Orlando Bloom, known for his role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, recently opened up about the extreme physical and mental challenges of a 52-pound weight loss for his upcoming film The Cut. During a recent appearance on the British talk show This Morning, the 48-year-old actor admitted that the process left him feeling ‘exhausted mentally, physically’ and ‘a horrible person to be around.’
Bloom’s transformation required him to lose a third of his body weight to portray a boxer who comes out of retirement to fight for his last shot at a championship title. The role, which involved intense physical training and a strict diet, reportedly left him in a state of paranoia and intrusive thoughts. He described how the rigorous regimen made him ‘hangry,’ and he had to rely on tuna and cucumber for sustenance in the final weeks of filming.
Bloom worked with nutritionist Philip Goglia, who previously guided Christian Bale through his extreme physical transformation for the role of Batman in Batman Begins. The actor detailed how Goglia helped him gradually reduce his meals from three to two, and then to just one per day, while also routinely checking his blood levels to ensure he was meeting the physiological demands of the role.
Despite the physical toll, Bloom emphasized that the transformation deepened his understanding of his character’s motivations. ‘We’re supposed to eat and sleep and take care of ourselves,’ he explained, ‘but this person goes to extreme lengths to get that second shot.’ He added that the experience was so intense that it felt like ‘burning the barn down’ and ‘taking the brakes off’ to pursue a role that allowed him to fully embody the character’s desperation.
Orlando Bloom’s former partner, Katy Perry, also expressed her concerns about his transformation. In a September 2024 interview with People magazine, Bloom revealed that Perry was ‘freaked out’ after watching the film. ‘She watched it and was like, I need a stiff drink,’ he recalled. He added that Perry was emotionally moved by the film’s premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, where she cried upon seeing the final scenes showing his lowest weight.
Bloom and Perry, who share a daughter, Daisy, 5, ended their engagement in June after nine years together. Despite the personal challenges, Bloom remains focused on his role and its impact. He stated that the physical transformation improved his performance, allowing him to fully immerse himself in the character’s emotional and physical journey.