Worst Things Actors Had to Do for a Movie Role
Some movie roles ask for a lot more than memorizing lines and hitting marks. When a production demands absolute realism, actors sometimes push far past comfort—taking on extreme diets, training until they’re injured, or performing stunts that make even professionals nervous. The results can be unforgettable on screen, but the stories behind them are often tough to hear.
This list looks at well-documented, widely discussed examples of actors who went to uncomfortable, risky, or punishing lengths for a single role. From raw liver to live octopus, bone-thin transformations to on-set accidents, here are twenty-five times performers did the hard, messy, painful things their characters required.
Leonardo DiCaprio – Ate raw bison liver in ‘The Revenant’
DiCaprio ate a real, raw bison liver while filming the survival epic. The prop department initially made a gelatin substitute, but the director wanted a more authentic reaction, and DiCaprio agreed to try the real thing for key takes.
Beyond the liver, he worked in subzero conditions, slept in animal carcasses for scenes, and endured heavy, wet costuming that froze between setups. He has described the shoot as one of the most physically punishing experiences of his career.
Tom Cruise – Hung off a flying plane in ‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’
Cruise was strapped to the exterior of a military transport plane during takeoff, performing the stunt multiple times. Safety cables were digitally removed later, but he remained exposed to high wind, debris, and temperature drops during actual flight.
To protect his eyes at high speed without obvious goggles, the team created specially fitted contact lenses. The stunt required precise coordination between pilot, riggers, and camera crew to keep him safe while capturing close-ups mid-air.
Christian Bale – Dropped to extreme weight for ‘The Machinist’
Bale underwent a dramatic weight cut to play an insomniac factory worker, shedding dozens of pounds before cameras rolled. His wardrobe was tailored to accentuate the transformation, and blocking was adjusted to account for his reduced strength and stamina.
After completing the film, he had to rapidly reverse course for his next role, which required muscle gain and rigorous fight training. The swing demanded careful supervision to avoid long-term health consequences.
Natalie Portman – Punishing ballet regimen and injuries in ‘Black Swan’
Portman trained for months in ballet, adding daily cross-training and rehearsals to emulate a professional dancer’s workload. The choreography emphasized balance, turns, and pointe work, which are notorious for stressing ankles, knees, and toes.
She sustained a significant rib injury and continued working after medical assessment and treatment. Choreography, costumes, and camera blocking were adapted to keep dance sequences feasible while she healed.
Charlize Theron – Physical transformation and dental work in ‘Monster’
Theron gained substantial weight, wore custom dental appliances, and underwent hours of makeup to inhabit serial killer Aileen Wuornos. The dental work altered her speech and mouth posture, requiring additional voice coaching to maintain consistency across scenes.
The makeup team textured her skin and changed her hairline to match archival photos. Wardrobe sourced period-accurate garments that exaggerated posture and gait, reinforcing the character’s physicality on screen.
Joaquin Phoenix – Extreme weight loss for ‘Joker’
Phoenix followed a tightly monitored diet plan to achieve a gaunt silhouette, coordinating with medical professionals to track changes. The altered body mass affected his posture and movement, which he incorporated into the character’s nervous physicality.
The choreography of dance and chase sequences was re-blocked to accommodate lower energy reserves. Production scheduled demanding scenes carefully to limit strain during the most intense portions of the shoot.
Daniel Day-Lewis – Lived in a wheelchair on set for ‘My Left Foot’
To portray Christy Brown, Day-Lewis stayed in character between takes and remained in a wheelchair for extended periods. Crew members moved him around set as they would the real person, which slowed production but preserved continuity in posture and muscle tension.
He also practiced using only one side of his body, training to write and paint with his toes. The approach resulted in physical back strain and required downtime after the project wrapped.
Shia LaBeouf – Had a tooth professionally removed and cut his face for ‘Fury’
LaBeouf had a tooth professionally removed prior to filming to reflect the rough, under-resourced life of a tank crewman in wartime. He also made small cuts on his face during shooting to create fresh, realistic wounds that would read under harsh lighting.
To maintain continuity, he stopped bathing for stretches and wore the same clothing for days to build grime naturally. The makeup department then layered additional dirt, oil, and blood effects on top of the base he created.
Uma Thurman – Drove an unsafe car and crashed in ‘Kill Bill’
During a driving scene, Thurman was asked to operate a modified car on a rough road without full safety features. She lost control and crashed, suffering injuries that required medical attention and led to lasting discomfort.
The production later released the footage at her request, showing the impact and aftermath. The incident prompted renewed discussion about stunt protocols, driver doubles, and the need for comprehensive safety briefings.
Shelley Duvall – Endured exhaustive takes and stress in ‘The Shining’
Duvall’s scenes were repeated dozens of times, sometimes far beyond typical averages, to achieve the director’s precise beats. The work involved intense emotional distress, long hours, and physical exertion with heavy props like the baseball bat.
She also managed significant hair loss during the shoot, which she attributed to ongoing stress. The crew adapted blocking and camera setups to keep performance energy consistent across the numerous takes.
Dustin Hoffman – Sleep deprivation for ‘Marathon Man’
Hoffman stayed awake for extended periods to portray a frantic, hunted student. By reducing sleep before high-stakes scenes, he aimed to capture the jittery timing and unfocused gaze of exhaustion.
The approach affected schedule planning, because his most fatigued takes needed to align with the tightest coverage. Production coordinated these sequences to minimize re-shoots, preserving continuity in his physical state.
Robert De Niro – Massive weight gain for ‘Raging Bull’
De Niro intentionally gained a large amount of weight to portray the boxer later in life, altering his breathing, cadence, and movement. Wardrobe and camera angles emphasized the contrast between fight-fit and retired phases.
