With the Academy Awards quickly approaching, we thought this would be a good time take a look at some past Oscar winners who featured an award-winning physique at one point in their career. Maybe not for the film for which they won their statue, but for one that demanded a strong and sculpted frame. SEE ALSO:The 14 Most Jacked Movie VillainsHere are 10 Oscar recipients who hit the weights for a blockbuster body.
2 of 12
Russell Crowe
For the vast majority of his films, Crowe’s physique is always top notch. However, it really shined in his role as Maximus in the Academy Award winning film Gladiator (2001) where the buff Crowe was often seen wielding a massive sword, along with a strong and muscular physique. SEE ALSO:The Top 10 Movies Every Bodybuilder Should See
3 of 12
Christian Bale
Perhaps no other actor has displayed more dramatic body transformations for his various roles than Christian Bale. He went from a ripped psychopath (pictured) to an emaciated, 120-pound insomniac in the psychological thriller The Machinist to the badass, muscular physique he strutted as the caped crusader in The Dark Knight, Bale has shown he’s willing to do whatever it takes to play the role to perfection. Bale credits a high protein diet and heavy core, plyometrics and resistance training to get superhero strong and shredded. However, it was his riveting performance as Dicky Eklund in the 2010 hit The Fighter that nabbed him an Oscar for best supporting actor.SEE ALSO:The M&F Superhero Workout
4 of 12
Sunset Boulevard / Getty
Robert DeNiro
Known more for getting whacked than getting jacked, this fan favorite scored a knockout with his fighter’s physique in Scorsese’s highly acclaimed, Raging Bull (1981). In his Oscar-winning performance as troubled, middleweight boxer, Jake LaMotta, DeNiro got lean and shredded to play the part of the pugilist in his prime. To get his body in fighting shape DeNiro underwent a full-on training routine, working closely with the real-life LaMotta on every facet of the boxer’s training regimen.SEE ALSO:Top 20 Boxing Knockouts of 2015
5 of 12
splashnews.com
Jamie Foxx
Yes, Foxx took best actor for his dead-on, portrayal of the great Ray Charles, in the 2006 biopic Ray. But it was his athletic physique as quarterback Willie Beamon in the 1999 football flick Any Given Sunday that earned him a spot on this list. To get the body of an actual NFL QB, Foxx hit the weights hard, bulking up to a respectable 200 lbs. He then quickly dropped 25 of those pounds from the, real-life training he was subjected to for his demanding role, leaving him strong and chiseled. SEE ALSO:The NFL’s Fittest Man
6 of 12
Charlton Heston
Whether leading his people out of Egypt, or evading an army of apes, Charlton Heston took on each underdog role with an unbridled passion, and a shredded physique. For that reason, the actor who defined masculinity better than any other of his time often displayed his strong frame in his crusade against the unjust. Such was the case for his 1959, Oscar winning role in the movie Ben Hur where he takes the reins on a mission to kick some Roman ass. SEE ALSO:The 10 Best Fitness Movies on Netflix
7 of 12
splashnews
Daniel Day-Lewis
Three-time, Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis — Lincoln (2013), There Will Be Blood (2008), and My Left Foot (1990) — not only has shown the range in his acting abilities, but also his physical transformations. For his role as Hawkeye in Last of the Mohicans, Day-Lewis got his body into peak condition to get into character as an adopted Mohican doing battle in colonial America.SEE ALSO:The 9 Fittest Movie Moments in Hollywood History
8 of 12
Yul Brynner
Back in the day, this Russian-born actor dominated the big screen with a powerful presence, muscular physique, and clean-shaved dome. And while you may not recall his 1955, Oscar winning performance in The King and I, you’re likely to remember his role as another king in the timeless classic The 10 Commandments. It was there where Brynner played Rameses II, the jacked, Egyptian king who ruled with an iron fist and mighty guns.SEE ALSO:Gladiator Trainer
9 of 12
Ben Affleck
While Affleck didn’t win an Oscar for any of his acting performances as of yet, he did earn two Oscars for his behind-the camera work in two box office hits — Good Will Hunting (1997) and Argo (2012). As for his on-camera credits, Ben has played a variety of badass characters with a badass body. Topping the list is Daredevil and the highly anticipated Batman Vs. Superman where Affleck does the Cape Crusader justice with a stellar physique. SEE ALSO:The Superman Man of Steel Workout
10 of 12
Retronaut.com
Sean Connery
Best known as the best of the 007 agents, Sean Connery always touted a fit physique for his James Bond roles. However, what you may not know is that the Scotland-born actor was actually a bodybuilder before he hit it big on the big screen as the world’s most famous secret service agent. Yet for all his shirtless scenes with the world’s most beautiful women, it was his cagey role as the crime fighting, Irish-American cop in The Untouchables (1988) that landed him the Oscar for best-supporting actor. SEE ALSO:Dave Bautista Next James Bond Villain
11 of 12
Matt Damon
Like his buddy Ben, The multi-talented Matt Damon has yet to win an Oscar for any of his on-screen performances. He has however grabbed the statue early in his career for his writing credit on Good Will Hunting. He also got suprisingly jacked for several recent projects including Behind the Candelabra, The Martian, and the upcoming Jason Bourne. SEE ALSO:Matt Damon is in Serious Shape in Bourne Trailer
12 of 12
splashnews.com
Matthew McConaughey
He certainly, didn’t make this list for his Academy Award winning role as an AIDS stricken, hustler in Dallas Buyer’s Club (2014), but Matthew McConaughey has been known to showcase a stellar physique in a variety of his flicks over the years, including the clothing optional, Magic Mike, and Surfer, Dude. SEE ALSO:Joe Manganiello’s ‘Magic Mike’ Conditioning Routine
With the Academy Awards quickly approaching, we thought this would be a good time take a look at some past Oscar winners who featured an award-winning physique at one point in their career. Maybe not for the film for which they won their statue, but for one that demanded a strong and sculpted frame.
