Losing weight is never easy, but when it’s for a role, these actors and actresses have all stepped up to the challenge. Some simply felt their character was skinnier than them so decided to drop the weight, while for others the weight loss was required as they played people who were starving or sick. These 5 stars all have transformed incredibly on the big screen to really become their character, no matter what the cost. It shows an amazing dedication to their role, and some suffered greatly in the process.
Anne Hathaway
For her role in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ Anne dropped a dress size by using a book that taught her about French eating habits which she felt helped a lot: “”I read French Women Don’t Get Fat and followed all the advice. It’s a great book. The thing I love about it is it’s not a diet book – I just watch certain things.”
Steve Zahn
‘Rescue Dawn’ star Steve Zahn snacked on healthy food and ran regularly to drop weight for the role: “It wasn’t that difficult. I’d eat all day but I’d just eat raw vegetables, fruit and nuts and I’d have fish at night. On top of that I ran at least five miles a day, sometimes twice a day. I lost the weight in a matter of four months. I never cheated but it was tough – I’m a meat and potatoes kind of guy.”
Seth Rogan
Seth dropped a lot of weight for his part in ‘The Green Hornet’ but he hasn’t kept the pounds off: “I lost the weight for a role, but I don’t know if I’ll keep it off. That’s the big question. I have a lot of tantrums. I want my food. I cry for no reason. I did not do any experimental injections! It’s just diet and exercise. It works. Uh, stay fat, people. That’s my motto. It’s no picnic.”
Michael Fassbender
Michael had to drop a shocking amount of weight for his role in ‘Hunger’ which made him look very ill: “I had my cut-off point and if I went below it I was told things would get a little tricky. I remember looking at myself and thinking, ‘God, there are bones sticking out here’. I went for my final check-up after filming and my doctor said, ‘Last time you came in here you looked pretty bad. My assistant was outside and she saw you and said, ‘My God, that guy’s really ill, isn’t he?’ She thought you had cancer’. People don’t actually say anything directly to you.”
Matt Damon
Matt lost so much weight for his ‘Courage Under Fire’ role that he felt very sick and now regrets losing so much: “I went too far. I got sick and I wouldn’t do that again because it was just too much. At the same time it helped the performance. I didn’t have to act at all – I was a wreck. “I was getting dizzy spells and hot flashes. I didn’t say anything to anyone for a while because I was afraid I might be really ill.”
