Actors and Actresses who've been asked to GAIN weight for a movie role

[Mike 03]

It's common for actors to be asked to lose weight for movie roles, but some have been asked to gain weight, almost always to their horror.

I can think of a few:

The classic example is Robert DeNiro for RAGING BULL. I don't know how much he was asked to gain, but it was a lot.

Patricia Arquette for BEYOND RANGOON. I believe it was twenty pounds.

Russell Crowe for BODY OF LIES. I think it was thirty or forty pounds.

George Clooney for SYRIANA. It was thirty pounds.

And the more interesting question: how did they all lose it? It would seem to me that this would take a horrible toll on your body.

Seriously, can anyone here think of movies where actors/actresses were asked to gain significant amounts of weight?

[PBS Poll-435]

1. Kate Winslet - Titanic

[Ikonoklast]

19. Kinda harsh, don't you think?

I mean, she was shapely and well rounded, but to call her 'titanic' is a bit of overstatement.

[ghostsofgiants]

21. Bahaha.

Well played.

[bigwillq]

2. Charlize Theron

For "Monster"

About 30 pounds.

[cynatnite]

24. She was effing brilliant in that movie n/t

[bigwillq]

26. Yes indeed!

She so deserved to win the Oscar, and any other award that she won for that movie!

[NewJeffCT]

3. They have personal trainers

so, it's easier for them to take it off when it's time.

[Auggie]

4. I think the weight gain is sometimes augmented by fat suits

One reason it may be so easy to take it off. Plus, looking good is their 9-5 job. Few of us can devote all day to working out.

[AlCzervik]

5. whoosy whatsit from Bridgette Jones. Squinty, i cannot remember her name.

[Mike 03]

8. Yes, you are right. I remember that. She was in "Chicago" too. NT

[bigwillq]

6. Renée Zellweger

For "Bridget Jones's Diary"

[bbernardini]

43. I thought she looked BETTER with the extra pounds.

Her face just looks weird at her "normal" weight.

[bigwillq]

44. Me too.

She makes such funny faces. Like she's sucking on a lemon. It's bizarre.

[DarkTirade]

7. Jewel Staite for Firefly.

[LynzM]

20. She has a *fantastic* smile

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/Jewel_Staite,_2005_convention.jpg

[DS1]

9. DeNiro - The Untouchables

[jrandom421]

29. Don't forget Raging Bull

DeNiro had to gain at least 30 pounds to accurately portray Jake LaMotta in later life.

[Mike 03]

10. Hillary Swank for "Million Dollar Baby." But that was mostly muscle, but it was

thirty pounds worth, according to her.

That was a fantastic movie.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

11. Vincent D'Onofrio for "Full Metal Jacket."

Gained a world record 70 pounds.

[ogneopasno]

12. Ralph Fiennes for Schindler's List. I think it was 30.

[stanwyck]

13. Renee Zellwinger, Meryl Streep, Hillary Swank

Between 20-30 lbs.
Renee for Bridget Jones Diary and Meryl for The Bridges of Madison County. Meryl also packed on more muscle for The River Wild and Hillary bulked up for Million Dollar Baby.

[CBHagman]

14. Marisa Tomei for "The Perez Family."

Curves were a must for her role as a passionate, sexy immigrant. I didn't like the accent she put on, but the weight was glorious.

[marigold20]

15. Kelly McGillis in Witness

Evidently they wanted her to look like she could really work on a farm.

[rcrush]

16. Jamal Woolard supposedly gained 50 pounds to play Biggie.

In Notorious and supposedly he is diabetic. Good movie by the way.

[sasquatch]

17. Rikki Lake had to gain 100 pounds for hairspray

[Shell Beau]

18. I remember Christian Bale lost LOTS of weight for the Machinist.

And I think Tom Hanks lost lots for Castaway and Philadelphia.

I think it would be much harder to lose weight than gain weight for a role. The hard part about gaining the weight, is trying to lose it again.

I belive Matt Damon gained some weight for a recent role.

[Frank Cannon]

45. And Bale had to put it right back on again (plus) for Batman Begins

I think he had to gain something like 60 pounds back. He actually overshot his goal and was billed "Fatman", so then he had to go on a diet again!

[Orrex]

22. I gained a fair bit of weight for my role as a customer service representative

[Skittles]

35. I WILL KICK YOUR PORKY CUSTOMER REP ASS

YES INDEED

[cynatnite]

23. Didn't Crowe put on weight for American Gangster? n/t

[LisaL]

25. It is unhealthy for someone to gain weight and then loose it.

Why not get an actor who is already of a desired weight rather than asking someone to gain weight?

[crimsonblue]

34. it's not that unhealthy....

if you eat the right foods to put on the weight, then take it off through proper diet and exercise, no long term harm will be done.

[Doc_Technical]

27. Rod Steiger for "W. C. Fields and me"

[HuskerDU]

28. The guy who plays Randy on the Trailer Park Boys

That guy would lose his job if his cheeseburger belly went away.

[begin_within]

30. Mae West for "Sextette"

Although half of her weight in this film is her makeup. How can you go wrong with a film that includes Mae West, Timothy Dalton, Dom Deluise, Tony Curtis, Ringo Starr, George Hamilton, Alice Cooper, Rona Barrett, Keith Moon, Regis Philbin, and Walter Pidgeon? Well, it's rated 2.3 out of 10 on imDb.

[AwakeAtLast]

31. Mickey Rourke reportedly gained weight for "The Wrestler"

I think Matt Damon did, too, for an upcoming movie.

[annonymous]

32. Albert Molina in that movie about Frida Kahlo

I am pretty sure it was about 30 lbs.

[crimsonblue]

33. Jake Gyllenhal

[latebloomer]

36. Gwyneth Palthrow for "Shallow Hal"

Just joshin!

My husband said Toby McGuire gained a lot of muscle weight for "Spiderman".

[bikebloke]

37. Jared Leto as Mark David Chapman

"Chapter 27"

About John Lennon's assassin. I haven't seen it, but read about his weight gain for the part.

[quakerboy]

38. Will Smith, Ali

I saw it first on a flight, and I didn't realize it was Will Smith until about halfway through. Granted, I had no sound as it was a seat mate, not I who was actually watching it, but still.

Maybe a different kind of weight gain than you were thinking, but still, according to the google he put on 35-45 pounds

[Arugula Latte]

39. Kirstie Alley -- FAT ACTRESS

Okay, okay, it was on the teevee.

:hide:

[Left Is Write]

40. Matt Damon for The Informant

[LostinVA]

41. Stallone for "Copland" -- I think 40 lbs.

He said in an interview that he used to slag people who couldn't lose weight (ie they just weren't trying), but said he NEVER would again, because it was so hard to lose the weight. I remmeber he said he had five very small meals a day of mainly lean protein, and worked out for several hours a day -- mainly cardio.

Also, Brooke White in "Silence of the Lambs."

[nytemare]

42. Tilda Swinton for "Michael Clayton"

Ate a lot of pie.

[JenaLaw]

46. Tom Hanks for 'League of Their Own'

and i don't think he ever really took it all off again.

[backwoodsbob]

47. not sure about weight but

Will Smith gained MASSIVE size for Ali.