Nicholas Galitzine Reveals “Insane” Diet for Masters of the Universe

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Even the idea of Nicholas Galitzine’s bufftransformation is grueling.  

Oh my gosh, I just read that the actor playing He-Man – Prince Adam, seriously, Prince Adam – in the new Masters of the Universe movie actually talked about how he got SO ripped for the role! I need all the details, obviously. He explained his whole workout and diet plan, and honestly, it sounds insane. He transformed himself, and I can’t wait to see it on the big screen! I’m so obsessed with this movie already.

Nicholas shared with TopMob News’ Will Marfuggi at the movie premiere that he trained almost every day. While he wished he’d had a year to prepare and fully embody the character, the training evolved throughout the filmmaking process and didn’t last very long.

At first, we focused on gaining a lot of weight, sometimes eating as many as 5,000 calories and lifting weights for three hours each day. But then we simplified our approach.

And it’s safe to say there were no days off.  

Oh my gosh, he told me how insane it was! He said they’d be filming a scene, and someone would yell, ‘Ten minutes!’ and he’d immediately sprint outside to the assault bike, get a quick workout in, then rush back inside to film another scene. And apparently, he did that, like, all day, every day for five whole months! It’s dedication, honestly. I can’t even imagine! It just proves how committed he is to his craft, you know?

Although getting in shape for his role in Red, White and Royal Blue was difficult, figuring out the right diet was an even bigger struggle.

It was crazy having to reduce my food intake while we were filming,” he explained. “You get that foggy-headed feeling, and when you’re doing physically demanding action scenes, you really need your energy levels to be high.

He explained that it required consistent effort, but he found the challenge rewarding.

Once filming finished, I was so eager to see what Nicholas Galitzine would do next! I knew he’d be in Red, White & Royal Wedding, which I was already counting down the days for, but apparently, his next role needed a totally different skillset. It was exciting to think he was challenging himself, and honestly, I couldn’t wait to see what it was!

He quickly booked another film role, this time as a World War II soldier. The director was so worried he’d show up to the set looking overly muscular – like the character He-Man – that he asked him not to do any weight training for three weeks.

He said it was exactly what he wanted to hear. He happily imagined relaxing on the couch, eating potato chips, and enjoying that kind of preparation.

The new movie, Masters of the Universe, featuring Camila Mendes and Idris Elba, hits theaters on June 5th. It’s not unusual for actors to dramatically change their appearance for roles, and Nicholas is no exception. Keep reading for more surprising celebrity transformations!

The British actor famously gained over 40 pounds twice for his roles in two movies. First, he did it for his performance as a con man in the 2013 film American Hustle, earning an Oscar nomination. He then gained the same amount again to play former Vice President Dick Cheney in the 2018 movie Vice, which also received an Oscar nomination.

Christian Bale famously transformed his body for roles. For the 2019 film Ford v Ferrari, he lost 70 pounds to convincingly portray the lean race car driver Ken Miles. This wasn’t the first time he’d dramatically changed his weight for a part; he also shed around 30 pounds while making the 2011 movie The Fighter.

For the 2020 film, makeup artist Matthew Mungle used a cast of Glenn Close’s head made in 2011 for the movie Albert Nobbs to create prosthetics – a new set of ears and a false nose – that transformed her into her character, Mamaw Vance, a real-life Appalachian grandmother. Close received an Oscar nomination for her performance, as reported by Variety.

To play Donald Trump, the actor reunited with the hair and makeup team who previously turned him into Tommy Lee for the series Pam & Tommy. He also gained weight to more accurately portray Trump’s build.

Okay, so you will NOT believe what Stan did for a role! He told me he actually gained fifteen pounds! Can you even imagine? He was eating instant ramen – like, constantly – but he didn’t just eat it normally. He mixed it with soy sauce! Apparently, his nutritionist suggested it to make his face look…puffy. And soda! So much soda! He said it was all to get this really bloated look, and honestly? It worked. He’s dedicated, I swear! I’m so impressed and slightly worried about his arteries, but still… amazing!

 

To portray the famous jazz singer in the 2021 film, the actress lost nearly 40 pounds, a performance that earned her an Academy Award nomination.

It might have seemed a little extreme that he was reportedly eating just one almond a day, as his co-star Emily Blunt playfully pointed out. But the Irish actor was truly dedicated to accurately portraying the physical appearance of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the atomic bomb scientist.

