Take TOMB RAIDER Home on Monday – Fitness Fanatics… Epic Transformations in Film that Leave You Wishing You Trained Harder
Brawler. Hunter. Survivor. Lara Croft is back. Oscar-winning actress Alicia Vikander stars in this fresh adaptation of the action-adventure. Join one of the world’s most formidable heroes as she journeys into the unknown to solve her father’s mysterious death, while fighting to find her place in the world – could this be the making of her?
Lara Croft is the fiercely independent daughter of an eccentric adventurer who vanished when she was scarcely a teen. Now a young woman of 21 without any real focus or purpose, Lara navigates the chaotic streets of trendy East London as a bike courier, barely making the rent, and takes college courses, rarely making it to class. Determined to forge her own path, she refuses to take the reins of her father’s global empire just as staunchly as she rejects the idea that he’s truly gone.
Advised to face the facts and move forward after seven years without him, even Lara can’t understand what drives her to finally solve the puzzle of his mysterious death.Going explicitly against his final wishes, she leaves everything she knows behind in search of her dad’s last-known destination: a fabled tomb on a mythical island that might be somewhere off the coast of Japan. But her mission will not be an easy one; just reaching the island will be extremely treacherous. Suddenly, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Lara, who—against the odds and armed with only her sharp mind, blind faith and inherently stubborn spirit—must learn to push herself beyond her limits as she journeys into the unknown. If she survives this perilous adventure, it could be the making of her, earning her the name tomb raider.
From hours in the gym to look perfect for the part, to specific training to make sure the role looks realistic, actors often put their bodies to the test as they get into character. Some of the best physical transformations come as a result of hard work and training, rather than just make-up and special effects, as these amazing makeovers prove.
To celebrate the release of Tomb Raider on DVD, Blu-ray, 3D and 4K on July 16, we’re taking a look at some of Hollywood’s most epic actor transformations on the big screen which includes Alicia Vikander’s incredible bulk up to become the iconic Lara Croft...
Chris Pratt – Guardians of the Galaxy
Reduced carbs and a diet that was mostly paleo contributed to Chris Pratt’s 60 lb weight loss in preparation for filming Guardians of the Galaxy. Chris Pratt stars as one of the titular Guardians forced to work together to stop a fanatical warrior from taking control of the universe. For the role, he had to put the work in to build muscle whilst also becoming leaner and fitter, which required incredible discipline. Concentrating on both bodybuilding and conditioning left him toned and ready to play Peter Quill.
Jake Gyllenhaal – Southpaw
In Southpaw, Jake Gyllenhaal takes on the role of famed boxer, Billy Hope, who finds himself on a rampant path of destruction following the passing of his wife in an accident. Heartbroken, he fights to get his sports career back on track and get his daughter back from protective services. Beefing up to portray a world-champion boxer required Jake Gyllenhaal to train on another level and the results were outstanding. Intense training in the same way as a boxer is how he built his new physique, but the progress was also down to a new and guided mind set to get the results.
Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman – Black Swan
Perfecting pirouettes and pointy toes wasn’t all Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman had to do in preparation for their roles as skilled ballerinas in Black Swan… They also had to lose weight to look the part. They faced a gruelling schedule, dancing eight hours a day and their extreme transformations meant that while they became talented ballerinas, their weight also dropped to as low as 95 lbs. Sometimes the lengths an actor goes to for a role can be unhealthy but it’s not long before they’re back to their old selves not long after the film wraps.
Tom Hardy – Bronson
In the crime drama, Bronson, our fave gritty Brit Tom Hardy plays the notorious prisoner and bare-knuckle boxer, who starts his story as Michael Peterson before merging into his alter-ego, Charles Bronson. Tom Hardy’s fitness journey to become the infamous convict began with a race against the clock. He put on 7lbs a week and a total of 2 and a half stone by upping his calorie intake. His work-out wasn’t as strict as some other strict regimes due to his need to bulk up to get the big, brawler look, rather than a leaner look. Training included push-ups, ab-workouts and random resistance exercises to build muscle and become Bronson.
Alicia Vikander – Tomb Raider
Becoming the iconic Lara Croft was no easy challenge but Alicia Vikander made it look like a breeze with the help of superstar trainer, Magnus Lygdback. She went from petite former ballerina to ripped adventurer ready to take on the tomb and discover the truth. To become the legendary Lara Croft took dedication and she undertook a wide range of exercises to build full body strength and lean muscles, from classic weight lifting to strength training. Alicia trained five to seven days a week for nearly seven months to create her stellar figure and become the ultimate Tomb Raider.
TOMB RAIDER IS ON DVD, BLU-RAY, 3D BLU-RAY™ AND 4K ULTRA HD™ ON JULY 16
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