They've helped us escape reality more often than we can count. They've taken us on a roller coaster of emotion throughout their careers. But, what seems to get lost along the way is the extraordinary amount of effort these men and women go through for our entertainment. Let's have a look at just a handful of actors who have gone to some pretty amazing lengths in order to give the audience the performances that they feel they deserve. We've all heard stories of actors either gaining or losing massive amounts of weight for roles or not dropping character for the duration of a six month shoot. Let's have a look at just a few of these men and women who have gone above and beyond what most of us would consider to be an approriate amount of effort for a job.
1. Leonardo DiCaprio
He captured our hearts as 'Jack' in 'Titanic' (1997). He, accidentally, cut his hand open and didn't break character while filming a scene in 2012's 'Django Unchained'. He even slept in a dead animal carcass and ate raw bison meat while filming 'The Revenant' in 2015. He even worked with Johnny Depp at the start of his career.
In 1993's, 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape', a little known 19-year-old, DiCaprio, landed the role of Arnold Grape. Appearing opposite Johnny Depp for the first, and only, time in their careers. To get into the role, and better understand, 'Arnie', DiCaprio watched a tape of a child with similar disabilities for three days straight. Leo's commitment to the small details was even evident back then, as his finger gesticulations added the final touch to a masterful performance.
2. Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro starred in some of the most critically acclaimed films of our parents' generation and is well into his 7th decade of film making. From 'The Godfather Part II' in 1974, where he played a young Vito Corleone, to 'Raging Bull' in 1980 when he learned to box for the role, De Niro's career is full of amazing stories.
Starring alongside a 12-year-old Jodie Foster, in 'Taxi Driver' (1976), De Niro played Travis Bickle, a Vietnam War vet with a horrible case of insomnia. In the film, Bickle, gets a job driving taxis at night in order to keep his mind occupied. In real life, De Niro got a job driving cabs in New York City for 12 hours a day, in order to understand the frustrations and daily life of Bickle. "You talkin' to me?". Yes, we are Bob.
3. Choi Min-Sik
Actors have done some pretty wild things in order to give as realistic a performance as possible. It's fairly uncommon, however, for them to partake in Survivor-esque challenges for a scene.
While filming, 'Oldboy' (2003), Choi's character had to eat an entire live Octopus. No problem right? Wrong. Choi, found it, morally difficult, to eat the live animal. To make matters worse, they had to do four different takes of the scene, which meant four Octopi took their last swims. This affected, Min-Sik, so much, that he said a prayer for each Octopus before the scene was shot.
4. Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron cracked us up in, 'A Million Ways To Die In The West' (2014). She made us pick our jaws up off the ground with her tantalizing performance in the 2003 remake of 'The Italian Job', and she kept us on the edge of our seats in 2015's 'Mad Max: Fury Road'. Back in 2003...she was just creepy.
When Charlize Theron took on the role of 'Lee' Wuornos, in the biopic 'Monster' (2003), she didn't just take on her next acting gig. In order to look, and feel like the real, Aileen Wuornos, Theron shaved her eyebrows, and had her hair fried and thinned. She also gave up exercising and saying 'no' to fatty foods, so that she could gain 14kg for the role.
5. Shia LaBeouf
Shia LaBeouf is quite known these days for living life to the beat of his own drum. He even pulled out one of his own teeth and scarred his own face in, 'Fury' (2014). As outlandish as all of this seems to us, he topped even that with what he did for his role a year earlier.
Having never tried LSD before, Shia thought it to be quite important to test the waters of psychedelia if he was going to play Charlie properly in, 'Charlie Countryman' (2013). Shia being Shia took things a step further and sent the video of his 'experience' to his fellow castmates for notes on his performance.
6. Chris Hemsworth
For, what seems like a lifetime, Chris Hemsworth has been Thor. It's hard to think of a time that he was anything else and it is nearly impossible to imagine anyone else playing the part. But, in 2015, this god of thunder was no match for the storms at sea.
