Poll: Actors Who Went to The Extremes For Their Roles

Results of 6,562 votes:

1. 1.
   

   Christian Bale in The Machinist (2004)

    

   Christian Bale: Bale lost 63 lbs on a diet of fruit and coffee in order to play an emaciated insomniac. Movie: The Machinist (2004)
2. 2.
   

   Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (2008)

    

   Heath Ledger: In order to develop the voice and mannerism of Gotham’s homicidal Joker, Ledger had locked himself away in a hotel room for six weeks. Movie: The Dark Knight (2008)
3. 3.
   

   "A Clockwork Orange" Malcolm McDowell 1971 Warner

    

   Malcolm McDowell: McDowell was hooked up to a device which kept his eyelids open. The prongs on each arm which held the eyes open actually went under the eyelids and this resulted in a scratched corne…
4. 4.
   

   Daniel Day-Lewis and Brenda Fricker in My Left Foot (1989)

    

   Daniel Day-Lewis: In order to prepare for and maintain his character, the English actor virtually lived in a wheel chair. He even adopted and maintained such a slouched posture that he broke two of hi…
5. 5.
   

   Charlize Theron in Monster (2003)

    

   Charlize Theron: The actress gained over 30 lbs and even shaved her eyebrows all to make herself look closer to the character. Movie: Monster (2003)
6. 6.
   

   Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

    

   Jared Leto: The 42-year-old dropped his weight to just 114 lbs by not eating. Movie: Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
7. 7.
   

   Robert De Niro in Raging Bull (1980)

    

   Robert De Niro: For preparation, De Niro trained to become a boxer with LaMotta inside the ring with him. The actor also had to get in shape and build a physique like a boxer. Movie: Raging Bull (1980…
8. 8.
   

   Adrien Brody in The Pianist (2002)

    

   Adrien Brody: Brody lost around 30 lbs but didn’t stop there. To truly get into the mindset of someone who has nothing, he let go of most comforts and possessions which included his prized Porsche. He…
9. 9.
   

   Tom Hanks stars as Chuck NolandTom Hanks stars as Chuck Noland

    

   Tom Hanks: Hanks grew out his beard and hair and lost 55 lbs. Movie: Cast Away (2002)
10. 10.
    

    Natalie Portman in Black Swan (2010)

     

    Natalie Portman: She undertook a daily regime which included five hours of ballet, swimming and cross-training. All of this was undertaken while on a daily diet of 1,200 calories. Movie: Black Swan (2…
11. 11.
    

    Vincent D'Onofrio in Full Metal Jacket (1987)

     

    Vincent D'Onofrio: Gained 70 lbs for the film over the course of seven months. Movie: Full Metal Jacket (1987)
12. 12.
    

    Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

     

    Matthew McConaughey: McConaughey lost around 47 lbs to play the rol of a AIDS patient. Movie: Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
13. 13.
    

    Tom Cruise in Collateral (2004)

     

    Tom Cruise: Cruise took on the real-life role of a UPS delivery man. He went about a routine of delivering packages to various people and stores with the goal of remaining unnoticed. Movie: Collateral…
14. 14.
    

    Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler (2014)

     

    Jake Gyllenhaal: Jake Gyllenhaal lost 30 Pounds for his role as Louis Bloom in ‘Nightcrawler’. Movie: Nightcrawler (2014)
15. 15.
    

    Tom Hardy in The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

     

    Tom Hardy: Hardy bulked up and put on 30 lbs of muscle to play Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. Movie: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
16. 16.
    

    Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man (1988)

     

    Dustin Hoffman: To play his role accurately, he drew on his experiences during his time working at a psychiatric institute. Movie: Rain Man (1988)
17. 17.
    

    Sylvester Stallone in Rocky Balboa (2006)

     

    Sylvester Stallone: In addition to all the training and practice you’d expect, Stallone also faced off against real-life boxer Antonio Tarver, who played Balboa’s primary adversary Mason Dixon. Movie:…
18. 18.
    

    Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler (2008)

     

    Mickey Rourke: Rourke dropped the flab and put on 30lbs of muscle. He also put in considerable hours training and learning to pull off ‘real’ wrestling moves. Movie: The Wrestler (2008)
19. 19.
    

    All Things Fall Apart (2011)

     

    50 Cent: The 39-year-old went on a liquid diet and reportedly ran on a treadmill for at least three hours every day. Movie: All Things Fall Apart (2011)