunts herself.

#7 Daniel Radcliffe — "Jungle" (2017)

Source: © Anthony Harvey / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Images

In "Jungle" (2017), Daniel Radcliffe played the main character in the biopic about survival in the Amazon rainforest. To portray the character as accurately as possible, Daniel didn’t eat anything for 2 days during that process.

#8 Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling — "Blue Valentine" (2010)

Source: © Blue Valetntine / The Weinstein Company

In "Blue Valentine," Williams and Gosling portrayed a married couple. To give a sense of reality, the director had them live together, including the actress who played the daughter for a month. But only during the day — because Williams returned home at night to see her daughter.

#9 George MacKay — "Captain Fantastic" (2016)

Source: © Captain Fantastic / Bleecker Street

 In "Captain Fantastic" (2016), George MacKay had an advanced yoga poses. To get the perfect shot, he practiced yoga 3 to 4 hours a day.

#10 Emile Hirsch — Into the Wild (2007)

Source: © Into the Wild / Paramount Vantage

"Into the Wild" tells the true story of a man hiking across North America. When Emile Hirsch was chosen to play the lead role, because his weight was 156 pounds, he had to lose 26 pounds. When they were filming the scene where the main character enters Alaska, his weight dropped to 115 pounds.