Oscars 2011 - Natalie Portman's 'Black Swan' body transformation not the first Continue reading on Examiner.com: Oscars 2011 - Natalie Portman's 'Bla

Oscars 2011 Natalie Portman in the "Black Swan"

Photo: Getty Images

Losing weight for a movie role was done to the extreme by
Christian Bale, for his part in “The Machinist” His emaciated body was almost painful to look at as he was literally skin and bones.

Another body transformation entailed weight gain for a role in a movie by a sliver screen beauty. Renee Zellweger put on 20 pounds for “Bridget Jones Diary.” She put the weight on for each of the “Bridget Jones” movies.

One of the biggest weight gains seen on an actor for a movie role was done by Vincent D’Onofrio, for his part in “Full Metal Jacket.” He packed on 70 pounds for this 1987 Vietnam War picture. He weighed 280 pounds for the movie.

Brad Pitt has put on weight for movie roles, but it has all been through buffing up his muscles. “Fight Club” and “Troy” were two of the movies in which he sported a perfectly buffed up body.

“Raging Bull” saw Robert De Niro as chubby and soft for his portrayal of the later years of Jack La Motta, a troubled middleweight boxer in the 1950’s. He started off in the shape of his life with firm muscles and a tight body as the young Jack the boxer, just to have to let it go for the remainder of his role.

Transforming ones body to fit the movie role is one of the ultimate sacrifices the actor has to make for the realistic portrayal of a part. For anyone who has ever tried to diet, you know how hard this can be. For anyone who has tried to put on the pounds, this can be as equally challenging depending on your metabolism.

Natalie Portman dropped enough weight so that every joint connecting her bones was protruding, she too appeared emaciated for some of the scenes in the “Black Swan.” Will that sacrifice, along with her acting pay off at the Academy Awards? We will know tonight.

Natalie Portman has another body transformation going on, this time it is natural. She is pregnant and her baby bump will be very evident tonight.

Connecticut Oscar fans can catch the Academy Awards live tonight on Connecticut’s Channel 8, WTNH New Haven. The red carpet show starts at 7pm EST, with the Oscars airing at 8pm EST.