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The Most Amazing Face & Body Transformations In Movie History
There's more to acting than saying lines
Some of us might think that being an actor is an easy job. You memorize a few lines, say them in front of a camera and you get paid in the millions. But this idea is only the surface of the art and there is so much more to explore underneath.
Actors need to not only get in the right mental and emotional state, but they need to be in the right physical condition as well.
Christian Bale, The Machinist
Screenshot via YouTube/SempriniUK
For this masterpiece from Brad Anderson, Christian Bale lost some 55-60 pounds. He dropped the weight by largely going on just coffee and apples.
Chris Pratt, Guardians Of The Galaxy
Screenshot via YouTube/ABC News
For those that know Chris Pratt before his action-hero days, he’s the hilarious Andy from Parks and Recreation. But in six months, he dropped 60 pounds and completely changed his diet to transform into Star Lord.
Jared Leto, Chapter 27
Screenshot via YouTube/Robin
It’s hard to lose weight, but it’s also hard to purposely gain it. In 2007, he gained some 67 pounds in order to play the role of John Lennon’s assassin, Mark Chapman, in Chapter 27.
Charlize Theron, Monster
Screenshot via YouTube/WorleyClarence
In order portray the serial killer Aileen Wuornos, Charlize Theron put on some serious pounds. Not only that, but her skin was layered with washed off tattoo ink for weathered look and her eyebrows were partially shaven.
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Screenshot via YouTube/FoxSearchlight
She was always small, so it’s hard to imagine Natalie Portman having to lose any more weight for a role. But for Black Swan, the Ivy League educated actress lost 20 pounds. She weighed just 98 pounds during filming.
Then again, sometimes the credit of transforming an actor needs to be given to the makeup artists.
John Travolta, Hairspray
Screenshot via YouTube/Movieclips Trailer Vault
An acting chameleon, John Travolta was brilliant in Hairspray. But his portrayal of Edna Turnblad would not have been as convincing if it wasn’t for his makeover.
Danny DeVito, Batman Returns
Screenshot via YouTube/DC Entertainment
To this day, Danny DeVito’s Penguin in Batman Returns is one of the scariest villains in movie history. And thanks to the dark eyes, the stringy hair and those teeth, Penguin will continue to haunt our dreams.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Shallow Hal
Screenshot via YouTube/Alterian
Depending on the type of movie it’s for, sometimes a fat suit works better than the actor gaining actual weight. But for Gwyneth Paltrow in Shallow Hal, the makeup artists definitely had their work cut out for them.
Helena Bonham Carter, Sweeney Todd
Screenshot via YouTube/YouTube Movies
She has a penchant for costume-y roles, but we have a soft spot for Elena Bonham Carter’s Mrs. Lovett. The personification of the character was creepy, made only more believable by the makeup and styling.
Nicole Kidman, The Hours
Screenshot via YouTube/Movieclips Trailer Vault
The test of amazing makeup is whether or not the person is recognizable after it. In The Hours, Nicole Kidman was an entirely different person and if the ending credits did not state her name, we might never have believed it was her.
So much goes into making a character come to life. Sometimes it’s in the responsibility of the actor, but sometimes it takes an entire team to put it together. Either way, the world of film wouldn’t be the same without that passion and dedication.
Images via imdb.com and vogue.com and intothegloss.com
