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Posted on Sep 11th 2009 5:00PM by Kristen Seymour |
| Photo: Mary Schwalm, Getty Images |
To distance himself even further from that Sexiest Man title, he sported a bad toupee as well as a mustache. Let's just say it's not his best look.
And, while many stars gain (or lose) weight for movie roles, not all of them enjoy it as much as the former "Good Will Hunting." According to People, at Monday's Venice Film Festival, the actor told reporters, "It was very, very fun, probably the funnest time I had working because I didn't have to go to the gym after work and I just ate everything I could see."
He didn't mention how much "fun" it was to work off the weight, but whether he took pleasure in that part or not, he was certainly successful in dropping the pounds -- Damon was right back to the body we all know and adore earlier this week.
Hungry for details on other stars who found joy in plumping up for their jobs? Here's another celebrity who went on a very tasty journey.
Click on the gallery below to see other stars who have packed it on and slimmed down for the camera.
Star Whove Gained or Lost Weight for a Role
Tom Hanks
In 2000's "Cast Away," Hanks dropped 55 pounds in four months between shooting the first and second halves of the movie. While challenging, this wasn't totally foreign to the actor, who had lost a substantial amount of weight to play an AIDS-stricken lawyer in "Philadelphia" several years earlier.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Renee Zellweger
Zellweger has gained (and lost) about 28 pounds for the first two "Bridget Jones" movies rumor has it, she's doing it yet again for the third installment. While 28 pounds on her frame still doesn't get her anywhere near "fat," it's certainly hard on a body to gain and lose it, over and over. Even if it is for a dream job.
Larry Busacca, Getty Images
Colin Farrell
Farrell has become known for throwing himself, physically, into roles. He spent months bulking up for 2004's "Alexander," but last year was literally a sliver of his former self after losing an undisclosed amount of weight for "Triage." Recent pictures show a still-thin, but much healthier-looking (and hotter) Colin.
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE, AFP/Getty Images
Matt Damon
Damon has admitted that he regrets the drastic 50 pound weight loss he sustained for his role as a heroin addict in 1996's "Courage Under Fire." But, that didn't stop him from going the other way -- the actor put on 25-30 pounds for "The Informant," crediting In-N-Out Burger for helping him achieve that weighty goal.
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
Beyoncé
This bootylicious singer is no stranger to changing her body for a role. For "Dreamgirls," she lost 20 pounds by following a diet of water with cayenne pepper. Then, to play Etta James in "Cadillac Records," Beyoncé was required to gain 15 pounds more than her regular weight -- a challenge she called "tasty".
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Emile Hirsch
Hirsch lost major weight to portray Christopher McCandless in "Into the Wild." The young actor not only lost 26 pounds to get in shape for the film, going from 156 to 130 pounds, but then he went down to 115 pounds for the weight loss in the Alaska segment. He told Rotten Tomatoes, "So it was a lot of running and being very hungry and dreaming of candy all the time."
Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images
Minnie Driver
When just starting out in Hollywood back in 1995, Driver added 25 pounds to her thin frame for a role in "Circle of Friends." Obviously, it was the right choice, but we're sure she was glad to get back down to her slimmed-down self.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Seth Rogan
The formerly-chubby funny man lost a considerable amount of weight (though he doesn't know how much because he doesn't weigh himself) for "The Green Hornet," but instead of being proud, he said slimming down made him feel like a sell out.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Toni Collette
After gaining 45 pounds for 1994's "Muriel's Wedding," Collette battled an eating disorder trying to lose the weight. Her weight held steady until recently, when she was asked to gain 45 pounds yet again for "In Her Shoes." She drew the line at 30 pounds and lost the weight following a strict -- but healthy -- diet.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Adrien Brody
To properly portray Wladyslaw Szpilman in "The Pianist," Brody had to lose 30 pounds in six weeks (not to mention learn to play the piano). He subsisted on eating "a couple of boiled eggs in the morning, a precise two hundred grams of grilled chicken meat for lunch and a small piece of fish and a few vegetables for dinner."
Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images
