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Channing Tatum: 'Magic Mike's Last Dance' (2023) -

Channing Tatum admitted that he almost rejected the opportunity to star in the third installment of the 'Magic Mike' movies due to the physical toll it takes on his body. During an interview with Kelly Clarkson, he candidly discussed the challenges and unhealthiness of attaining the desired appearance for such a role. "It's not natural," he told Clarkson, "You have to starve yourself. I don't think when you’re that lean it's actually healthy for you." 

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Channing Tatum: 'Magic Mike's Last Dance' (2023) -

He expressed concerns about the adverse effects on one's health when maintaining such low body fat levels. To prepare for filming, Tatum completely eliminates sodium from his diet. Additionally, he highlighted the strenuous workout regimen required to stay in shape. "Truly, I don't know how people that work a nine to five actually stay in shape because it's my full-time job and I can barely do it," Tatum marveled. Despite his initial hesitation, in the end, Tatum made the decision to make sacrifices for the sake of his fans and participate in another 'Magic Mike' film.

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Christian Bale: 'Batman Begins' (2005) -

Christian Bale is widely known for his intense dedication to method acting, as evident in his transformative performance in 'The Machinist' released in 2004. This role left him emaciated and starving, and he had just six months to turn himself into Batman.

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Christian Bale: 'Batman Begins' (2005) -

During that six-month period, he successfully gained a remarkable 100 pounds (45 kg) by means of intensive training while indulging in pizza and ice cream.

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Gerard Butler: '300' (2007) -

'300' can be summarized as a spectacular of muscular men bounding around in underpants and capes, led by Gerard Butler. Butler dedicated four months to rigorous training for this role, resulting in a body transformation that became known as the '300 diet' due to its remarkable outcomes.

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Alicia Vikander: 'Tomb Raider' (2018) -

Alicia Vikander took over the character of Lara Croft from Angelina Jolie in the 2018 'Tomb Raider' remake. It is a challenging task, considering the previous portrayal. To prepare, Vikander underwent rigorous training and adhered to a disciplined exercise routine and diet, resulting in a gain of 12 pounds (5 kg) of muscle.

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Daniel Craig: 'Casino Royale' (2006) -

Daniel Craig is the most physically robust among all the actors who have played James Bond, and we're here for it! Upon assuming the role, he reached out to a former Royal Marine, who had previously trained Pierce Brosnan. He quit smoking, consumed lean protein and greens, and diligently exercised every day to get ready.

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Tom Hardy: 'Bronson' (2008) -

Tom Hardy portrayed Charles Bronson in 2008. Bronson was a renowned criminal who spent a significant portion of his life behind bars. To prepare for the role, Hardy followed a workout routine consisting of exercises that could be done within a prison cell. His diet included chicken, rice, pizza, ice cream, and cola, resulting in a weight gain of 42 pounds (19 kg) within a span of just seven weeks.

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Emily Blunt: 'Edge of Tomorrow' (2014) -

Emily Blunt dedicated two and a half months to transforming herself into a formidable warrior, adept at battling extraterrestrial beings. In order to prepare for her 85-pound (39 kg) exoskeleton, she underwent rigorous training while wearing weighted vests. Tom Cruise, renowned for performing his own daring stunts, admitted that he had never witnessed such impeccable preparation before.

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Chris Hemsworth: 'Thor' (2011) -

In 2011, Chris Hemsworth assumed the character of Thor, a prominent superhero in the Marvel universe. He noticeably increased his weight by 30 pounds (14 kg) to further enhance his imposing physique.

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Chris Hemsworth: 'Thor: The Dark World' (2013) -

Unfortunately for Hemsworth, he was chosen to play the role of a race car driver in the film 'Rush' in 2013, which meant he needed to shed weight and slim down. However, he had to then regain all the weight for his role in 'Thor: The Dark World' (2013).

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Mark Wahlberg: 'Pain & Gain' (2013) -

Mark Wahlberg has always been known for his muscular physique, but when he landed a lead role as an eccentric bodybuilder alongside Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, he took his fitness to another level. Wahlberg is famous for his incredibly disciplined daily regimen. In preparation for this role, he diligently consumed 12 meals per day and rigorously engaged in weight training. Astonishingly, he managed to gain 40 pounds (18 kg) within a mere two months!

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Bradley Cooper: 'American Sniper' (2014) -

Bradley Cooper gained 40 pounds (18 kg) in just 10 weeks to effectively portray Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle. Cooper followed a 5,000-calorie diet, exercised twice daily, and received sniper training. It is said that he had to eat every 55 minutes to achieve this transformation.

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Chris Evans: 'Captain America: The First Avenger' (2011) -

Chris Evans successfully gained weight and muscle mass for his role as Captain America, despite being naturally slim. Over the past decade, he has maintained this additional weight on his small frame, consistently enhancing his physique with each movie.

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Linda Hamilton: 'Terminator: Dark Fate' (2019) -

Linda Hamilton has been a part of the 'Terminator' series since its inception. Her character has gone through significant changes over the years, growing tougher and more resilient. Remarkably, even in her sixties, Hamilton has reached new levels of strength!

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Chris Pratt: 'Guardians of the Galaxy' (2014) -

Chris Pratt underwent a remarkable physical transformation for his starring role in 'Guardians of the Galaxy' (2014). This accomplishment is particularly noteworthy considering he had previously gained 60 pounds (27 kg) for his part in the film 'Delivery Man' (2013).