Starring as first mate, Owen Chase, in the 2015 film 'In The Heart of The Sea', Hemsworth trimmed away at his 'Avenger' physique by losing just shy of 15kg by taking in only 500 calories a day. Almost immediately following the filming, Hemsworth had to put as much of that weight back on as he had some more Avenging to do.
7. Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando is another one on our list who has an endless number of roles that we could talk about. While filming, 'The Godfather' (1972), Brando put cotton balls in his mouth to speak as Don Corleone would. In, 1979's 'Apocalypse Now', he went nearly completely out of his mind as, Colonel Kurtz. It was his first major role that truly set him off on his path to stardom though.
In 1950's, 'The Men', Brando played a paraplegic World War 2 Veteran in an army hospital. For the role, he stayed in a wheelchair the entire time on set, and refused to walk. He even prepared for the role at a real military hospital.
8. Kate Winslet
For her role in 'The Reader' (2008), Kate Winslet learned to speak with a German accent by going about her daily routines while not dropping the accent. In 2004 she starred as the bright haired, Clementine, in'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind', opposite Jim Carrey. It's hard to believe she once had to beg for roles.
For her starring role in 'Titanic' (1997), Kate pretty much had to beg director, James Cameron, for the role. She was pretty much stalking the guy actually. She went as far as to get Cameron's number from his agent and sending him a dozen roses with the note signed, "From your Rose". I guess not playing hard to get works sometimes as well.
9. Jared Leto
Whether it's making music with his band, '30 Seconds To Mars', or making movies, Jared Leto seems to have been getting work non-stop since he came onto the scene. Known as a very eccentric individual with some pretty crazy quirks, it's no wonder Leto landed this next role that allowed him to...be himself?
Starring as, The Joker, in DCs 'Suicide Squad' (2016) he took the role to new heights, and lows, by so completely enveloping the persona of 'Mr. J', that he even sent his fellow Suicide Squaders used condoms and anal beads and refused to break character around them at all. Yikes!
10. Halle Berry
She was the weather-controlling 'Storm' in 'X-Men' (2000), she was the seductive 'Ginger' in 'Swordfish' (2001), and she blew us all away with her unbelievable performance in 2001s, 'Monster's Ball'. Sometimes it's about what you do to get a role, and sometimes it's what you don't do that 'scores ya the gig'.
In 1991, Halle Berry was a complete unknown. A newbie on set for Spike Lee's 'Jungle Fever', Berry was cast in the role of 'Vivian' a crack addict. Halle decided not to shower for 2 weeks leading up to her days on set, in order to portray a more realistic crackhead.
11. Meryl Streep
As, Julia Child in 'Julie and Julia' (2009), Meryl Streep, learned to cook some French cuisine. She did her own singing, as did the rest of the cast of, 'Mama Mia' (2008). But it is truly amazing what she did, in order to get in character for her first Academy Award for Best Actress.
In 1982, Streep, starred as, Sophie, in 'Sophie's Choice'. Meryl Streep being Meryl Streep, refused to butcher the Polish language with a put on accent, so, she learned Polish and German, properly. This way, she not only could speak with the accents, she understood what she, and the others were saying. It's hard enough speaking one language, and Streep learned two new ones for a role. Just wow.
12. Emma Watson
We see actors putting in quite a bit of effort in order to get their starring roles. Emma Watson, did things a little differently.
When J.K. Rowling called Emma Watson to speak to her about being cast as Hermione Granger, Rowling was surprised to find that she couldn't get a word in edgewise, as Watson just talked her ear off. Apparently, she had already been channeling her inner Granger, as Rowling didn't need any other proof that this was her, Hermione.
13. Al Pacino
Al Pacino has quite the resume for doing some outlandish things to stay in character. In 1973, while filming, 'Serpico', Pacino pulled over a truck driver, while in character, and tried to give him a ticket for exhaust pollution. Almost two decades later his commitment had still not wavered.
