A personal trainer who turns celebrities into superheroes has revealed how stars are picked up for film roles.
Don Saladino, who has trained stars like Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, appeared on a popular weightlifting podcast where he was questioned about the murky world of steroid use in Hollywood.
When asked if he knows any celebrities who have used drugs to improve their physique, Saladino said he “doesn’t play doctor” and requires all his clients to undergo blood tests to ensure they are healthy.
The New York fitness mogul gave his thoughts on steroid use among the rich and famous, saying: ‘If someone could just turn around and say something like that, I try to optimize body composition and work with the best doctors and we ‘ We monitor our blood and we go about this in a very methodical way… and then admit it man, okay great, take it in.
‘But don’t be the guy who puts yourself on the (magazine) cover, (without) admitting it when you get the question (are you using steroids?).
Don Saladino, a personal trainer who turns celebrities into superheroes, says celebrity looks are largely down to lighting and camera angles
Much of Sparta 300 was digitally enhanced, as shown above, with actors also reportedly using makeup to enhance the appearance of abs
Pictured above are Chris Hemsworth and Alan Richardson. Don Saladino said that Alan Richardson had previously used steroids, while the actor also admitted as much. Chris Hemsworth is also facing speculation about steroid use.
“I don’t respect that, because there’s a fourteen-year-old boy looking at you.”
Later in the conversation he added, “Just take responsibility for it, that’s my thing.”
But Saladino said some celebrities made disingenuous excuses for using steroids.
He chose Alan Richardson from the Amazon Prime series Jack Reacher, who admitted to using testosterone replacement therapy, a type of steroid, to achieve his hulking physique.
Richardson – who appeared on the cover of Men’s Health – said at the time that he didn’t know testosterone was the equivalent of a steroid.
The actor said: ‘I didn’t even know it was considered an anabolic steroid by some people. It was just: I was missing a hormone, and I needed it.”
Podcast host Dr. Mike Israetel told Saladino that there have been rumors for years that movie studios know about and encourage steroid use, even helping to connect celebrities with dealers.
Saladino gave a less exciting answer, claiming that many actors are enhanced by camera trickery and computer-generated effects rather than drugs.
He said: ‘What frustrates me… is that people think that because someone is at a certain level they have to take something.’
Speaking about the film Sparta 300 – starring Gerard Butler and pitting 300 Spartan soldiers against the much larger Persian army in ancient Greece – Saladino said the six-packs in the film were ‘bulls***’.
“Look at the movie 300,” he said, “… you could take the most in-shape person from that movie, put them in a physique competition, and they would come last.
“The lighting is great, the makeup is great, the camera angle is great.”
Sparta 300 used a heavy dose of CGI, but the actors also had to follow a strict diet and exercise regimen to achieve slimmer bodies. Butler has previously described his six-pack in the film as “ridiculous.”
However, Saladino admitted that there was extreme pressure put on actors to get into shape in time periods that are inherently unrealistic – revealing that a ‘tattooed A-lister’ came to him with just two weeks to build up for a role.
Don Saladino has worked with dozens of celebrities, including Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal (pictured above)
Saladino: ‘I can’t say that this actor, a very famous, A-lister in Hollywood, also has a really good physique.
“So he explained the role to me and he had some tattoos on his body. I said, “How much time do you have?” and he said, ‘two weeks.'”
The actor said they wanted broader shoulders and a six-pack, despite admitting to drinking alcohol regularly.
So in response, Saladino told the star to get a tan, which would improve the muscles he had, start using saunas, walk more and avoid alcohol.
The actor was thrilled with the results and the studio immediately began shooting the film.