Austin Butler reveals he drank microwaved ice cream and ate donuts to gain weight for the role of Elvis… after taking notes from Ryan Gosling
Austin Butler has revealed that he copied Ryan Gosling’s method of extreme weight gain to strengthen his role as Elvis in the acclaimed biopic.
In a new interview with Variety, the 31-year-old actor explained: “I heard that when he was going to do The Lovely Bones, he had microwaved Haagen-Dazs and drank it.” So I started doing that. I would go get two dozen donuts and eat them all. I really started to pack on a few pounds.
The actor, who recently appeared in Hot Ones, has received much praise for his role in the 2022 biopic and is currently nominated for an Academy Award.
However, the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor said he did not find the experience entirely pleasant.
“It’s fun for a week or so, and then you feel bad about yourself, so I did that for a while,” he said.
Sweet: Austin Butler revealed he drank microwaved Haagen-Dazs and dozens of donuts to build himself up for the role of Elvis
Butler went on to say that he was interested in experimenting with weight management for his role.
‘At first I thought we’d be able to take a break halfway through, I could gain weight for the later stuff… that idea of being able to do that has always been a challenge I wanted to pursue,’ he said.
The interpreter noted the flexibility that was required for the role of the singer of Suspicious Minds.
“One day we’d be in 1974 and the next day we’d be in 1956. So you have to be able to switch back and forth, vocally and physically,” he stated.
Elvis previously made his debut at the most recent Cannes Film Festival, which took place last May.
The Baz Luhrmann-directed film focuses on the life of the eponymous singer and his tumultuous relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks.
Oscar-nominated role: The actor had to “switch back and forth” between a young Elvis and an older version of the King of Rock and Roll during filming.
The film’s cast also included artists such as Olivia DeJonge, Helen Thomson, and Dacre Montgomery, among others.
Physical production of the feature took place in Australia from 2020 until the following year.
Elvis was met with widespread critical acclaim upon its release, currently holding a 77% rating on rotten tomatoes.
The film was also a hit with audiences, grossing nearly $288 million worldwide, according to Mojo Box Office.
The film and its crew were nominated for numerous awards upon its debut, and Butler recently took home the Golden Globe for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama for his work on the film.
The film’s star was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, which could also go to the likes of Brendan Fraser, Colin Farrell, or Bill Nighy.
Elvis has also been nominated for Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Production Design awards, among others.
Taking Notes: Austin Butler Copied Ryan Gosling’s Method To Quickly Gain Weight For A Role