Chris Hemsworth underwent a remarkable physical transformation, losing about 15 kg (33 lbs), for his role in the historical drama In the Heart of the Sea. The 39-year-old accomplished this feat while simultaneously portraying the buffed-up superhero Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Directed by Ron Howard, the 2015 movie explores the tragic story of the sinking of the American whaling ship Essex, drawing elements from the novel Moby-Dick.
Chris Hemsworth at the premiere of In the Heart of the Sea
Alongside Hemsworth, the movie featured an impressive cast, including Cillian Murphy, Benjamin Walker, Tom Holland, Ben Whishaw, and Brendan Gleeson. However, the shooting experience proved to be challenging for the actors.

Chris Hemsworth Had To Follow Dietary Restrictions For The Movie

Chris Hemsworth in a still from In the Heart of the Sea
In the movie, Chris Hemsworth played Owen Chase, the first mate of the Essex ship, who finds himself stranded at sea after a sperm whale attacks their vessel. Chase and the crew face a grueling struggle for survival in the middle of the ocean.

Committed to portraying the tragic tale to its fullest on the screen, Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard imposed dietary restrictions on all the actors, including Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, and Benjamin Walker. Reflecting on the demanding conditions, the Men in Black: International actor shared:
“We couldn’t go away for a month and get skinny, we had to do it while we were shooting. At one point, a day’s rations were a boiled egg, a couple of crackers, and a celery stick.”
Chris Hemsworth and his co-stars had to shed significant weight to authentically portray the physical toll that the Essex crew endured in their struggle for survival.

Chris Hemsworth Shed Drastic Amount Of Weight For The Role

Chris Hemsworth in Thor: Love and Thunder
In an Instagram post shared by Chris Hemsworth, the Extraction actor flexed his shockingly emaciated look from the climax portions of the film. His caption read: “Just tried a new diet/training program called ‘Lost At Sea.’ Wouldn’t recommend it.”

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A post shared by Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth)

The actors’ longing for good food was so intense that 90% of their conversations revolved around their favorite dishes and what they would eat once the filming was complete. For the movie, Hemsworth had to undergo a staggering weight loss of approximately 33 lbs. This dedication to his craft is consistent with past performances, such as in Extraction 2, where he executed 99% of his stunts.

Hemsworth later admitted that In the Heart of the Sea was both physically and emotionally the most demanding movie he had ever done. He expressed his reluctance to undergo such extreme weight loss again.

Nonetheless, the Rush actor said the film had a profound emotional impact on the entire cast, and they were proud to have honored the memory of the men lost at sea.

Source: New York Daily News Archives