Stephen Graham, 51, reveals the secrets to his incredible body transformation after bulking up for new boxing drama – as wife Hannah Walters delivers her verdict
Stephen Graham’s glamorous wife Hannah Walters can’t get enough of her husband’s bulging new physique after the actor geared up for his latest role as a boxer.
The 51-year-old star delighted fans in August when he revealed his incredible transformation after overhauling his physique for a hard-hitting new role in Stephen Knight’s upcoming Disney+ drama A Thousand Blows.
But no one is more thrilled than actress wife Hannah, 50, who has been married to the Liverpudlian actor since 2008.
“I’ve known this man since he was 19,” she told British Airways’ High Life magazine. “And, let me tell you. I am very happy with the results.’
The TV hardman debuts his veteran fighter Sugar Goodson’s big and tattooed body in the drama, written by Peaky Blinders creator Stephen Knight, when it is released on Disney+ on February 21.
In the new interview, Stephen reflected on his physical transformation while filming for the highly anticipated new drama.
Stephen Graham, 51, revealed the secrets of his incredible body transformation after preparing for new boxing drama – as wife Hannah Walters gives her verdict
Stephen (pictured in a new muscular photoshoot) will debut his veteran fighter Sugar Goodson’s big and tattooed body in the upcoming Disney+ drama
No one is more thrilled than actress wife Hannah, 50, who has been married to the Liverpudlian actor since 2008. “I’ve known this man since he was 19 and I’ll tell you. I am very happy with the result’ (pictured together in April)
The Peaky Blinders star said: ‘I turned 50 during filming but it’s the fittest I’ve ever been. And probably the best I’ve ever seen.’
The artist also revealed the secrets to his muscular new physique after spending hours in a grueling workout at the Premier Gym in Leicester.
Despite the hours of physical endurance in the gym lifting heavy weights, it was the change in his diet that he found ‘difficult’.
The Line Of Duty actor said: ‘It was a four-month process to reach peak fitness. We did it all neatly. I’ve had blood tests. My diet was fixed.’
‘I followed my training plan to the letter. I went to the gym four times a week to lift heavy weights, while on the other three days I did boxing training.
‘It was a lot, but great fun. The hardest part was eating. I was constantly eating to build up. Lots of whey, carbohydrates and proteins. Three thousand calories a day. It’s hard to cram so much into you.’
In the six-part costume drama, which explores the dangerous world of illegal boxing in Victorian London, Stephen stars as local champion Henry ‘Sugar Goodson, who becomes embroiled in a deadly rivalry with upstart Hezekiah Moscow (Small Axe’s Malachi Kirby). from Jamaica.
The actor revealed that he channeled two famous boxers who inspired his performance.
The actor revealed the secrets of his muscular physique in a new shoot for British Airways’ High Life magazine
Stephen worked with bodybuilder Rob Thurston to bulk up his physique, using prolonged exercises including push-ups with heavy weights chained to him in an attempt to strengthen his muscles
Stephen reflected on his physical transformation while filming the highly anticipated new drama A Thousand Blows on Disney+
He said: ‘I was trying to emulate Mike Tyson and Lenny McLean, the ‘Guv’nor of unlicensed boxing.’ I wanted Tyson’s stature and sheer ferocity, combined with Lenny’s snarling, explosive rage.”
‘Win by any means necessary. Elbows. headbutts, anything goes. It’s not a tickling contest, it’s a bare-knuckle fight.”
Despite being a fictionalized series, the drama is based on people who actually lived.
‘The great thing about this show is that it is rooted in truth. It’s fictionalized, but based on real people and events,” Stephen said.
Wife Hannah executive produces the series and also stars as Eliza Moody in the boxing drama. She previously starred with her husband in This Is England and Boiling Point.
Stephen’s next big role is playing Bruce Springsteen’s father Douglas in a new biopic – and he has revealed he was hand-picked by the Born in the USA singer.
The actor revealed that he channeled two famous boxers who inspired his performance
The actor previously starred in The Line Of Duty, Peaky Blinders and Boiling Point
Stephen said, “Jeremy Allen White plays Springsteen and I’m his dad. Douglas. The boss himself approved my casting. He said to our director: I love him, he’s fantastic. I was overwhelmed and thought, “What? Bruce Springsteen knows who’s there?” Not only had he seen This Is England, but he also loved my take on Capone in Boardwalk Empire. How crazy is that?’
Months before fans got their first glimpse of Stephen’s new role, the star began grueling preparations by joining forces with Premier Gym.
He shared a video of his first day at the gym in September 2022, with the caption: ‘Training begins…’
In the clip, Stephen started his regime with cardio exercises on the rowing machine, before moving on to weightlifting machines, including pulling tricep ropes.
The video also showed the star doing push-ups with heavy weights chained to his legs, before various arm extension and bicep pressing machines.
Stephen worked with bodybuilder Rob Thurston to strengthen his body, using lengthy exercises including push-ups with heavy weights chained to him to strengthen his muscles.
Rob himself shared a video of the tough training methods in February 2023, detailing how the star had added muscle mass and reduced his body fat in preparation for boxing.
He captioned the post: “Placing the graft! @stephengraham has undergone an incredible physical transformation, adding a lot of muscle mass and shedding body fat in preparation for his new role in a new series from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.”