Cillian Murphy, who played Oppenheimer, described how important it was to accurately portray the physicist’s appearance. He told The New York Times that he lost a significant amount of weight and collaborated closely with the costume department to achieve the right look. Oppenheimer was very thin, almost frail, and reportedly lived on a diet of martinis and cigarettes.

The acclaimed actress won an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2004 for her powerful and unsettling performance as real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos.

To portray the troubled Arthur Fleck, who later becomes Batman’s enemy, the actor lost 52 pounds. He received the Best Actor Oscar in 2020 for his compelling performance.

Makeup artists spent three hours transforming the Best Actress winner, using a famously large prosthetic nose, so she wouldn’t be recognizable in the 2002 drama.

To realistically portray an attorney with HIV who was wrongly fired, the actor lost 35 pounds and shaved his head. He won the Best Actor Oscar in 1994 for this role, and also underwent a significant physical transformation – losing weight and growing a beard – for his Oscar-nominated performance in the 2000 film Cast Away.

The actress famously gained weight for her role in Bridget Jones’s Diary, but she didn’t need to change her body to play Judy Garland in the 2019 film Judy. She won her first Oscar for the performance, and the incredible transformation was achieved through makeup and costumes.

Renée had a strong connection with Jany Temime, the costume designer for the film, who also designed the costumes for the Harry Potter movies, Vulture reports. Temime said, “It felt like this was Renée’s movie, and she truly became Judy.”

Renée Zellweger explained that the costumes for the film were tailored to mimic Judy Garland’s specific stance. This meant Zellweger couldn’t comfortably wear the dresses unless she adopted Garland’s posture, and sometimes couldn’t even zip them up.

Margot Robbie transformed herself for her role as Tonya Harding in the 2017 film about the figure skater’s scandal. Unlike her glamorous character in The Wolf of Wall Street, Robbie used prosthetics, braces, and wigs to portray Harding and her career-ending controversy.

In 2014, Matthew McConaughey won the Best Actor Oscar for his dedicated performance as an electrician living with HIV/AIDS.

Heath Ledger won an Oscar after his death in 2008 for his unforgettable and disturbing portrayal of The Joker in Christopher Nolan’s second Batman movie. His version of the famous villain was a significant departure from how other actors had played the role before.

Makeup artist John Caglione Jr. wondered to IGN what would happen if the character didn’t bother with his appearance. ‘What if he slept in his makeup? What if he didn’t refresh it for two or three weeks?’ he asked. ‘He never even changes his clothes, and it’s those little, realistic details that really brought the character to life.’

He explained that when you picture clown makeup, it’s usually very precise and uses strong, defined lines. But this makeup was different – it was meant to be the complete opposite of that style.

The Academy Award-winning actress transformed her look to portray Brandon Teena, a real-life transgender man, in a 1999 film, and then did so again in Clint Eastwood’s 2004 Best Picture-winning movie.

As a huge fan, I was absolutely amazed to learn what Gary Oldman went through to become Winston Churchill for that role! Apparently, he spent over four hours every single day getting makeup applied, and even wore this special bodysuit that was like a Victorian corset – all to truly transform into the iconic prime minister. It’s dedication like that which really blew me away.

To win Best Actress at the 2011 Oscars, the actress lost 20 pounds and dedicated as much as 16 hours a day to preparing for her demanding role as a ballerina struggling with mental illness.

Jared Leto, known for his transformative roles, fully committed to playing a transgender woman living with HIV for his Oscar-winning performance in 2014. He lost 40 pounds and remained in character only while filming.

In 2013, Leto explained to TopMob News that while he’d changed his body for roles before, this one was unique. He felt the part required complete dedication – it wasn’t just about physical transformation, but how it impacted his movement, speech, personality, and emotions. He described feeling vulnerable, delicate, and insecure throughout the process.

The actress who won Best Actress physically transformed for her role, gaining 15 pounds of muscle to portray a mother escaping years of being held captive with her 5-year-old son, Jacob Tremblay, in the 2015 film. To fully understand her character’s experience, she also intentionally limited her social interactions and restricted her diet, even avoiding nutrients like Vitamin D.

Rooney Mara received a Best Actress nomination at the 2012 Oscars for her role in the thriller. She fully committed to the part of Lisbeth Salander, even going to the extreme of getting multiple piercings, bleaching her eyebrows, and cutting her hair.

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2026-05-19 19:18