It has become a standard part of the job when an actor takes on a new role for him to completely transform his body, and that does not just apply to the leading men who are getting ready to play superheroes. For the upcoming wrestling drama The Iron Claw, Jeremy Allen White ate and trained like a pro fighter to build a realistic physique—and it’s safe to say he did not find the experience particularly enjoyable.
In a recent interview with Esquire, White described how “eating all the time” while preparing to play real-life wrestler Kerry Von Erich became a chore, and that he found the process of gaining muscle to be “gross” and not something he will be doing after the movie.
“Yes, eating all the time,” he said. “Like, never stopping. In the morning, I would have waffles, almond butter. In the middle of the day, I was eating turkey patties and avocado all the time. It’s really just gross. You’re trying to consume as much as you possibly can, and, to be honest, you don’t feel great. I was training as well, but, I don’t know, trying to get that big, it’s no way to live.”
The Iron Claw, which follows the rise of the Erich wrestling dynasty, which helped to shape the world of pro wrestling from the 1960s onward, also stars Zac Efron, an actor known for getting ripped for roles. And this time is no different; White also alluded to the dramatic physical transformation undertaken by his co-star.
“Zac’s a maniac,” he said. “He’s so focused and knowledgeable on training, diet, all that. In terms of a physical transformation, I think he kind of blew us all out of the water. He looks really amazing in this thing.”
Philip Ellis is a freelance writer and journalist from the United Kingdom covering pop culture, relationships and LGBTQ+ issues. His work has appeared in GQ, Teen Vogue, Man Repeller and MTV.
Comments are closed.