Adrien Brody
What He Did: Lost 30 pounds in six weeks, going from 160 to 130 pounds for one movie, and packed on 25 pounds of muscle for another.
Why He Did It: Before 2002's The Pianist he was told to “lose as much weight as you possibly can.” It paid off when he became the youngest actor to ever win a Best Actor Oscar for the role. Eight years later, he did the opposite when he gained 25 pounds of muscle to play Royce in Predators.
What He Ate: Always a professional, Brody ate almost nothing to ditch the weight from his already slight frame for The Pianist, and didn't take his action role any less seriously—he cut out all alcohol and sugar.
His Workout: To bulk up to play a mercenary in the alien action flick, Brody says he started lifting heavy weights again for the first time since college. He adhered to a strict six days a week workout schedule, and even slept in the jungle to get into the role.
Plus: For The Pianist, he also gave up his cell phone, sold his car and, after secluding himself in an apartment to learn to play the piano, watched his long-term relationship crumble. For Predators he gave up sex.
Adrien Says: "I was destroyed, fully destroyed.”
Difficulty Level: 8