Here are 10 Oscar recipients who hit the weights for a blockbuster body.
Russell Crowe
For the vast majority of his films, Crowe’s physique is always top notch. However, it really shined in his role as Maximus in the Academy Award winning film Gladiator (2001) where the buff Crowe was often seen wielding a massive sword, along with a strong and muscular physique.
Perhaps no other actor has displayed more dramatic body transformations for his various roles than Christian Bale. He went from a ripped psychopath (pictured) to an emaciated, 120-pound insomniac in the psychological thriller The Machinist to the badass, muscular physique he strutted as the caped crusader in The Dark Knight, Bale has shown he’s willing to do whatever it takes to play the role to perfection. Bale credits a high protein diet and heavy core, plyometrics and resistance training to get superhero strong and shredded. However, it was his riveting performance as Dicky Eklund in the 2010 hit The Fighter that nabbed him an Oscar for best supporting actor.
Known more for getting whacked than getting jacked, this fan favorite scored a knockout with his fighter’s physique in Scorsese’s highly acclaimed, Raging Bull (1981). In his Oscar-winning performance as troubled, middleweight boxer, Jake LaMotta, DeNiro got lean and shredded to play the part of the pugilist in his prime. To get his body in fighting shape DeNiro underwent a full-on training routine, working closely with the real-life LaMotta on every facet of the boxer’s training regimen.
Yes, Foxx took best actor for his dead-on, portrayal of the great Ray Charles, in the 2006 biopic Ray. But it was his athletic physique as quarterback Willie Beamon in the 1999 football flick Any Given Sunday that earned him a spot on this list. To get the body of an actual NFL QB, Foxx hit the weights hard, bulking up to a respectable 200 lbs. He then quickly dropped 25 of those pounds from the, real-life training he was subjected to for his demanding role, leaving him strong and chiseled.
Whether leading his people out of Egypt, or evading an army of apes, Charlton Heston took on each underdog role with an unbridled passion, and a shredded physique. For that reason, the actor who defined masculinity better than any other of his time often displayed his strong frame in his crusade against the unjust. Such was the case for his 1959, Oscar winning role in the movie Ben Hur where he takes the reins on a mission to kick some Roman ass.
Three-time, Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis — Lincoln (2013), There Will Be Blood (2008), and My Left Foot (1990) — not only has shown the range in his acting abilities, but also his physical transformations. For his role as Hawkeye in Last of the Mohicans, Day-Lewis got his body into peak condition to get into character as an adopted Mohican doing battle in colonial America.
Back in the day, this Russian-born actor dominated the big screen with a powerful presence, muscular physique, and clean-shaved dome. And while you may not recall his 1955, Oscar winning performance in The King and I, you’re likely to remember his role as another king in the timeless classic The 10 Commandments. It was there where Brynner played Rameses II, the jacked, Egyptian king who ruled with an iron fist and mighty guns.
While Affleck didn’t win an Oscar for any of his acting performances as of yet, he did earn two Oscars for his behind-the camera work in two box office hits — Good Will Hunting (1997) and Argo (2012). As for his on-camera credits, Ben has played a variety of badass characters with a badass body. Topping the list is Daredevil and the highly anticipated Batman Vs. Superman where Affleck does the Cape Crusader justice with a stellar physique.
Best known as the best of the 007 agents, Sean Connery always touted a fit physique for his James Bond roles. However, what you may not know is that the Scotland-born actor was actually a bodybuilder before he hit it big on the big screen as the world’s most famous secret service agent. Yet for all his shirtless scenes with the world’s most beautiful women, it was his cagey role as the crime fighting, Irish-American cop in The Untouchables (1988) that landed him the Oscar for best-supporting actor.
Like his buddy Ben, The multi-talented Matt Damon has yet to win an Oscar for any of his on-screen performances. He has however grabbed the statue early in his career for his writing credit on Good Will Hunting. He also got suprisingly jacked for several recent projects including Behind the Candelabra, The Martian, and the upcoming Jason Bourne.
He certainly, didn’t make this list for his Academy Award winning role as an AIDS stricken, hustler in Dallas Buyer’s Club (2014), but Matthew McConaughey has been known to showcase a stellar physique in a variety of his flicks over the years, including the clothing optional, Magic Mike, and Surfer, Dude.
