Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of Arthur Fleck in the 2019 film Joker has been widely lauded, earning him an Oscar for Best Actor. However, the dedication to his craft involved a dramatic physical transformation, specifically a significant weight loss. This article delves into the details of Phoenix's weight loss journey for Joker, its impact on his physical and mental state, and the broader context of extreme dieting for film roles. It will also touch upon his reflections on this process during the lead-up to the sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux.
The Initial Transformation: Shedding 52 Pounds
To embody the character of Arthur Fleck, an aspiring stand-up comedian struggling with mental illness and societal alienation, Phoenix shed 52 pounds. Director Todd Phillips wanted the Joker to appear "malnourished and thin and hungry," believing that the character's body size was one way to represent his vulnerability. This decision led Phoenix to embark on a restrictive diet in a short amount of time.
Phoenix collaborated with a doctor to ensure his health wasn't jeopardized by the rapid weight loss. While rumors circulated that his diet consisted of only an apple a day, Phoenix clarified that it also included lettuce and steamed green beans. He described the diet as "horrible" and "brutal" but emphasized that it provided necessary vitamins and minerals.
The Diet in Detail
Phoenix's diet consisted of:
- Salads with very little dressing
- Steamed vegetables
- Lettuce
- Steamed green beans or steamed asparagus
- One apple
This severely calorie-restricted diet was coupled with workouts to accelerate the weight loss process.
Read also: Deep Dive: Joaquin Phoenix's Diet
Physical and Psychological Impact
The extreme weight loss had a profound impact on Phoenix's physical and psychological well-being. He described feeling exhausted, even struggling to climb a flight of stairs. In an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Phoenix admitted that walking up flights of steps "takes like 30 seconds" to "talk yourself into it." He also confessed to obsessing over tiny changes in his figure, stating, "So much of what’s difficult is waking up every day and being obsessed over, like, 0.3 pounds. Right? And you really develop a disorder."
Phoenix also shared that the weight loss affected his "psychology" and helped him get into character, explaining, "You start to go mad when you lose that much weight in that amount of time." However, he also noted that the weight loss gave him a sense of control and the confidence to dig deep into the Joker’s persona.
"I felt like I could move my body in ways that I hadn’t been able to before. And I think that really lent itself to some of the physical movement that started to emerge as an important part of the character," he told the AP.
The Minnesota Starvation Experiment
Phoenix's experience mirrors the findings of The Minnesota Starvation Experiment conducted in the 1940s by researcher Ancel Keys. The study revealed that even individuals with healthy relationships with food could develop disordered eating patterns and obsessive thoughts about food when subjected to prolonged calorie restriction. Participants in the experiment exhibited behaviors such as studying recipes, fantasizing about food, and taking extended time to consume their meals.
The Obsession with Food
Phoenix described the obsession with food that typically happens with food deprivation. It is not uncommon for those who do not eat enough food (whether that is purposeful or due to the environment) to think and dream about food.
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Social Isolation
While in the throes of an eating disorder, isolation is common. People with all types of eating disorders will often avoid social gatherings, restaurants, and even family meals. The eating disorder voice may be saying that this is the right thing to do to stay in control of food.
Revisiting the Diet for Joker: Folie à Deux
In the lead-up to Joker: Folie à Deux, Phoenix addressed the topic of his diet at a press conference. He expressed reluctance to discuss the specifics, stating, "I’m not going to talk through specifics of the diet, because I just think nobody wants to hear that." However, he did acknowledge that the dieting "felt a bit more complicated" this time around due to the film's musical elements, which involved extensive dance rehearsals.
Phoenix also hinted at the potential risks of repeating such extreme transformations, saying, "But you’re right, I’m now 49, I probably shouldn’t do this again. This is probably it for me."
Lady Gaga's Transformation
Phoenix revealed that Lady Gaga, who stars as Harley Quinn in the sequel, also lost "a lot of" weight for the role. He recounted his initial meeting with Gaga during rehearsals, noting her significant weight loss after a month apart. Gaga, however, remained mum on the subject during the press conference.
She added that “We fed [Phoenix] blueberries when he was really hungry.”
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Reflections and Regrets
Phoenix expressed some regret over the attention his weight loss received during the first film's release. He stated that he grew "sick of myself and angry at myself for making such a big deal about that part, because you just do what you’re fucking supposed to do." He also lamented how discussing the physical transformation can become an obsession, making it sound like "an actor going on and on about how much weight they lost."
The Broader Context: Extreme Weight Loss in Hollywood
Phoenix's weight loss journey is not unique in Hollywood. Many actors have undergone dramatic physical transformations for roles, often involving extreme dieting and exercise regimens. Christian Bale, for example, famously lost 63 pounds for The Machinist. These transformations raise concerns about the potential health risks and the pressure actors face to conform to certain physical ideals.
Risk Factors
Eating disorders are multifaceted and complex, including a genetic predisposition.
The Psychology of Hunger
Diet culture messaging around “empowerment” is embedded in the assumption that deprivation - denying the body’s needs for nourishment - demonstrates willpower, self-control, and moral superiority.
The Joker Diet: A Word of Caution
It is crucial to emphasize that Phoenix's weight loss was intended for a short amount of time and was supervised by a doctor. Unlike most people who diet to lose weight or who develop an eating disorder, Phoenix’s weight loss was intended for the short amount of time it took to shoot the movie. Such extreme diets are not recommended for the general public and can have serious health consequences.
Barbara Spanjers, MS MFT is a therapist and wellness coach who helps people feel more attuned with food and in their body.