“That’s Toxic and Terrible”: Henry Cavill and Hugh Jackman Confessing the Dark Side of Attaining a Superhero Physique Leaves Fitness World Mortified

Many actors have impressed audiences with their sculpted physiques, often sharing their rigorous training and diet routines. However, Henry Cavill and Hugh Jackman recently cautioned against extreme practices they’ve undergone for shirtless scenes, warning that some methods can be harmful.

Since the release of Iron Man in 2008, superhero films have exploded in popularity, with both Marvel and DC setting the standard for the ideal physique. This shift fueled a boom in the fitness industry, but behind the scenes, dangerous practices were often employed to achieve these looks.

A video posted by the YouTube channel Outstanding Screenplays featured Henry Cavill and Hugh Jackman discussing the extreme dehydration process they undergo to appear shredded for certain scenes. Cavill explained the technique on The Graham Norton Show, while Jackman shared his experience during a similar interview.

The actors revealed that before filming shirtless scenes, they stopped drinking water for up to three days, drastically reducing their body fluids to unhealthy levels. This extreme dehydration process follows months of intense training to prepare for these roles.

Cavill humorously remarked that after three days without water, “you can smell water.” However, Jackman emphasized the danger of the technique, warning viewers not to attempt it. The video, which has garnered over 6 million views, has sparked significant concern in the fitness community.

A not so uncommon practice

Most sounded mortified and didn’t approve of depriving someone of water to look shredded from their entertainment. “How you can talk on camera when you’re so thirsty your mouth is probably so dry!?”, wrote one fan. “And hollywood is selling this unhealthy concept to the world and telling us it’s the standard of ‘ideal body’,” commented another. “They need to stop making the actors unhealthy just for a certain look. That’s toxic and terrible for the actors,” a third YouTube user expressed.

However, others revealed that the harmful process is more widespread than a good deal might think. “It’s the same thing for fighters on a weight cut. The practice should be outlawed,” wrote a concerned individual. However, some users seemed sarcastic with their comments. “High school & collegiate wrestlers rolling their eyes,” one user wrote. “Welcome to competitive bodybuilding… I have done this since age 15… I am now 54,” wrote another. Although alarming, it doesn’t seem like the practice will stop anytime soon.