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In addition to bickering over the alleged propaganda of Clint Eastwood‘s Oscar-nominated American Sniper, all anyone can talk about when it comes to the film is Bradley Cooper’s significant weight gain. Lean and mean in David O. Russell’s ensemble dramedies Silver Livings Playbook and American Hustle, Cooper definitely beefed up to play Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in American military history. To see Cooper with more meat on him reminds us of actors in the past who have packed on the pounds for their roles. Here are ten actors and actresses who opened the fridge and, in turn, opened more doors in their careers (and, for some of them, earn Academy nods and wins).
Bale is the king of weight loss and gain for his roles. The only reason anyone still talks about The Machinist is to reference his diet of apples, black coffee, and cigarettes. But the actor packed on almost 100 lbs of pure muscle for the Batman franchise before losing it for The Fighter, gaining it back to fight Bane, then eating lots of fatty foods to acquire a beer belly for David O. Russell's American Hustle [Where to stream American Hustle]Photo: Everett Collection
The Gladiator star said goodbye to his abs back in 2008 to play an out-of-shape CIA agent in the Ridley Scott Thriller. [Where to stream Body of Lies] Photo: Everett Collection
In a panel at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, director Martin Scorsese's longtime editor, Thelma Schoonmaker (who edited Bull), explained that when filming began De Niro had trained so rigorously he probably could have qualified as a professional boxer. But to embody Jake Lamotta in his later years, the actor had to say goodbye to his ripped frame for fatty rolls. Yet, he got to say hello to his first Oscar that year for Best Actor. [Where to stream Raging Bull]Photo: Everett Collection
During the off season of shooting the long-running FX comedy series, McElhenney put on some extra poundage, which his wife and co-star Kaitlin Olson (who plays Dee Reynolds) thought would make his character, Mac, funnier. So he kept it for the next season, and we have to agree with Sweet Dee on this one: it was pretty hysterical. Bring back fat Mac! [Where to stream It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]Photo: Everett Collection
To portray the dealiest sniper in history, Cooper packed on a solid 40 pounds of muscle. Photo: Everett Collection
It must be the Irish blood, because Damon carried most of his weight gain in his face for Steven Soderbergh's investigative satire. Damon had to slim down quickly after filming wrapped, however, to star in the Mandela biopic / soccer drama, Invictus. [Where to stream The Informant] Photo: Everett Collection
Thirty seems to be the magic number for working actress who plan to pack it on for their roles. Zellweger's weight gain matched Jones' personality to a tee and earned her an Oscar nod that year. [Where to stream Bridget Jones's Diary]Photo: Everett Collection
Aniston never gave us a number, but she added a considerable amount of weight to her otherwise svelte frame in hopes of an Oscar nod for this year's Academy Awards. "I just stopped working out," she explained. But once again, Aniston proves she's a femme bot because at the Globes she was back to her token Rachel Green size.Photo: Everett Collection
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