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Sylvester Stallone: 'Rocky III' (1982) -

In the early 'Rocky' movies, Sylvester Stallone wasn't exactly thin, but it was in the third installment that he achieved his highest level of fitness. Allegedly, he managed to reduce his body fat percentage to 2.8% by engaging in daily workouts twice a day for six days a week.

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Brie Larson: 'Captain Marvel' (2019) -

Brie Larson, the first female lead in a Marvel film, refused to appear feeble. She dedicated nine months to rigorous training, packing on 15 pounds (7 kg) of muscle to acquire a superhero physique. This feat is especially remarkable coming from someone who says they're "not super athletic."

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Hugh Jackman: 'The Wolverine' (2013) -

Hugh Jackman, who had already featured as Wolverine in various movies, made a conscious choice to enhance his physicality for the 2013 installment. To achieve this, he adhered to a diet plan advised by Dwayne Johnson, consuming a staggering 6,000 calories daily, alongside a demanding exercise regimen.

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Josh Brolin: 'Deadpool 2' (2018) -

Josh Brolin underwent a remarkable physical change to portray Cable in the film 'Deadpool 2' (2018). Despite being nearly 50 years old, he accomplished this feat within a mere 11 weeks, which is truly impressive. Brolin dedicated three hours each day to intense workouts at the gym and eliminated sugar from his diet entirely to achieve the astounding transformation. He joked that steroids might have been a more convenient option.

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Hilary Swank: 'Million Dollar Baby' (2004) -

Hilary Swank's role in the award-winning film 'Million Dollar Baby' (2004) demanded her to achieve the physical conditioning of a boxer. To meet this requirement, she dedicated four to six hours daily to exercising and followed a diet that facilitated weight gain. Surprisingly, she managed to increase her weight by 19 pounds (9 kg), a significant amount for her small build!

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Jake Gyllenhaal: 'Road House' (2023) -

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal pleasantly surprised UFC fans when he made an unexpected appearance at the UFC 285 weigh-in in Las Vegas on March 3, 2023. Gyllenhaal was in town shooting scenes for an upcoming remake of the 1989 film 'Road House.' Alongside former UFC fighter Jay Hieron, who will also be in the movie, Gyllenhaal participated in the weigh-in. Videos circulating on social media captured the actor confidently stepping onto the scales, flaunting his muscular physique, and energetically engaging with the excited crowd. CNN reports that Gyllenhaal was also getting hyped up with former UFC champion Conor McGregor, who is another co-star in the film. Adding to the excitement, Gyllenhaal engaged in a scripted altercation with Hieron, playfully slapping him on stage.

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Jake Gyllenhaal: 'Southpaw' (2015) -

Jake Gyllenhaal is no stranger to getting in shape for a role. In 2015, he underwent an impressive physical transformation for his role in 'Southpaw.' Through intense boxing training, he managed to gain 15 pounds (7 kg) of solid muscle, receiving high praise for his performance as both an actor and a boxer.

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Michael B. Jordan: 'Creed' (2015) -

Michael B. Jordan's physique underwent a notable transformation when he took on the role of Apollo Creed's son in the 'Rocky' spin-off. He committed himself to training two to three hours daily and following a monotonous diet in order to gain 24 pounds (11 kg) of muscle within a year. This diligent dedication truly demonstrates his commitment to his craft.

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Henry Cavill: 'Man of Steel' (2013) -

Henry Cavill now has a superhero-worthy physique, but it hasn't always been that way. The actor endured childhood teasing due to his weight. He slimmed down for his 2011 role in 'Immortals' and then underwent an impressive transformation to portray Superman.

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Ryan Reynolds: 'Deadpool' (2016) -

Reynolds effortlessly boosted his already muscular physique by an extra seven pounds (3 kg) to embody the superhero shape of Deadpool, despite the character's unconventional anti-hero status.

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Ben Affleck: 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' (2016) -

Ben Affleck put in a lot of effort to prepare for his Batman role. Despite being 43 years old at the time, he successfully gained 33 pounds (15 kg) and lowered his body fat to 7.7%.

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Adam Driver: 'Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi' (2005) -

Adam Driver, known for his tall stature, faced a challenge in embodying the imposing character of Kylo Ren. However, he was not without an advantage. Driver had a secret weapon – his past experience as a Marine in the US military. Utilizing his training, he was able to transform his physique (and perhaps enhance his lightsaber skills as well).

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John Krasinski: '13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi' (2016) -

In 2013, John Krasinski underwent a notable transformation from his days playing Jim in 'The Office.' In this 2016 Michael Bay film, he embraced the character of a Navy SEAL, displaying significant physical growth by gaining 25 pounds (11 kg) of solid muscle.

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Paul Rudd: 'Ant-Man' (2015) -

According to sources, Paul Rudd, known for his role as Ant-Man, took his superhero physique seriously. While he didn't go to the extremes of Christian Bale, Rudd dedicated himself to getting leaner and stronger for the part. He reportedly committed to waking up at 5 am every day to achieve the best shape of his life.

Sources: (Watch Mojo) (Men's Journal) (Elle Australia) (Muscle and Fitness)

See also: The greatest celebrity fitness gurus of all time

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