In, 'Scent of A Woman' (1992) Pacino played a blind retired army lieutenant. Al walked around the entire time while unfocusing his eyes so that he would have trouble seeing. When we see him walking into things and falling over, these are real moments.
14. Linda Hamilton
In 1984, Linda Hamilton, was first Sarah Connor in 'The Terminator'. In 1991, Hamilton reprised her role in the sequel, 'Terminator 2; Judgement Day'. After nearly thirty years away from the role, Hamilton went above and beyond to fully channel her inner Sarah, and bring her out of retirement.
Most of us couldn't go a week or even a day without carbs. Pizza, pasta, or even just a good ol' sandwich? Nope, Linda Hamilton ate no carbs (that's right, NO carbs) and trained for an entire year leading up to filming for the latest installment of 'The Terminator' franchise. What makes this even more impressive, is that she did this at 63 years old.
15. Steve Carell
It is nearly impossible not to want to be friends with, Michael Scott, in 'The Office'. Steve Carell, lived and breathed the role in his daily life and it definitely showed through in his performance. But, all the way back in 2005 Steve showed the ultimate dedication to a role.
You only get one chance at waxing someone's chest, and Steve Carell made sure that every moment of it counted. Steve, was willing to have his entire chest waxed, on camera, in order to obtain the most realistic shots they could get. All that yelling and pain you see from him was real.
16. Adrien Brody
It is rumored that Brody ended a long term relationship in order to fully grasp what it was to be truly alone while starring as, Wladyslaw Szpilman, in 'The Pianist' (2002). Not only did he isolate himself from loved ones, but he sold his car and his apartment and moved to Europe with nothing but his bags and a keyboard.
Portraying a real-life Holocaust survivor, made it even more real for Brody. He dropped down to a measly 59kg for the role, by practically living off of nothing for months. If this was not hard enough, he also learned to play piano by practicing for four hours every day, until he was able to play specific pieces by Chopin without error.
17. Christian Bale
Whether portraying The Dark Knight, in Christopher Nolan's, Batman Trilogy, or the 'American Pyscho' (2000) himself, Patrick Bateman, Christian Bale has now become infamous for his dedication to his roles. We all remember his freak out on the set of 'Terminator: Salvation (2009).
Before bulking up for the role of, The Caped Cruisader, Bale dropped down from 78kg to just shy of 50kg, for his role in, 'The Machinist' (2004). Then in 2018 his weight fluctuated up to 103kg for his role as, Dick Cheney, in 'Vice'. That many gains and losses can't be good for the body.
18. George Clooney
Before George Clooney was known as 'The Sexiest Man Alive', he was lying on his resume to try and get jobs. A lot of actors lie on their resumes, but this one just may take the cake.
Doing anything he could to help him achieve his Screen Actors Guild card, George lied about being part of the film, 'Cat People' (1982). However, the casting director that he was auditioning for was the same casting director for 'Cat People', and she didn't quite remember hiring Clooney in 1982. She must have seen something in him though because she looked past the lie and helped him to get his card.
21. Mathew McConaughey
How could we ever forget Mathew McConaughey as Jake Brigance the Lawyer in 'A Time To Kill' (1996), or as Ben Stiller's lovable caring agent in, 'Tropic Thunder' (2008). In both films, we saw his co-stars go to unbelievable lengths to become their characters. For 1993's, 'Dazed And Confused', director, Richard Linklater told McConaughey that he couldn't have the role unless he would do this one thing.
He was asked to...wait for it...grow a mustache. Yup, a mustache. But no ordinary mustache. It needed to be fitting for the post-highschool, pre-adult douchbaggeriness of, David Wooderson. It needed to be sleazy. And boy was it ever.
20. Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer has starred in some fairly monumental roles throughout his journey, he even got the opportunity to star as Batman in 1995's 'Batman Forever'. Probably mostly known for his role as 'Iceman' in, 'Top Gun' (1986), Val has consistently given his all for his roles.
