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Diet

14 Times Actors Lost or Gained MAJOR Weight for a Role

By Linnea Zielinski

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These actors and actresses take their jobs seriously, and for these big roles that meant extreme weight loss or packing on the pounds. The transformations are jaw-dropping.

MORE: 13 Celebrities Who Almost NEVER Smile in Photos

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  1. Celeb Weight Loss Weight Gain Anne Hathaway

    via Getty Images, Pinterest

    Anne Hathaway in Les Miserables

    The actress lost a reported 25 pounds for the role by eating only an oatmeal paste twice a day.

  3. Celeb Weight Loss Weight Gain 50 Cent

    via Getty Images, Pinterest

    50 Cent in All Things Fall Apart

    In just 9 weeks, this actor/rapper dropped from 214 to 160 pounds by living on a liquid diet.

  5. Celeb Weight Loss Weight Gain Jake Gyllenhaal 1

    via Getty Images, Pinterest

    Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler

    You can clearly see the almost 20 pound drop in this actor's gaunt face.

  6. Celeb Weight Loss Weight Gain Jake Gyllenhaal 2

    via Pinterest, Pinterest

    Jake Gyllenhaal in Southpaw

    After Nightcrawler, this actor turned around and packed his newly lean frame with muscle.

  7. Celeb Weight Loss Weight Gain Renee Zellweger

    via Gety Images, Pinterest

    Renee Zellweger in Bridget Jones's Diary

    One of the most famous Hollywood transformations, the actress gained 30 pounds for this role.

  9. Celeb Weight Loss Weight Gain Christian Bale 1

    via Getty Images, Pinterest

    Christian Bale in The Machinist

    Easily the most shocking transformation was this actor's drop to a dangerous 121 pounds.

  10. Celeb Weight Loss Weight Gain Christian Bale 2

    via Pinterest, Pinterest

    Christian Bale in Batman Begins

    This actor turned right around from dropping to 121 pounds to bulking up to a muscular 190.

  11. Celeb Weight Loss Weight Gain Charlize Theron

    via Getty Images, Pinterest

    Charlize Theron

    She packed on 30 pounds for this critically acclaimed role.

  13. Celeb Weight Loss Weight Gain Jared Leto

    via Getty Images, Pinterest

    Jared Leto in Chapter 27

    The singer/actor gained 67 pounds to play John Lennon's murderer.

  14. Celeb Weight Loss Weight Gain Natalie Portman

    via Getty Images, Pinterest

    Natalie Portman in Black Swan

    The already-trim actress leaned out even more for her role as a ballerina.

  15. Celeb Weight Loss Weight Gain Mila Kunis

    via Getty Images, Pinterest

    Mila Kunis in Black Swan

    The That 70's Show actress slimmed down to a scary 95 pounds for the film.

  17. Celeb Weight Loss Weight Gain Matthew Mcconaughey

    via Getty Images, Pinterest

    Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyer's Club

    The actor dropped 38 pounds to a skinny 135 to play a man with AIDS.

  18. Celeb Weight Loss Weight Gain Tom Hanks

    via Getty Images, Pinterest

    Tom Hanks in Cast Away

    To play a man stranded on an island, this actor reportedly dropped 50 pounds.

  19. Celeb Weight Loss Weight Gain Matthew Fox

    via Getty Images, Pinterest

    Matthew Fox in Alex Cross

    The 40 pound drop this actor went through is apparent in his lean face.

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