Tip-top shape! Me Before You actor Sam Claflin, who plays Will Traynor in the romantic drama, revealed he lost more than 42 pounds for the role.
In the film, his character, who is a wealthy, successful banker, has a shirtless scene before a tragic accident leaves him paralyzed and in a wheelchair. “I had to get myself in peak physical condition to play Will before the accident,” the 29-year-old British actor wrote on Instagram on Friday, June 3. “And that came along with at least one long and hard daily session in the gym and a very strict diet, with little sleep.”
“It was important for me to show the distinct differences between him before and after the accident, not only emotionally and mentally, but physically too,” Claflin explained. “I shed over 3 stone in the three months I was training, and honestly pushed my personal limits.” (One stone converts to 14 pounds.)
For the past 49 days leading up to the film’s June 3 release, Claflin, who costars with Emilia Clarke, has been sharing behind-the-scenes pics. He saved his total body transformation for last.
The Hunger Games actor, who also lost weight for his role as Finnick Odair in the series, said getting ripped was a challenge, but he learned a lot in the process. ”A lot of people struggle with every day life, and do it alone, I was fortunate to have a wonderful support network around me, guiding me through the process step by step,” he wrote. “I’m not saying I’m a hero. I’m merely saying I found it tough and therefore appreciate what other people go through.”
Claflin hinted at the message he wants fans to take from the tearjerker film, based on Jojo Moyes’ bestselling novel. “The two sides of Will, are of course just one person, but I believe we are all made up of many different versions of ourselves,” he continued. “A lot of us haven’t been tested the way Will has, but something as life-changing as that, will affect people differently. Every person is different. Everyone deals with circumstance and situation differently. And everyone should be able to make choices in life without judgement or comment.”
Me Before You is out in theaters now.
