'I'm on a starvation diet!': 'Scrawny' Chris Hemsworth reveals he's only eating 500 calories a day for new lost at sea film

By Shyam Dodge

PUBLISHED: 10:37 EST, 6 November 2013 | UPDATED: 15:09 EST, 6 November 2013

He sky-rocketed to fame with his well-built and powerful physique as Marvel superhero Thor.

But Chris Hemsworth is beginning to wither away.

The 30-year-old recently revealed he's on a mission to become as 'scrawny' as possible for Ron Howard’s new film Heart Of The Sea.

Scroll down for video...

Withering away: Chris Hemsworth revealed he's on a starvation diet on Jimmy Kimmel Live in Los Angeles on Tuesday

Withering away: Chris Hemsworth revealed he's on a starvation diet on Jimmy Kimmel Live in Los Angeles on Tuesday

While the Australian actor gained 20 pounds to play the Nordic god he’s on a crash diet of only 500 to 600 calories a day in preparation to portray a starving sailor.

 

More...

 

Hemsworth explained to Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday the reason for his thinning frame.

The Cabin In The Woods star said: '[Heart Of The Sea] is the true events that inspired Herman Melville to write Moby Dick.

Slimming down: The actor was looking quite thin on Tuesday Morning in New York City
Muscleman: Chris in 2011 as Thor

Slimming down: The 30-year-old was looking quite thin on Tuesday in New York (L) compared to how he looked in the first instalment of Thor in 2011 (R)

Not easy: The actor explained to Kimmel the trials of his crash diet

Not easy: The actor explained to Kimmel the trials of his crash diet

'A bunch of sailors in a whaling ship get struck by a whale, the ship sinks and they jump onto the small rafts and drift for 90 days. And basically they begin to die and eat each other.'

Adding humorously: '[It's] a romantic comedy.'

Trying to bring some realism to the story of starvation, Hemsworth explained that the actors on the film: '[Have] to get rather skinny. So we're on 500 or 600 calories a day.'

Hungry: Hemsworth admitted he had a cheat meal of pizza right before the show

Hungry: Hemsworth admitted he had a cheat meal of pizza right before the show

But the actor was feeling a bit more energised for the chat with 45-year-old Kimmel: 'I had a cheat meal a couple of minutes ago so I'm in a good mood. [I had] a bit of pizza. Like 10 [slices].'

Adding ruefully: 'But that's just once a week and then you feel really guilty.'

But the once buff actor is not alone in his dieting as the rest of the cast is also following the same strict regimen.

Of the experience Chris revealed: 'It's funny, you've never heard 15 big, burly guys playing sailors talk about their calorie-count, what they should and shouldn't eat, what their cheat meal is going to be.'

Still got it: The Cabin In The Woods star tested his might with the High Striker

Still got it: The Cabin In The Woods star tested his might with the High Striker

The Rush star bemoaned the starvation technique, saying: 'I mean, you can consume 600 calories in a milkshake. So it ends up being a couple of small salads, a couple of small pieces of protein and that's kind of it and you go to bed hungry.

'And then you have like a fasting period of 15 hours, like you stop eating completely, and then you have little meals through the day.'

While on the show he also performed some feats of strength in his weakened condition, including wielding a hammer to test his might with the High Striker.

Super powered: The star famously gained 20 pounds of muscle for Thor: The Dark World, which will hit theatres this Friday

Super powered: The star famously gained 20 pounds of muscle for Thor: The Dark World, which will hit theatres this Friday

The actor’s noticeably slimmer frame may have prompted Kimmel to say: 'You should be skinny for the next Thor movie. A really scrawny and starved Thor.'

The next instalment of Chris' superhero franchise Thor: The Dark World will hit theatres on Friday November  8.

The Heart Of The Sea is currently in production and has yet to set a release date.

Comments (73)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

its his choice, he gets a nice pay check at the end of it and im sure he can find the nearest mcd's after all his starving. really liked thor, and the avengers and im sure thor2 is gonna be a hit too. never was into comics, but these actors are well cast and suited to their respective roles in the last 3-5 years.

0
16
 Click to rate

Ah, the actor that should have of played Clash Of The Titans.

0
6
 Click to rate

He could end up with Type II Diabetes like Tom Hanks if he's not careful.

3
15
 Click to rate

Most actors who do this wind up damaging their looks and metabolisms. Women less so, because of their physiology I guess. But yo yo dieting is just plain unhealthy for everyone.

1
12
 Click to rate

gerogous, please don't be as extreme as Matthew mcconaughey, that was shocking!! your georg XD

0
13
 Click to rate

Overrated and not a good actor, the same about the younger brother. The look is oner thing - talent is another. And no, I do need your comments Keri..

50
17
 Click to rate

This is just dangerous.

4
24
 Click to rate

I feel so badly for him and for the other actors being forced to starve like this. The body has a number of autonomic system in place and usually starving oneself severely for an extended period of time really messes with them, can throw it off permanently, in addition to other health risks. For example, people often suffer gallbladder attacks after extended periods of weight loss. Extended starvation can weaken internal organs and cause organ failure. It sounds like Hemsworth is trying to be somewhat healthy about it (eatiing proteins and produce and not junk). I would hope the studios at the very least provide them medical supervision to help minimise the potential damage (I'll just hold my breath on that, shall I?)

6
23
 Click to rate

guess what...no actor is forced to stave...they don't have to accept a role....i am an actress and know this...when you see size 0 women, its their choice not a directors

8
25
 Click to rate

When I get paid as much as you are getting paid, I can even be persuaded to follow a 10 calories per day regime :)

5
33
 Click to rate

THANK YOU.........correct..its their choice

4
15
 Click to rate

Australian guys are just so hot.

7
33
 Click to rate

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now