Orlando Bloom has opened a window into his drastic weight loss journey for his role in Sean Ellis's upcoming boxing drama, The Cut. The British actor revealed that he underwent a cut of about 52 pounds for the role, which pushed his physical and mental boundaries.
During Variety magazine’s Toronto Film Festival Studio, Bloom said that apart from the weight loss, he was "very mentally challenged as well."
“I basically tiered down the food over a three-month period until just before filming, (when) I was at my lightest. I dropped 52 pounds, and I was about 185 when I started. So I dropped quite a lot of weight, and I was very mentally challenged as well. You feed somebody tuna and cucumber long enough…”
Orlando Bloom says Katy Perry was "freaked out" and cried when watching the film
The Pirates of the Caribbean star sat on the panel alongside director Sean Ellis, and co-stars John Turturro and Caitríona Balfe. He recalled being surprised at the "mental aspect" of it, such as "the sleep deprivation, and not the depleted calories."
“There’s a lot going on in your brain … living in that headspace for a while was very challenging," he said.
Sean Ellis also weighed in, revealing that the movie was shot in reverse order of chronology. This was to allow Orlando Bloom to gain weight as the production progressed.
"Your brain is starved of calories, basically. It was going to be impossible for him to work while dieting. So, he came to us at his lightest, and then he starts to eat."
Bloom also touched on his soon-to-be wife, Katy Perry's reaction to his journey. He said the Dark Horse singer "was freaked out," and cried after watching the film. He said that she needed a "stiff drink" right after. He added that she was "really moved," and "she knew what it took."
Orlando Bloom also shared that he thought he was "gonna die" at one point during filming, and that he was mostly "very hangry." He said that while it was hard for him, Perry, and their daughter Dove, the singer stood by him throughout.
Caitríona Balfe shared her two-piece as well, agreeing with Orlando Bloom. She added that it's easy to "do stuff like that when you're on your own," but not so much when you have a family.
"We were all younger before we had families [and] you can kind of throw yourself into something. But when you have to come home, and you have to be a parent.”
She also described Orlando Bloom's face as "gaunt," before filming began. She said that the "transformation was shocking." She also joked that he looked like a raisin. Bloom's other co-star, John Turturro, chipped in, saying that "the only reason [Bloom] put himself through this" was for the money.
The psychological thriller The Cut premiered at TIFF on September 5, 2024. The film tells the tale of a boxer on a mission to bag a championship title. He then ends his retirement to do so and goes on a weight-loss journey at the behest of his coach.
