Incredible transformations: 5 stars who changed beyond recognition for a role

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron, the renowned Hollywood beauty, isn't afraid of radical transformations for her roles. She has already sacrificed her appearance by shaving her golden locks for the action film Mad Max: Fury Road. However, in the movie Monster, Theron portrayed the furious killer prostitute Aileen Wuornos, which required even more drastic changes.

The actress had to gain about 14 kg, undergo special hair procedures, wear dental prosthetics, partially shave and bleach her eyebrows, and add temporary tattoos to her face. Completely unrecognizable in her new role, Theron delivered a brilliant performance, earning her a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and her first Oscar.

Charlize Theron (collage by RBC-Ukraine)

Christian Bale

Hollywood actor Christian Bale is renowned for his impressive and often extreme physical transformations. In films like The Fighter (2010), American Hustle (2013), and The Machinist (2015), he has repeatedly showcased his ability to dramatically alter his appearance. However, the most radical transformation occurred when he lost 29 kg for his role as Trevor Reznik, an insomniac and deeply depressed character in The Machinist.

Bale reduced his diet to just a can of tuna a day and suppressed his hunger by smoking, reaching a level of exhaustion that raised concerns among doctors. He lost even 9 kg more than necessary for the role.

Even more astonishing was his transformation after The Machinist: in less than four months, Bale gained about 40 kg of muscle mass in preparation for his role in Batman Begins, where he appeared in excellent physical shape.

Christian Bale (collage by RBC-Ukraine)

Jared Leto

The most extreme transformation for Leto came with his role as Mark David Chapman, the fan and murderer of John Lennon, in the film Chapter 27. To accurately portray the mentally unstable character, Leto gained about 35 kg of excess weight.

This transformation proved to be a significant challenge: his consumption of calorie-dense, low-nutrition foods led to gout and elevated cholesterol levels. However, Chapter 27 deserves attention for Jared Leto's incredible metamorphosis.

Jared Leto (collage by RBC-Ukraine)

Anne Hathaway

Those who follow Anne Hathaway's career know that she usually avoids radical transformations. However, she took on a true challenge in the musical Les Misérables, where she played the role of the impoverished Fantine. The actress decided to lose 11 kg on her own, with the last 7 kg shed just two weeks before filming to create a convincing character.

These changes were not a requirement from the director; Hathaway aimed to realistically portray her character's appearance from the slums. In one of the most emotional scenes, she actually shaves her head without any tricks.

This strict diet took a toll, nearly affecting the actress's health. However, her dedication to the role and the incredible realism of her performance earned her a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Oscar.

Anne Hathaway (collage by RBC-Ukraine)

Jake Gyllenhaal

To portray the lead role in the blockbuster Southpaw, Jake Gyllenhaal needed to gain 13 kg of muscle to transform into world champion Billy Hope, who is at the peak of his boxing career. The challenge was significant, as the actor's weight was only 67 kg after filming Nightcrawler.

His new character, a middleweight fighter, is preparing for the most important match of his life. Lacking considerable muscle mass, Gyllenhaal dedicated eight months to an intense training regimen that included running, jump rope, cross-training, and mastering boxing techniques.

Jake Gyllenhaal (collage by RBC-Ukraine)