Tom Holland lost 30 pounds (13.6 kilograms) and gained it back while shooting his new movie Cherry.
In the new crime drama, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, their Avengers: Endgame star plays an Army medic suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder who becomes a serial bank robber to pay for his opioid addiction.
The British actor had to gain and lose weight in order to depict his character Cherry in different chapters of his life and the directors were impressed by how quickly he managed to turn his appearance around.
"(Tom) really shredded himself for the part. He lost 30 pounds, he gained it back. We’re on an independent movie schedule here – he didn’t really have a lot of time to be doing these things," Joe told Deadline.
And the Spider-Man: Homecoming star went further than just preparing himself physically; he also put in the research for one of his most dramatic roles yet.
"He worked very closely with recovering addicts, he worked very closely with PTSD experts and soldiers who had suffered from it and how it affected their lives," Joe continued.
Speaking to Deadline's Pete Hammond at a virtual event for Cherry, Tom admitted the shoot was hard but he's proud of how he and co-star Ciara Bravo rose to the challenge.
"The process of making this film was really tough and we went to places emotionally and physically that I didn't know I could get to," the 24-year-old said. "It was an amazing process and I look back on it so fondly and I'd honestly say it was one of the greatest experiences of my life, and as an actor, I love a challenge, and I'm really proud and happy to say both Ciara and I rose to the challenge."
Cherry is scheduled to be released in U.S. cinemas in February and Apple TV+ in March.