The transformation created new challenges for fight choreography because speed and balance changed with body mass. Training and sparring were recalibrated so staged punches and footwork still read as authentic.
Adrien Brody – Isolation and severe weight loss for ‘The Pianist’
Brody sold belongings, moved into a smaller space, and avoided easy comforts to approximate his character’s deprivation. He lost significant weight under supervision and practiced piano for hours daily to perform lengthy passages on camera.
Location shoots in damaged buildings and minimally heated spaces contributed to the stark atmosphere. The team scheduled performance-heavy scenes around his most restricted diet periods to avoid health complications.
Jim Carrey – Immersive method and on-set isolation in ‘Man on the Moon’
Carrey remained in character as Andy Kaufman or Tony Clifton through much of production, separating himself from usual cast and crew interactions. The method dictated how he arrived on set, addressed colleagues, and approached rehearsals.
The approach complicated logistics, since departments needed to handle wardrobe, makeup, and transport without breaking the illusion he maintained. It also required added time for resets when improvisation extended beyond planned beats.
Jackie Chan – Performed a glass-covered pole slide in ‘Police Story’
Chan executed a mall stunt sliding down a steel pole wrapped in breakaway lights, shattering fixtures as he descended. He suffered burns and injuries from heat and glass during impact with the kiosk below.
Multiple cameras captured the stunt in one go to avoid repeats. Set decorators and stunt coordinators rebuilt breakaway elements to precise specs to ensure they would collapse on cue while still looking solid.
Nicolas Cage – Had teeth pulled for ‘Birdy’
To embody a disfigured soldier, Cage had dental work that included removing teeth in advance of filming. The change altered his jawline and speech patterns, contributing to the character’s strained presence.
He also wore facial bandages and maintained restricted movement to mimic chronic pain. Makeup and prosthetics teams layered scar effects and swelling to match continuity across scenes.
Choi Min-sik – Ate live octopus in ‘Oldboy’
Choi consumed multiple live octopuses on camera to depict his character’s feral hunger. Each take required a fresh animal, and he performed a brief ritual of thanks off-camera in acknowledgment of the act.
Food-safety and animal-handling protocols were coordinated to keep the set controlled. The scene’s sound design emphasized suction and chewing, which were recorded practically during the takes.
Sylvester Stallone – Allowed full-contact punches in ‘Rocky IV’
To heighten realism, Stallone asked Dolph Lundgren to deliver real body blows during a training montage and in the ring. One strike impacted his chest hard enough to cause swelling and a hospital stay for monitoring.
Fight choreographers adjusted subsequent sequences to reduce risk while preserving intensity. Medical staff remained on set for the remainder of the boxing scenes, and round lengths were trimmed to limit cumulative impact.
George Clooney – Suffered a spinal injury during a torture scene in ‘Syriana’
Clooney was injured while performing a violent chair sequence, leading to a serious spinal issue and chronic headaches. Diagnosis took time, and he underwent procedures to treat a cerebrospinal fluid leak.
Production rearranged the schedule to accommodate his recovery. Staging for later pickups emphasized safer angles, relying on editing to maintain continuity of the original performance.
Rooney Mara – Pierced multiple body parts for ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’
Mara got real piercings, including eyebrow and nipple, to match the character’s distinctive look. The decision streamlined daily makeup and gave consistent placement for close-ups.
Costume fittings accounted for healing time and sensitivity, especially under leather and metal wardrobe elements. Lighting and camera teams planned coverage to feature the piercings without creating reflections that would ruin shots.
Anne Hathaway – Shaved her head and followed a supervised rapid weight-loss plan for ‘Les Misérables’
Hathaway cut her hair on camera and followed a short, medically supervised rapid weight-loss plan to appear severely malnourished. The schedule concentrated her most demanding musical scenes during the window when her appearance matched the character’s decline.
Her vocal work was recorded live on set, requiring precise breath control despite reduced caloric intake. Sound and camera teams coordinated to minimize pickups that would extend the physical stress.
Leonardo DiCaprio – Smashed a glass and kept acting with a bleeding hand in ‘Django Unchained’
During an intense scene, DiCaprio slammed his hand on a table and broke a glass, cutting himself deeply. He continued the take, and the blood seen on screen came from the actual injury before he received medical care.
The accident forced the props department to replace breakable set pieces and review blocking to prevent recurrence. Makeup artists then created a matching wound for continuity during subsequent angles.
Viggo Mortensen – Broke his toe kicking a helmet in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’
Mortensen fractured a toe during a take where he kicked a heavy prop helmet, and the resulting scream was captured on camera. Production paused to evaluate the injury, then rescheduled coverage to accommodate limited mobility.
Wardrobe adjusted boots and padding for follow-up shots, and the stunt team modified movements to protect the toe. Editors used a mix of early takes and later pickups to complete the sequence seamlessly.
Daniel Craig – Had dental caps knocked out during a stunt in ‘Casino Royale’
Craig had dental caps knocked out in an early fight scene, requiring immediate dental work. A dentist was brought in to repair the damage, and the shoot reconfigured coverage while he recovered.
The incident led to revised rehearsal times and additional protective gear for close-quarters choreography. Subsequent fights emphasized tighter camera framing to preserve intensity without inviting unnecessary risk.
Kate Winslet – Endured extended cold-water shoots in ‘Titanic’
Winslet spent long days submerged in cold water for sinking and rescue sequences, working in heavy, soaked wardrobe. She developed illnesses during the shoot and continued after medical clearance, with safety divers nearby throughout.
To keep breath visible and skin tone consistent, the set was chilled and lit to read as frigid on camera. The crew rotated heated blankets and warm liquids between takes to manage exposure.
Have another ordeal we should add to the list? Share your thoughts in the comments.