In the 1991 film, 'The Doors', Val Kilmer, played Jim Morrison the talented, if not slightly unstable lead singer of The Doors. To perfect the role, Kilmer, went as far as to learn 50 songs from The Doors music catalog in order to do all the singing in the film himself. He even studied and mastered Jim Morrison's mannerisms. When filming wrapped for this one, Val was so far gone, that he went to therapy in order to help get, Morrison, out of his head.
19. James Franco
James Franco is known for his 'off the wall' style of acting and his dedication to each role he lands. In 2001, he starred as the iconic James Dean, in the self-titled, made for TV movie, 'James Dean'. In preparing for this, some believe that he never truly got out of the role as seen in many of his subsequent films.
In 2017, Franco starred along with his brother, Dave Franco, and his longtime friend, Seth Rogan, in 'The Disaster Artist'. During the filming of 'The Disaster Artist', James portrayed the real-life artist, Tommy Wiseau, who is quite well known for being extremely eccentric. Franco stayed in character the entire time on set to the point that it was too much for even his good friend Seth.
22. Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis has been involved in acting since she was only 11 years old. Her life has been so entwined in the entertainment industry that she even met her husband on the set of her breakout role. If it weren't for one little lie, her life may have turned out very differently.
When auditioning for the role of, Jackie Burkhart, Mila was asked if she was 18 years old. She wasn't. But she said she would be, she just didn't say when. If it weren't for this absence of truth, the then 14-year-old, Kunis, wouldn't have gotten the role.
23. Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer went the more traditional and superficial route to land her the breakout role that would propel her through the early parts of her career, and no, Jennifer Lawrence did not partake in a winner takes all, battle to the death for her role in, 'The Hunger Games' in 2012.
For the film, 'Winter's Bone' (2010), the director, Debra Granik was looking for a not so pretty, worn down looking actress for the role that Lawrence would eventually land. Granik thought that Lawrence was too appealing to the eyes, so, Jennifer showed up to the audition dirty and with her hair all raggedy. The rest is history.
24. Joaquin Phoenix
It's no secret that Joaquin completely threw himself into his recent role as the title character in, 'Joker' (2019). What's truly shocking is what he did to keep things real on the set of one of his earlier films.
On the set of, 'Walk The Line' (2005), in order to make things as tense and realistic as possible, Joaquin, didn't let any of the crew or extras eat or go to the washroom during the prison concert scene. This was supposed to simulate the tension in the prison.
25. Robert Pattinson
He was Edward the vampire in the Twighlight' (2008). He will be 'The Batman' in 2022, but before his sonar hearing, bat flapping days, Pattinson, made the choice to hide some truths from the film industry powers that be.
Like, Clooney, Pattinson, added a few things to his resume to help push his career along. He claimed to have gone to Oxford as well as the Academy Of Dramatic Arts. These, small, yet bold additions took Pattinson from not being able to land a role to being cast in the Harry Potter series as Cedric Diggory.
26. Emile Hirsch
It was not until his performance in 'Lords of Dogtown' (2005), that the world started to take notice of him, instead of his co-stars. It wasn't until, Emile Hirsch, teamed up with, Sean Penn, in 2007 that people truly took notice.
As, Christopher McCandless, in 2007's, 'Into the Wild', Emile not only portrayed the real-life adventurer with empathy and realism, but he also went to extreme lengths to perfect the role. He took up an insane regiment of exercise and partial starvation in order to drop down to 52kgs for the end of the film. If that wasn't enough, the film shoot also called for him to come face to face with a real brown bear, while in the emaciated state.
27. Mel Gibson
From, Martin Riggs, in 'Lethal Weapon' (1987) to, 'Braveheart's' (1995), William Wallace, we've witnessed Mel Gibson at his ups and downs. We've watched him briefly disappear from the public eye and return in full force. But how did he even get his big break?
While still living in Australia, as a no-name actor, Mel was accompanying a friend of his to an audition. The director saw Gibson and took some pictures of him for a minor role. The next thing that Mel knew, he was getting a phone call with the offer for the lead in 'Mad Max' (1979). Goes to show, sometimes it's just about being in the right place at the right time.
