Colin Farrell’s Weight Gain: Did Farrell Steal Jared Leto’s Secret?

Colin Farrell’s weight gain for his two latest roles is making big news this Memorial Day weekend. The actor had to gain 40 pounds for his roles in True Detective and The Lobster. According to Star Pulse, Farrell popped up at the Cannes Film Festival to attend the premiere of The Lobster on May 15.

At the event, he spoke about his weight gain for the film, but that was not the only role he had to pack on the pounds for. The actor is also one of the stars of the second season of True Detective. The series will return to HBO on June 21.

Farrell had to change his appearance drastically for both roles. He gained 40 pounds that he has since lost. The actor revealed just how he managed to gain that much weight quickly, and it does not sound like he had any fun doing it.

He revealed to Glamour Magazine that he had to gain 43 pounds in 7 weeks for his work.

“I would put [the ice cream] in the microwave to melt and drink it. Two cheeseburgers, fries and Coca-Colas, and two slices of chocolate cake at 10 a.m. is not that fun — and I love cheese­burgers.”

AKILAH FASHION NEWS ‘True Detective’ Season 2 Actor Colin Farrell Discusses Weight Gain For HBO Role, Does He Enjo… http://t.co/05LYtEr3UC

— Akilahspeaks’ (@AkilahSpeaks1) May 24, 2015

He revealed more of the struggles he experienced during production for The Lobster to Sydney Morning Herald.

“I had chocolate beside my bed and woke up at three in the morning to eat it. I felt terrible. Poisoned. I basically did what Morgan Spurlock did [in Super-Size Me], except I didn’t go to McDonald’s. I meditated and sent a message to my stomach saying ‘expand’ and to the rest of my body saying ‘withhold.’ No, that’s just my dad’s genes. My dad’s all belly: legs like chopsticks, a belly like Father Christmas. I would have liked my face to get bigger.”

This is far different from Farrell’s usual eating habits and grooming. He loves to eat, but he does not like to eat in the amounts that he was forced to for The Lobster and True Detective.

“I do prefer to feel a little less slovenly. I usually work out a bit more – I do yoga and go hiking. But my grooming ‘routine’ mainly involves a tube of toothpaste and most days it stops there. I’m very low maintenance.”

This method to gaining weight is not new. Another well-known actor used a similar to put on the weight for one of his roles. Jared Leto gained almost 70 pounds for his role as Mark David Chapman in Chapter 27. That film was released in 2006.

Funny how weight masks ones attractiveness,Jared Leto in his role for Chapter 27. pic.twitter.com/1wUbT5pMm2

— Robo_Rilla (@Mechyle_Cayne) February 2, 2015

Leto revealed in several interviews during promotion for the film that he used a diet of Haagen-Dazs ice cream melted in the microwave to gain the weight he needed for the role. However, that massive weight gain did cause Leto some health problems.

According to Business Insider, the actor shared his troubles in an interview.

“Toward the end of the shoot, one of the glaring issues was the pain I had with my feet. I couldn’t walk for long distances; I had a wheelchair because it was so painful. My body was in shock from the amount of weight I gained.”

Farrell and Leto did work together in the past. The pair starred in Oliver Stone’s Alexander, and Farrell continued to spend time with Leto following production of the film.

It is possible that Leto shared his weight gain tip with Farrell at some point, but Leto’s method was also highly publicized. It is possible Farrell learned of it that way. Leto is currently filming Suicide Squad. He has taken on the role of The Joker for the DC film.

Farrell did lose the weight after production wrapped on his two projects. When he saw the film on the big screen at Cannes, he revealed that he “gasped” when he saw his “dad bod” on screen. He had forgotten what his body looked like. He also had to grow a mustache, which he admitted that he trimmed off the very minute the final “cut” was screamed on set.

For True Detective, Farrell realized he had a challenge to face. The first season starring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey was very well received by viewers. It has won awards.

Farrell shared with Glamour his thoughts on taking on the project.

“The first season was so well received, it almost has a cult following already. Everyone – from a dude in a basement in Kansas, to a fan in Dublin – has an opinion on how the show should be cast. I’m well aware of that, but you’ve got to step away from it, otherwise you fall down the rabbit hole.”

On the series, Fashion & Style reported that he took on the role of “Ray Velcoro, a compromised detective in the all-industrial City of Vinci, Los Angeles County.” In The Lobster, he played a man that lives in a society that gives people 45 days to find love. If they are not successful, they are turned into an animal and forced to live out the rest of their lives that way.

Farrell revealed in a recent interview that he is not looking for love. According to a previous Inquisitr report, the actor has focused his life completely on his career and his young son for the last four years.

“It’s just not happening, what with the work, the kids and my life. I know it’s not what people expect to hear, but that’s the honest truth.”

What do you think of Colin Farrell’s weight gain methods? Will you be checking out True Detective or The Lobster when they are released?

[Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images]