20 Actors Who Have Undergone Dramatic Physical Transformations To Left Their Mark On Cinema Forever

Nowadays, people pay more attention to celebrities' looks and wealth than to their professional achievements. However, they have to go a long, hard way to achieve the success they have nowadays. They have to go through intense, long filming days. Aside from acting ability, they frequently need to learn new skills, such as learning a new language or playing an instrument, to make their characters realistic.
However, in some cases, it isn't only about language and makeup. To play a role convincingly, they may go through extraordinary physical transformations or do something more extreme. 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 their efforts at work, we've rounded up some of the most extreme body transformations they have done for movie roles. Let's scroll down and discover more!

#1 Chris Hemsworth

Source: Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0

Lost 15 pounds of muscle after a strict 500 calorie/day diet for 4 weeks for his role in 'In the Heart of the Sea' (2015)

Source: Youtube

#2 Jake Gyllenhaal

Source: Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com

Gained 35 lbs of muscle for 'Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time' (2010)

Source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Lost over 20 lbs for 'Nightcrawler' (2014)

Source: boredpanda

#3 Christian Bale

Source: Asim Bharwani / Flickr / CC-BY 2.0

Lost 62 lbs for 'The Machinist' (2004)

Source: Paramount Classics

Gained 99 lbs (mostly muscle) for 'Batman Begins' (2005)

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Gained 43 lbs for 'American Hustle' (2013)

Source: Sony Pictures Releasing

Gained 40 lbs for 'Vice' (2018)

Source: Annapurna Distribution

#4 Tom Hardy

Source: Tolga AKMEN / AFP

Gained 43 lbs for 'Bronson' (2008)

Source: Magnet Releasing

Gained 30 lbs lean muscle for 'Warrior' (2011)

Source: Lionsgate

30+ lbs of mass on top of 'Warrior' physique (about 50-60 lbs mass from normal physique) for 'The Dark Knight Rises' (2012)

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

#5 Matt Damon

Source: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Lost 50 lbs for a few minutes of screen time in 'Courage Under Fire' (1996)

Source: 20th Century Fox

Gained 30 lbs for 'The Informant!' (2009)

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Lost 'Informant' weight and gained 15 lbs muscle for 'Invictus' (2009)

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Toned up and gained substantial muscle at 44 years old when filming 'Jason Bourne' (2016)

Source: Universal Pictures

#6 J. K. Simmons

Source: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Trained every day for 'Justice League' (2017)

Source: aaronvwilliamson

#7 Jared Leto

Source: Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 2.0

Gained 67 lbs for 'Chapter 27' (2007)

Source: Getty Images

Lost 30 lbs for 'Dallas Buyers Club' (2013)

Source: Focus Features

#8 Natalie Portman

Source: Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 2.0

Lost 20 lbs for 'Black Swan' (2010)

Source: Fox Searchlight Pictures

#9 Matthew McConaughey

Source: All-Pro Reels / Flickr / CC-BY-SA 2.0

Lost 38 lbs for 'Dallas Buyers Club' (2013)

Source: Focus Features

#10 Rooney Mara

Source: Cubankite / Shutterstock.com

Lost 15 lbs and added a dozen real piercings for 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' (2011)

Source: Sony Pictures Releasing

#11 Russell Crowe

Source: Getty Images

Gained 63 lbs for 'Body of Lies' (2008)

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

#12 Charlize Theron

Source: Fuzheado / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 4.0

Gained 30 lbs for  'Monster' (2003)

Source: Newmarket Films

#13 50 Cent

Source: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Lost 60 lbs for 'All Things Fall Apart' (2011)

Source: Image Entertainment

#14 Robert De Niro

Source: Roland Godefroy/Arad / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0

Gained 60 lbs for 'Raging Bull' (1980)

Source: Getty Images

#15 Hugh Jackman

Source: Dick Thomas Johnson / Flickr / CC-BY 2.0

Gained 25 lbs of muscle for 'The Wolverine' (2013)

Source: 20th Century Fox

# Lost 15 lbs by dehydrating his body for 'Les Misérables' (2012)

Source: Universal Pictures

#16 Charlie Sheen

Source: Getty Images

Gained 30 lbs of muscle for 'Hot Shots! Part Deux' (1993)

Source: 20th Century Fox

#17 Tom Hanks

Source: Dick Thomas Johnson / Flickr / CC-BY 2.0

Lost 55 lbs for 'Cast Away' (2000)

Source: 20th Century Fox

#18 Jonah Hill

Source: Harald Krichel / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 4.0

Lost more than 45 lbs for '21 Jump Street' (2012)

Source: Columbia Pictures

#19 Adrien Brody

Source: Georges Biard / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0

Lost 31 lbs for 'The Pianist' (2002)

Source: Focus Features

Gained 25 lbs of muscle for 'Predators' (2010)

Source: 20th Century Fox

#20 Chris Pratt

Source: Getty Images

Lost 60 lbs and gained muscle for 'Guardians of the Galaxy' (2014)

Source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures