16 Celebrities Who Drastically Transformed For A Movie Role

There’s no shortage of actors and actresses in Hollywood who are willing to put themselves through the ringer for their art. In a town that’s filled with people who just want to be famous, it’s a pretty good bet that when someone puts their health in jeopardy for a role in a film, they’re pretty darn serious about what they do. Maybe that’s why news of drastic body transformations or wild weight fluctuations tend to precede awards season buzz (when they’re not tied to a drug problem). While not every actor who’s undergone a physical transformation has reaped critical acclaim, several have found a place in Hollywood history for their daring commitment.

1. Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal has never brought home a major award for his acting (which is a crime). In spite of that, the young performer has routinely transformed himself to meet the needs of his excellent run of roles. In the last two years, the performer lost more than 20 pounds while playing a scumbag paparazzi in Nightcrawler before turning around and gaining it all back (and then some) to play a muscular middleweight in Southpaw.