Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/3-actors-who-trained-for-months-to-play-professional-athletes/
Putting on a jersey is easy. Moving like someone who has spent decades in a sport is much harder, and cameras tend to expose the difference quickly.
Some actors have handled that problem by committing to long, grueling preparation before filming. Three of the best known examples come from boxing and figure skating, two sports where faking it rarely works.
Will Smith as Muhammad Ali
Before playing Muhammad Ali in the 2001 film Ali, Will Smith reportedly spent about a year in training. The work included boxing sessions, conditioning, and a deliberate effort to add muscle to his frame. He worked with trainer Darrell Foster, who was widely credited as his main coach for the role.
The goal wasn’t just to throw believable punches. Ali’s footwork, hand speed, and rhythm in the ring were unlike anyone else’s, so Smith had to study movement as much as technique. His performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, which showed how much the physical preparation shaped the role.
Mark Wahlberg as Micky Ward
Mark Wahlberg spent years getting ready to play boxer Micky Ward in The Fighter, which was released in 2010. Reports at the time put his preparation at roughly four years, partly because the project took a long time to reach the screen. He kept training in the meantime, and he spent time around Ward’s real gym and…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-10-28 07:48:00
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