20 Crazy Actor Body Makeovers That Are Almost Unbelievable

Alright, here’s the scoop. Some actors take their roles a little… okay, a lot too seriously. We’re talking about the kind of physical transformations that make you go, “Wait, people do that for movies?!” So buckle up and prepare to meet 20 stars who either gained, lost, or just plain suffered their way to the big screen.

Charlize Theron went full Krispy Kreme and potato chip mode to play a real-life killer in Monster. She packed on 30 pounds and got decked out in prosthetics. The result? An Oscar and a jaw drop.

Ryan Gosling thought his character should be beefy, so he drank melted ice cream and gained 60 pounds. Problem? The director disagreed, and Gosling lost the role. Ouch, that’s gotta sting.

Matthew McConaughey channeled a rasping baby bird on a hardcore diet of Diet Cokes and a few egg whites to become unrecognizable in Dallas Buyers Club. Yes, he was always hangry and cranky, but it won him an Oscar.

Anne Hathaway starved on oatmeal paste until she looked near death for Les Misérables. It was crazy, unhealthy, and had her feeling like a wreck for weeks.

Natalie Portman danced herself to near collapse in Black Swan, losing weight and even dislocating a rib – but hey, that’s dedication!

Christian Bale, Hollywood’s chameleon, lost 60 pounds on a tuna and coffee diet for The Machinist and then packed it all back on and more for roles like Vice and Ford v Ferrari. Talk about commitment (and madness).

Dwayne Johnson went through hours of makeup, MMA training, and muscle-building madness to become an actual MMA fighter in The Smashing Machine. The guy doesn’t mess around.

Austin Butler got so deep into playing Elvis that he didn’t see his family for years and ate two dozen donuts in one sitting. It even landed him in the hospital. Elvis would be proud (or concerned!).

Mila Kunis smoked a lot of cigarettes and barely ate to look the part of a ballerina in Black Swan. Spoiler: It was awful and she’s glad it’s over.

Chris Hemsworth dropped 33 pounds in four weeks on basically boiled eggs and sadness to go from Thor to a near skeleton in In the Heart of the Sea.

Joaquin Phoenix lost 52 pounds to become the Joker, eating mostly lettuce and veggies. He wasn’t thrilled about it and swore it was the last time he’d do such insanity.

Tom Hanks lost tons of weight and got a nasty leg infection while filming Cast Away. He almost didn’t make it, but hey, Chuck Noland lived to tell the tale.

Ashton Kutcher tried a fruit-only diet to play Steve Jobs and got hospitalized with scary pancreas problems. Carrot juice for days, anyone?

Florence Pugh went on an emotional rollercoaster and mentally broke herself to sizzle as the grieving lead in Midsommar.

Beyoncé gave up solid food in a juice cleanse that made her hangry and “evil” during Dreamgirls. After filming, donuts were her happy place.

Leonardo DiCaprio chilled in freezing rivers, slept in animal carcasses, and ate raw bison liver to survive The Revenant. Genuine disgust on screen? Totally real.

Rooney Mara bleached her eyebrows, chopped and dyed her hair, got a bunch of piercings, and binge-drank alcohol (to appear strung out) all for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. She didn’t even recognize herself!

Tom Holland tried eating less than 500 calories a day while working out like a maniac for Cherry and Crowded Room. Seriously, don’t try this at home.

Rosamund Pike gained and lost weight three times for Gone Girl. Her body was basically her chemistry lab, with heavy workouts and leafy greens galore.

Zac Efron looked amazing in Baywatch but paid the price with extreme dieting, diuretics, and six months of depression. That Baywatch glow-up was not all sunshine and surf.