28. Jamie Foxx
A lot of people don't know that he started off as a comedic actor in the Wayans' sketch comedy show, 'In Living Colour' (1991-1994). Twenty years later he found himself working with Quentin Tarantino. Everyone who makes it in the industry has that one big role that sets their career off.
For Jamie Foxx, that role was of Ray Charles, in 2004's biopic, 'Ray'. For this role, Foxx had a pair of fake eyelids glued on to his eyes for 14 hours a day, in order to simulate being blind. Imagine choosing to be blind. Well, that's just what Jamie Foxx did, and with an enormous payoff as he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.
29. Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp perfected becoming a less creepy version of Keith Richards as Jack Sparrow. He even did his best Michael Jackson impression as Willy Wonka. I'm not sure if anyone quite knows what he was going for as The Mad Hatter. One thing is for sure though, Johnny Depp has, through the years, perfected being anyone but himself on film.
There is no better way to portray the innocent, sheltered, Edward in 'Edward Scissorhands' (1990), than to channel the friendliest and kindest person he knew. The only thing is, the friendliest and kindest soul the Depp knew, happened to be his childhood dog. Maybe that's why a character as frightening to look at as Edward, could draw so much empathy from us, with just his eyes.
30. Laurence Fishburne
If it weren't for breaking the rules early in his career, Laurence Fishburne, may never have invited the world to join him down the rabbit hole with a choice of the red pill or blue pill in 'The Matrix' (1999).
When 'Apocalypse Now' (1979), was cast Fishburne had told the casting director that he was 18. Like Mila Kunis years later, he was actually only 14 years old. On set, he had the opportunity to work alongside the likes of Martin Sheen, Dennis Hopper, Marlon Brando, and Robert Duval. He pretty much got the world's greatest acting lesson at the age of 14 from some of the best to grace the big screen.
31. Hilary Swank
In, 1994 Hilary Swank was 'The Next Karate Kid'. In 2004, she proved once again that she could keep up and fight with the best of them in, 'Million Dollar Baby'. Right in the middle of 1999, Hilary definitely proved that she had the cahonies for her first breakout film.
For her portrayal of, Brandon Teena, in 1999's, 'Boys Don't Cry', Hilary cut her hair off and stuffed the front of her pants in order to give her the feeling of walking around with a 'package' down there.
32. Tom Hardy
Prior to his days in the dunes as Mad Max in 2015, and Batman's back-breaking nemesis Bane in 2012, Tom Hardy had to forget everything he knew and re-create himself into the 'most feared man in Britain's prison system'.
To play, former bare-knuckle boxer and 'Britain's most violent prisoner', Charles Bronson in 2008, Tom Hardy packed on 18kg in just 5 weeks while feeding off of just rice, chicken, pizza, and cola. The real Charles Bronson even shaved off his mustache and mailed it to Tom to wear for the film. Unfortunately for Charles, Tom ended up growing his own mustache for the film.
33. Billy Bob Thornton
Nowadays we know Billy Bob Thornton as the guy who was married to Angelina Jolie before she married Brad Pitt, but what we tend to forget is that he was a force to be reckoned with for a few decades before he was the Bad Santa who we all know and love today.
In 1996, Billy Bob, not only wrote and directed 'Sling Blade', but was also nominated for an Oscar for his starring role as one, Karl Childers. Rumour has it, that for this role, Thornton put broken glass into his shoe in order to keep up the shuffle of his feet that the character had when walking. Now that is commitment.
34. Jake Gyllenhall
Throughout his career, Gyllenhaal has worked with some very prominent method actors. He got to see first hand, the genious of Heath Ledger while working together on 2005's 'Brokeback Mountain'. It's no wonder that, Jake, learned to give his all to everything he did.
In 2015, Gyllenhaal starred as boxer, Billy Hope, in 'Southpaw'. To get as ripped as he needed to be for the role, Jake would do 2000 situps, to go along with another 4-6 hours of training, every day. All told, he packed on almost 13kgs for the role in just a few months.
35. Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage has been in, what seems like every film over the past few decades. We have seen him go to some pretty amazing lengths in order to become whichever character he was meant to be next.
In 1984's, 'Birdy', Nic Cage played a young Vietnam Vet. In order to feel the pains of his character, he had a couple of his teeth pulled out without any novocain.
36. Jack Nicholson
While filming for, 'One Flew Over The Cukoo's Nest' (1975), Jack Nicholson and the other actors actually spent time in an Asylum to get into character. They sat in on therapy sessions and even interacted with some of the actual patients. It's no wonder he was able to 'go off his rocker' with such ease in his later films.
As if the film, 'The Shining' (1980) wasn't disturbing enough, Nicholson would walk around the set in character. He was seen by crew members standing alone in the corner and walking around the set repeating the words, 'axe, murder, kill' over and over.
37. Tom Cruise
In 'Mission Impossible 2' (2000), Tom Cruise, insisted on free-soloing with minimal wires for support. We have seen Cruise, do some absolutely insane things for roles over the course of his career.
After filming, 'Top Gun' (1986), Tom Cruise fell in love with flying, even getting his pilots license. For the filming of 'Top Gun 2: Maverick', Tom actually took the time to learn how to fly a fighter jet. Now that is taking risky business to a whole other level.
38. Heath Ledger
From his youthful days in '10 Things I Hate About You' (1999), to his charming portrayal of, William Thatcher, in 'A Knight's Tale' (2001), we've seen Heath in almost every type of role. We even got to see him perform as the legendary 'Skip' in 'Lords Of Dogtown' (2005). No role that he had would draw as much from him, as it took away than the one that took him from us.
There are endless myths of just what exactly it was that Heath Ledger, did in order to re-imagine and recreate the role of The Joker. We've all heard the tales of him locked away in a hotel room for a couple of months, pining away, talking to himself, filling in notebook after notebook with an endless dribble. Heath delved into the unknown parts of his mind and it is widely believed that the overdose from pain killers and sleeping pills that took him away from us, was greatly influenced by his lack of sleep due to becoming The Joker. Ledger's legend will live on, along with the Best Supporting Actor Award that he posthumously received for the role.
39. Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman has had so many memorable roles throughout his career, and for each one he gave everything he had to the role. In 'Kramer Vs Kramer' (1979), Hoffman had become, Ted Kramer. We see this in the scene when he lost control and really slapped Meryl Streep. On the opposite end of the spectrum, in 1988 Dustin found himself in his kindest and gentlest role.
It took, Dustin Hoffman, nearly 2 years to prepare for his role in 'Rain Man' (1988). He studied, Joe Sullivan (an autistic gentleman), in order to better understand and empathize with his own character. What ever he did it worked, as audiences fell in love with, Raymond 'Rain Man' Babbitt. This is evident in the response the world gave to the film. 1988 became known as the 'global changepoint year' for autism.
40. Daniel Day Lewis
Daniel Day Lewis is renowned for his commitment to his roles. For the role of 'Bill The Butcher' in 'Gangs of New York' (2002), he had professional butchers in Queens, teach him how to...be a butcher. In 'The Last of The Mohicans' (1992), he even built a canoe himself to better understand what it would truly be like to be 'Hawkeye'. Before the world saw him as, Bill, or 'Hawkeye', he wow'd the world with his final performance of the 80's.
In, 'My Left Foot' (1989), Daniel Day Lewis, blew critics away with his portrayal of, Christy Brown, taking the Academy Award for the Best Actor that year. As breathtaking as his performance was, most people didn't know that in order to acurately portray, Brown (who suffered from cerebral palsy), he spent 8 weeks in a cerebral palsy clinic in Dublin, in order to better understand the disease. If that was commitment enough, he learned to write and paint with his toes. He even stayed in the wheelchair throughout the shoot and had the crew members carry him in and out of cars and spoon feed him his meals.