12 Actors Who Went the Extra Mile: Learning New Skills for Their Roles

According to SAEDNEWS, Here’s a look at 13 seasoned actors, from Margot Robbie to Leonardo DiCaprio, who took on the challenge and earned recognition—often in the form of prestigious awards—along the way.

1. Mahershala Ali: Mastering the Piano for “Green Book”

When Mahershala Ali took on the role of Don Shirley, a renowned concert pianist in Green Book, he dedicated three intense months to piano training under the guidance of Kris Bowers, the film’s composer. Bowers witnessed Ali’s remarkable dedication and focus, stating they often ended up pushing lessons to three hours just to perfect the basics. Ali's commitment paid off, culminating in his Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actor.

2. Natalie Portman: Ballerina Training for “Black Swan”

To portray the complex character of Nina Sayers in Black Swan, Natalie Portman trained relentlessly, often putting in five hours a day in ballet rehearsals. Despite her previous dance experience and having a stunt double, Portman admitted to feeling unprepared and overwhelmed during her training. Her hard work led her to victory at the Oscars, where she won Best Actress.

3. Robert Downey Jr.: Playing the Violin for “Chaplin”

In his portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in the biopic Chaplin, Robert Downey Jr. had to learn to play the violin and do it left-handed to remain authentic to the silent film icon's legacy. His performance garnered three Oscar nominations, showcasing Downey’s transformative abilities.

4. Margot Robbie: Skating Skills for “I, Tonya”

For her role as figure skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya, Margot Robbie hit the ice for four hours a day, five days a week over five months. Under the guidance of coach Sarah Kawahara, Robbie worked hard to ensure she could perform on the ice without appearing to think about her moves, successfully capturing the essence of her character.

5. Adrien Brody: Piano Mastery for “The Pianist”

To authentically portray a pianist struggling to survive during World War II in The Pianist, Adrien Brody completely immersed himself in the character by mastering piano and adopting a method acting approach that included isolation from his life in the U.S. His dedication earned him an Oscar for Best Actor, among seven nominations for the film.

6. Jennifer Lawrence: Wood Chopping and Squirrel Skinning for “Winter’s Bone”

In her breakout role in Winter's Bone, Jennifer Lawrence had to learn practical skills like chopping wood and skinning a squirrel while portraying a resilient teenager taking care of her family. This gripping performance led to multiple Oscar nominations for the film.

7. Leonardo DiCaprio & Tom Hardy: Learning an Indigenous Language for “The Revenant”

In The Revenant, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy's characters navigated the wilderness, requiring them to learn the Indigenous Arikara language. With just a few remaining fluent speakers left, the dedication to cultural authenticity contributed to the film's success, leading to 12 Oscar nominations and DiCaprio’s first win.

8. Joaquin Phoenix & Reese Witherspoon: Musical Preparation for “Walk the Line”

Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon took their roles as Johnny Cash and June Carter seriously by learning to play the guitar and autoharp, respectively. Witherspoon’s hard work earned her an Academy Award, affirming the importance of authenticity in portrayals of legendary musicians.

9. Olivia Munn: Sword Fighting for “X-Men: Apocalypse”

Taking on the role of Psylocke in X-Men: Apocalypse, Olivia Munn trained for five months, six hours a day, to master sword fighting, specifically with a katana. She performed 95% of her own stunts, showcasing her dedication and skill.

10. Daniel Day-Lewis: Living as a Survivalist for “The Last of the Mohicans”

Known for his immersive method acting, Daniel Day-Lewis took his preparation for The Last of the Mohicans to the extreme, adopting a survivalist lifestyle and learning to hunt and skin animals to perfectly embody his character.

11. Tom Cruise: Helicopter Flying for “Mission: Impossible – Fallout”

Tom Cruise is famed for performing his own stunts, and for Mission: Impossible – Fallout, he trained for over 2,000 hours to fly a helicopter, culminating in thrilling aerial action sequences that left audiences on the edge of their seats.

12. Channing Tatum: Tap Dancing for “Hail, Caesar!”

Channing Tatum’s role in the Coen Brothers' Hail, Caesar! required him to learn tap dancing, a skill he did not possess prior. After months of rigorous training, he delivered a six-minute dance sequence that reflected his hard work and dedication.

As we celebrate these remarkable transformations, it's clear that passion and dedication are essential elements of any outstanding performance in the film industry.