Jared Leto won an audience award at the IFP Gotham Film Awards, but it was his shocking appearance that really had people talking after the event.
The actor, who directed the award-winning documentary Artifact about his band 30 Seconds to Mars, has undergone a major transformation for his next acting role.
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“I waxed my entire body, including my eyebrows,” he told reporters at the awards ceremony, as quoted by Yahoo. “I’ve lost a lot of weight because I’m playing a young person with AIDS. It’s been challenging but really inspiring, too.”
The movie he’s referring to is Dallas Buyers Club, in which he plays a transsexual woman with AIDS. The 1980s-set movie, which is shooting in New Orleans, is based on the true story of a Texas electrician (Matthew McConaughey) diagnosed with AIDS who took it upon himself to find alternative medicine in order to treat himself.
Leto signed on for the role in Dallas Buyers Club less than a month ago. As recently as late October, he was sporting a full beard, which makes the transformation all that more drastic.
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The actor recently shared photos of himself in costume for his role via Instagram showing him in full makeup, wig and drag clothing.
“I’ve got a new woman in my life. Meet Rayon,” he quipped.
Leto previously lost 25 pounds for his role as a drug addict in 2000’s Requiem for a Dream. On the other end of the spectrum, he reportedly gained 60 pounds to play Mark David Chapman in 2007’s Chapter 27.
Dallas Buyers Club marks Leto’s first film role since 2009’s Mr. Nobody.
