Jared Leto is ‘trying to gain a lot of weight’ to play the Joker

Jared Leto

This new Billboard interview with Jared Leto came out on Friday, but Oscar fever took over. Jared revealed to the magazine his new weight-gain initiative for Suicide Squad. No one was too interested when Jared Leto was tipped to play the Joker or when the official news dropped. But the issue of actors gaining and losing weight for roles is slightly more interesting.

Jared is second to Christian Bale in deciding to gain or lose weight for a role. Leto gained 60 pounds for 2007’s Chapter 27 (for the role of John Lennon’s assassin) and previously wasted away for 2002’s Requiem for a Dream (he played a junkie). He also lost a great deal of weight to play a transgender AIDS patient in Dallas Buyers Club (and snagged his first Oscar). Now Jared is furiously stuffing his face with vegan tacos in front of journos to dish about bulking up for the Joker. Let’s talk details:

His current weight gain plan: “Do you mind if I eat a little? I’m trying to gain a lot of weight. It means I have to eat every couple of hours — and I’m terrible at eating a lot.”

On weight fluctuations for roles: “It can be an incredibly rewarding, but also destructive, thing to do. Your body changes forever, and I always try to talk people out of it.”

On his work ethic: “I’m terminally dissatisfied. That’s probably part of being an artist.”

His mantra: “No one has to give you permission to make music or make art.”

He makes his money from music: “I’ve been onstage more hours than I’ve been in front of a camera. I’ve never made money from films. It’s a challenge to make money from music these days — that’s one of the reasons I’ve been really entrepreneurial.”

Why he’s playing the Joker: “The opportunity to take on this nearly Shakespearean character — that’s what graphic novels and comic books are becoming, right? This beautiful disaster of a character — what a big challenge.”x

[From Billboard]

Trust me, a vegan diet can be a fattening one. Do you find it strange that Jared pays lipservice to how unhealthy it is to gain or lose weight for a role? He’s still doing it. God only knows why. It’s not like he’s Oscar hungry anymore, or he shouldn’t be. Heath Ledger posthumously won best supporting actor for playing the Joker in The Dark Knight. Does Jared see himself scoring the same honors? Who knows. What’s clear is that he’s still really thin, so he’s got a lot of eating to do.

P.S. What’s up with Jared’s photobombing obsession lately?

Jared Leto

Jared Leto

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet & Billboard

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30 Responses to “Jared Leto is ‘trying to gain a lot of weight’ to play the Joker”

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  1. MonicaQ says:

    At least he’ll have to shave. I love facial hair on men but it always throws me off when I see him in concert and he has it.

    • Snazzy says:

      and maybe shower too?

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        That would be a new experience for him.

      • jinni says:

        Why do people always assume people that dress in a boho/grunge way don’t shower? It’s just a style. Anyway Anna Kendrick said he smelled like cinnamon, so he obviously doesn’t seem bad.

      • Greek Chic says:

        Agree Jinni.Some Of them look like homeless with the long hair and beard so people assume that they dont shower and smell bad.
        I had a grunge boyfriend who smelled wonderful and all his clothes were fresh cleaned.

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        He looks dirty and greasy. That’s why I assume he doesn’t shower. Look at his hair in the top photo. Clean hair doesn’t look like that. It’s not because of his clothes, at least to me. My nieces have boyfriends who dress like that, but they look clean.

      • Redheadwriter says:

        Met him this past summer, and even after a very active concert, the man smelled (and looked) fantastic.

    • Hibbdkldd says:

      When did the Joker become fat?

  2. jwoolman says:

    Why would he need to lose weight to play The Joker? In the old comics, The Joker was always on the slimmer side and his current look is fine. If he were playing The Penguin, I could understand it but still would just advise padding…. Drastic weight changes are pretty hard on the body.

    • Insomniac says:

      I was wondering that too. In most of the comics, the Joker is cadaverously thin. And even if he’s eerily young looking, Jared is getting to the age where it’s going to be harder for him to take off what he puts on.

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        Me, too. I hate Batman movies, except that now Jason Momoa is in one I love Batman movies, and I hated the tv show, but the Joker wasn’t fat, as I recall. He was thin.

    • jinni says:

      Yeah, the Joker is pretty skinny but maybe he’s self conscious about being the scrawny one. I do know he has mentioned how he doesn’t like his chicken legs.

  3. Charlotte says:

    I gain and lose loads of weight too. I call it “pasta” and “pregnancy” and “not giving a shiz” followed by “oh shiz, my clothes no longer fit”

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      I call it, I deserve hot chocolate with Kahlua because I had a bad day followed by maybe I should serve it off my ass.

      • Charlotte says:

        Tonight it was baileys with Tia Maria. Followed by an argument with the man (not alcohol induced).

  4. CatBee says:

    That photobomb on JLo is just life. I’m laughing so hard right now 😀

    • Charlotte says:

      Why does JLo’s dress have built-in muff as a design feature?

      • kri says:

        LMAO!!!! Built-in muff!! You said a mouthful, girl!!! Hilarious! That muff is forever accessory OMG maybe that is where she keeps Caspar?

  5. Naddie says:

    Well, Joker is pretty thin, no need to bulk up, that would even take part of the charecter’s away. As much as I dislike this dude, I see him doing a great job at it. PS: His music sucks.

  6. Insomniac says:

    Boy, do I wish I was terrible at eating a lot.

  7. GoodNamesAllTaken says:

    Cannot. Stand. Him.

  8. Mika says:

    Such a try-hard. The photobombing,I mean.

    • jinni says:

      It is annoying. Like we get it, you haven’t really been invited to many high profile award shows in your career, but please calm down.

      • Greek Chic says:

        It’s annoying but I like the photo with j.lo. She is doing her sexy face and he’s ruining it. 😝

  9. Newgirl says:

    Why?

  10. M.J. says:

    I wish I was “terrible” at eating a lot, lol. Try pizza, Jared, vegan pizza.

  11. sisi says:

    gaining and losing is his one trick pony thing

  12. Amanda says:

    I love Jared but why is he gaining weight to play the Joker?