Orlando Bloom's transformation—lost 23kg in 3 months for 'The Cut'
What's the story
Orlando Bloom, known for his roles in The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean, recently underwent a significant physical transformation for his latest film, The Cut.
He lost an astonishing 52 pounds (nearly 23.5kg) in just three months to portray a boxer striving to make weight before a fight.
Directed by Sean Ellis, the movie also features John Turturro and Caitriona Balfe.
Transformation details
'I was very mentally challenged as well'
Bloom discussed his dramatic weight loss journey at Variety's Toronto Film Festival Studio.
"I basically tiered down the food over a three-month period until just before filming, [when] I was at my lightest. I dropped 52 pounds and I was about 185 when I started," he said.
The actor also revealed the mental challenges he faced during this process, stating, "You feed somebody tuna and cucumber long enough..."
Filming strategy
'Your brain is starved of calories, basically'
To accommodate Bloom's weight loss and subsequent regain during filming, Ellis decided to shoot The Cut in reverse chronological order.
"Your brain is starved of calories, basically," Ellis said to Bloom. "It was going to be impossible for him to work while dieting. So, he came to us at his lightest, and then he starts to eat."
This unique approach allowed Bloom to gradually increase his calorie intake as production progressed over 25 days.
Mental impact
'Living in that headspace for a while was very challenging'
Bloom found the physical transformation more "exciting" than "daunting." However, he admitted being surprised by the mental aspect of it.
"I was more surprised about the mental aspect of [it], like the sleep deprivation, and not the depleted calories," he said.
"There's a lot going on in your brain...living in that headspace for a while was very challenging."