Ewan McGregor’s face has been on numerous modern day classics. From Moulin Rouge to the Star Wars franchise, McGregor has done it all. However, his part in Fargo is definitely one to remember. Sitting at dinner with creator Noah Hawley in Los Angeles, just three months before production was scheduled to begin, Ewan McGregor was 45 years old and in great shape. That’s when he learned for the first time that his physique was not going to be compatible with his new role. “You need to put on weight,” Hawley told him.
His new routine went something like this: “I just started eating whatever I wanted. I made sure that I had carbs with everything and French fries with everything. I didn’t have any technique other than eating a lot.” McGregor avoided standing on a scale, so he never weighed himself. When he went to pick up some Levi’s that fit him, however, the change was obvious. The size of the new pair was three inches bigger than his regular size. After going back to his normal weight, he could use those jeans to store his Golden Globe.
Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper has become a well-known name in Hollywood in the past decade. With films like 'Silver Linings Playbook', 'Limitless', and his wonderful voice acting in 'Guardians of the Galaxy', the Philadelphia-born actor has certainly proved his acting skills. His most memorable performance, however, has to be that of Jackson Maine, the alcoholic singer discovering a promising young singer and falling in love with her in the process.
What makes his performance there extremely powerful is the fact that he hows off not only his acting skills but his impressive vocals. Other than that, Cooper also directed, co-produced and co-wrote the film. All that talent could never go unnoticed.
Gerard Butler
Gerard Butler cemented his name in Hollywood after starring in the epic war action film, '300'. For part of King Leonidas, Butler had to go through four arduous months of hard training, which included working out for six hours a day. For two of those six hours, Butler and the rest of the cast endured a special training that included deadlifts, pull-ups, push-ups, box jumps, and more, in order to keep all the men in perfect shape. After all, they were playing Spartans.
Butler has said that he was inspired by seeing the other members of the cast train so hard too, and it pushed him to do more every day. He has said that "it was a very powerful place to be".
Ben Kingsley
Ben Kingsley, who said he was timid about getting the role of Gandhi, also said he had little time to prepare for it. “I was offered the role in September, left for India in October and started shooting in November,” Kingsley recalls. Once he arrived at the land of the Mahatma, he completely immersed himself. “I practiced yoga in the morning...In the evenings I did my shoots and, in the night, I took spinning classes,” Kingsley explained.
Learning to spin thread with an authentic wooden spinning machine, Kingsley thought, would be better than trying to fake it on automated spinning machines. Beyond those efforts, Kingsley shaved his head and lost 20 pounds, authentically, by abiding by Gandhi’s vegetarian diet. He also practiced meditation and studied yoga. These great efforts are what eventually won him an Oscar for Best Actor.
J.K. Simmons
J.K. Simmons’s career includes playing characters in films as well as TV. His face may be familiar to you if you’ve watched Justice League, Law & Order, Oz, and Whiplash, which was by far one of his best moments on screen.
J.K Simmons took home more than an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 'Whiplash', playing an abusive music teacher with unorthodox methods of bringing the best out of an ambitious student.