Hugh Bonneville, the celebrated actor best known for his role as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, in the acclaimed period drama Downton Abbey, has captivated audiences for years. More recently, Bonneville has garnered attention not only for his acting prowess but also for his dedication to transforming his health and physique.
Bonneville's Return to the Screen
Hugh Bonneville is set to return to our TV screens in the new series of BBC's The Gold, reprising his role as Brian Boyce. The actor, 61, will star alongside Tom Cullen, Charlotte Spencer and Jack Lowden in the crime drama, which is scheduled to premiere on BBC One on Sunday, 8 June. All six episodes will also be available for binge-watching on BBC iPlayer. Aside from The Gold, Hugh is most recognised for his roles in Downton Abbey and the Paddington films, having become a familiar face on our screens over the years.
Early Life and Career
Born on November 10, 1963, in Paddington, London, Hugh Richard Bonniwell Williams, the son of a nurse and a urological surgeon, began his journey to becoming a celebrated actor with education at Dulwich College School in London and Sherborne School, reports the Express. Subsequently, he attended Corpus Christi College at Cambridge, graduating with a 2:2 in theology. Hugh then pursued his studies at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He was also a member of the National Youth Theatre.
Hugh launched his acting career in theatre, with his first professional stage appearance at the Open Air Theatre. He then joined the National Theatre in 1987, before becoming a part of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1991. In 1994, Hugh featured in an episode of The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, and made his film debut later that same year in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. He then starred in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies in 1997. Hugh has been seen in TV series such as Take a Girl Like You, Armadillo, The Commander and Midsomer Murders. He starred in Iris alongside Kate Winslet, earning a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In 2010, Hugh began starring in Downton Abbey, as Robert, Earl of Grantham. He appeared in the series until 2015 and also starred in the 2019 movie. Fans will also recognise Hugh as Mr Brown in the Paddington films.
Hugh Bonneville's Weight Fluctuations
Throughout his career, Bonneville has openly discussed his weight fluctuations, often undergoing significant transformations for various roles. This included slimming down for roles, especially recalling the dramatic weight loss for his Notting Hill audition. Hugh had recently dropped 9kg when he tried out for the character of Bernie. Speaking to YP, Hugh shared an anecdote where the director reached out to discuss his physique as Bernie was expected to be larger than what Hugh was at the time. Despite this, Hugh affirmed he was "not going back". For his audition as Bernie, the affable stockbroker in Notting Hill, having just lost 9kg, Hugh received a call from the director which prompted, "We need to have a conversation about your weight."
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In 2008, after starring in Bonekickers, Bonneville's wife, Lulu Williams, motivated him to change his lifestyle and prioritize his health. She told him that he was "as fat as a pig". This awakening pushed him to give up roles which required him to put on weight and look fat. Instead, Hugh Bonneville decided to make his weight loss goal a priority and bring a change in his lifestyle.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Bonneville understood the importance of maintaining a healthy weight. This realization struck because being overweight made him more vulnerable to the consequences and symptoms of Covid-19. Studies suggest that obesity may increase the risk of disease, mortality, and infections related to coronavirus (2). According to another research on obesity and Covid-19, being overweight may also lead to an increased risk for immediate hospitalization, ICU admission, and death amongst the patients (3). As this situation might have made Hugh Bonneville sick, he decided to use the lockdown to become healthy, lose weight, and shed those extra pounds from his body.
The Weight Loss Journey
Bonneville’s wife, Lulu Williams, played an integral role in motivating him to lose weight. To get back in shape, he hired personal trainers who put him on a strict diet plan and a fitness regimen which led to a weight loss of 16 pounds. The ultimate secret behind Hugh Bonneville weight loss was that he focused on maintaining a calorie deficit in his diet plan. According to research, a calorie deficit or negative energy balance may be independent enough in helping to lose fat and reduce weight (4). Further, another study states that a calorie deficit may be one of the most important factors in weight loss. Obesity societies and guidelines recommend a consumption of 1000-1500 calories per day along with a deficit of 500-750 calories. This low-calorie diet has been used popularly for reducing weight (5). To maintain this calorie deficit regularly, Bonneville kept a close check on his daily intake of food along with his fitness routine. For instance, if he worked out and burnt more calories in a day, then he would eat more food. If he did not exercise in a day, then he would eat calories within a limit that would create a deficit.
Bonneville and his trainers supplemented this calorie deficit with a low-carb diet plan which helped him to shed the extra pounds. According to research, a low-carb diet leads to a carbohydrate intake which is lower than the total macronutrient distribution range for healthy adults (45%-65% of total daily energy) (5). Low-carb diets may be effective in improving weight loss, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) profiles (6). Hence, Hugh Bonneville ate a lot of fish, lean meat, and green vegetables.
Along with a low-carb diet plan and maintaining an energy deficit, Bonneville also gave up foods which were high in sugar content. Studies state that diets high in sugar may promote the development of obesity in humans (7). Hence, these dietary changes helped facilitate weight loss for the actor during the lockdown. After the pandemic got over, Bonneville came out of the lockdown looking trim and slender. Soon, his fans began questioning that suddenly why is Hugh Bonneville so thin. While you know that his diet plan (devised by the personal trainers) worked wonders for him in dropping pounds, there was more. He combined his healthy meals with a regular workout routine which elevated the weight loss journey.
Read also: Hugh Jackman's Transformation
Hugh Bonneville would go on regular walks with his pet dog on the South Downs in West Sussex. These walks helped him to maintain an active lifestyle which eventually led to weight and fat loss. According to research, moderate walking over 12 weeks may show significant reductions in body weight and fat mass. The study also states that walking may improve the biomarkers for cardiovascular disease risks (9).
He also did strength training exercises regularly which helped in weight loss. Some of these exercises that he loved incorporating into his fitness regimen were movements like planks, lunges, push-ups, squats, glute bridges, weightlifting, and more. Studies state that resistance or strength training may be beneficial in reducing body fat percentage, body fat mass, and also visceral fat in healthy adults (10). Hence, a combination of regular walks and strength training helped Hugh Bonneville to slim down and shed about 16 pounds from his body.
Marriage Split
Hugh tied the knot with Lucinda Williams in 1998. The couple have a son, Felix. In September 2023, Hugh and Lucinda, affectionately known as Lulu, announced they had decided to separate after 25 years together. Earlier this year, it was reported that Lucinda had retained the family home in West Sussex while Hugh had moved into a bachelor flat located in Soho. Since the end of his marriage, the Downton Abbey star has been linked to Canadian actress Claire Rankin as well as vegan influencer Heidi Kadlecova. Hugh's current relationship status is not known.
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