Being no stranger to controversy, Johnny Depp’s time as the crazy Captain Jack Sparrow attracted a lot of media attention. The actor reportedly challenged Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones when playing the beloved character.
The acting proved to be successful as it ultimately became part of the first of many sequels. Only after the film wrap did he go back to being just plain old Johnny Depp.
Malcolm McDowell – A Clockwork Orange
Not only did Malcolm McDowell give the best performance of his career, but he also did so completely improvising. This impacted the actor's personal life and even caused him to have seizures at night. In addition to that, he needed therapy during filming.
McDowell even suffered from temporary blindness. The actor had to be treated for insanity and was put on medication.
50 Cent –All Things Fall Apart
The rapper proved that he is not just about the 2000s club hits, but also about serious acting. When he starred in the film "All Things Fall Apart" he made an effort to physically transform himself into an almost sickly version of himself.
This was done by sticking to a strictly liquid diet. The actor ended up weighing 160lbs after nine weeks of dieting. Sady, all that hard work didn't exactly pay off as the film ended up being a giant flop.
Hilary Swank – Boys, Don’t Cry
Hillary Swank was really gunning for that Oscar when she portrayed Brandon Teena in "Boys Don't Cry." Completely immersed in the role, Swank behaved as if she was completely male for the duration of the shoot. She bound up her chest, used male pronouns, and even wore a prosthetic male appendage.
When portraying a real-life person, it's important to take it as far as possible. Of course, all that effort really paid off in the end and Hillary Swank ended up winning the Oscar that year. The world will now forever remember the awful tragedy of Brandon Teena.
Jamie Dornan – The Fall
Jamie Dornan time and time again reveals his tremendous commitment to the parts he plays. Forget about "50 Shades of Grey", his work on the BBC series "The Fall", Dornan experienced some creepy behavior while preparing to portray a serial murderer by following a woman off the train.
This was how he taught himself to prey on someone, admitting that “It felt kind of exciting, in a real sort of dirty way. I’m sort of not proud of myself.” That leaves us all kinds of questions for "50 Shades of Grey"