Orlando Bloom's latest role in 'The Cut' pushes both physical and mental boundaries, revealing an eye-opening look into the extreme lengths athletes go to achieve greatness.
- Sep 8, 2024
AceShowbiz - In Sean Ellis' gritty boxing drama "The Cut," Orlando Bloom portrays an unnamed Boxer facing a last-ditch effort at glory. To qualify for the title fight, Boxer must shed approximately 30 pounds in a week. Desperation drives him to employ increasingly dangerous and unhealthy methods under the guidance of his sadistic trainer Box (John Turturro).
Bloom underwent a parallel physical transformation, mirroring his character's struggles. "We shot in reverse chronological order," Bloom explained to Entertainment Weekly. "I was at my lightest at the beginning of filming, and my brain was dead. My body was shutting down. It was a very real experience."
The actor emphasized the mental challenges he faced more than the physical ones. "When you're not eating, it's really hard to sleep," he said. "I had about three weeks to tighten the weight loss down, and I dropped like 10 pounds one night."
Bloom credited his nutritionist, who had worked with Christian Bale, with his rapid weight loss. "He had me on a strict regime," Bloom said. "I held at about 163 pounds for what felt like weeks, and then I did this epsom salt bath. I drank two liters of water and went to bed, and when I woke up, I was 10 pounds lighter."
Bloom cautioned against replicating his extreme practices. "By the way, don't try this at home. I feel like there's going to be a rush on epsom salt, but it's not a magic solution. It was wild. I had somebody carrying me out of the bath."
Despite the physical hardship, Bloom admitted the transformation impacted his performance positively. "I was so calorie-depleted and dehydrated. When we went into the weigh-in, I was hardly there, which is sort of perfect in some ways, but I'd be lying down between takes just to conserve energy."
He told Variety that he lost a 52 pounds in three months for the dramatic role.
The film explores "what a human and an athlete will put themselves through to make weight, to fight, to have that moment of greatness," Bloom said. "It was a very interesting way to look at a fresh take on a boxing movie."
At the world premiere of "The Cut," one audience member passed out due to the film's visceral impact. Bloom remarked, "They were really into it. They were really feeling it."
