Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club

Matthew McConaughey, at 6', weighed 185 pounds when he was cast in Dallas Buyers Club as Ron Woodroof, who is diagnosed with AIDS. He initially planned to lose 40 pounds for the role, but didn't think he looked sick enough, so he lost 10 pounds more. He told reporters at the SAG Awards in 2014: "That was rough. I got down to 143 lbs and I was always hungry, and irritable. My body resembled a baby bird with its mouth open, crying, ‘Feed me, feed me' and you realize momma bird ain't going to feed you. It's hard." His sacrifice paid off when he won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his performance.