Joaquin Phoenix, the Oscar-winning actor, recently opened up about the difficulties he faced in losing weight for his role in the highly anticipated sequel Joker: Folie à Deux. During a press conference at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, Phoenix, 49, admitted that shedding pounds for this film was more challenging than it was for the original 2019 Joker.
Phoenix explained that the added complexity came from the musical elements in the sequel. “This time, it felt a bit more complicated just because there was so much dance rehearsal that we were doing, which I didn’t have last time,” he said. “It felt a bit more difficult.”
When asked if there would come a time when he could no longer take on these kinds of physically demanding transformations, Phoenix acknowledged the toll it takes on his body. “You’re right. I’m 49. I probably shouldn’t do this again. This is probably it for me,” he admitted.
Phoenix emphasized that his weight loss wasn’t as dangerous as some might think, as he worked closely with a doctor throughout the process. However, he declined to share specifics about his diet, stating, “Nobody really wants to hear that.”
Interestingly, Phoenix’s co-star Lady Gaga, who plays Harley Quinn in the film, also underwent a significant physical transformation for her role. Phoenix recalled how impressed he was by her dedication. “You went away for like a month, and then you came back, and you lost a lot of weight,” he said, adding that it seemed like a “very difficult” process for her as well.
Phoenix’s reluctance to delve into the details of his weight loss stems from his experience with the first Joker film, where his extreme transformation became a major talking point. “By the end of that run, I was so sick of myself and angry at myself for making such a thing of it,” he admitted. He jokingly quipped, “It was 47 pounds,” but quickly clarified, “No, I’m joking.”
For the 2019 Joker, Phoenix lost 52 pounds to play Arthur Fleck, a character who appears emaciated throughout the movie. He previously revealed that his diet included apples, lettuce, and steamed green beans, describing it as “a horrible, brutal diet,” though it provided all the necessary vitamins and minerals.
The drastic weight loss for Joker also had a profound psychological effect on Phoenix, helping him immerse himself in the character. “You start to go mad when you lose that much weight in that amount of time,” he shared during the 2019 Venice Film Festival.
Joaquin Phoenix joins a long list of actors known for undergoing extreme physical transformations, including Christian Bale, who lost 70 pounds between Vice and Ford v Ferrari. However, like Bale, Phoenix seems to have reached a point where he’s reconsidering these grueling transformations. “I really think I’m done with it,” Bale said in a 2019 interview — and Phoenix might be heading in the same direction.
In addition to the weight loss discussion, Phoenix also briefly addressed his recent decision to drop out of a gay romance movie directed by Todd Haynes just days before filming was set to begin. Although his exit has sparked controversy, Phoenix chose not to explain his reasons, saying, “It just doesn’t feel like that would be right.”
Phoenix’s dedication to his craft is undeniable, but as he enters the next phase of his career, he may be ready to leave the extreme physical transformations behind.
