Certain roles require intense physical training, and that right there pushes actors to their limits. While it’s often assumed that men should be the ones to get ripped for tough roles, many actresses have also worked incredibly hard to get in shape for their characters.
These days, getting buff is common for superhero roles, but it’s not just about Marvel and DC. Actresses playing action heroes in game adaptations, athletes, and revenge-driven characters all require a little bit of muscle magic.
1. Gal Gadot — Wonder Woman
After Wonder Woman achieved a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, many anticipated a promising future for the comic book movie. Indeed, things didn’t go well after that. But at least Gal Gadot was a real pleasure to look at as she kicked butts and destroyed her foes. Gadot spent six months preparing for her role, including exercise, strength training, and stunt choreography. Before acting, she was a combat fitness instructor in the Israel Defense Forces, so she wasn’t starting from scratch. Her hard work paid off, especially since her costume revealed more than her male counterparts.
2. Alicia Vikander — Tomb Raider
Before 2001, teenagers only saw Lara Croft in ads and on gaming posters plastered all over their rooms, but Angelina Jolie brought her to life in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. She reprised the role in the 2003 sequel, and after that, the franchise took a short 15-year break until Alicia Vikander starred in the 2018 reboot, Tomb Raider. This was her first lead in a major action film, and she added 12 pounds of muscle, trained in mixed martial arts, and ate five meals a day. Her background as a ballet dancer helped her handle the role’s physical demands.
