50 Cent explained how he managed to complete extreme transformation that people couldn't believe was real
50 Cent revealed how he pulled off the extreme transformation for his role in a 2011 film.
The rapper may have burst to stardom as the artist behind the nine-time Platinum album Get Rich or Die Tryin', which was released through Eminem's Shady Records in 2003, but he also has a number of acting credits to his name.
In more recent years, the 49-year-old - real name Curtis Jackson III - helped produce and star as Kanan Stark in Starz crime-drama, Power.
But there's one film that may garner him the most credit in terms of physical commitment to the role as an actor.
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In the movie - called All Things Fall Apart - 50 Cent plays American football running back Deon who aims to play in the NFL after doing well at college level, but sadly falls ill with cancer before he can make it pro.
It follows Deon as he changes his outlook on life as it gets turned upside down, but headlines at the time focused on 50 Cent's drastic physical transformation.
Without the need for CGI, he went on a liquid-only diet, working out three hours a day on a treadmill for nine weeks to achieve the necessary look.
It resulted in a weight loss of 54 lbs (24.5kg) from 214 lbs (97kg) to 160 lbs (72.5kg), similar to Christian Bale's weight loss for The Machinist, where he lost 63lbs (28.5kg).
But it's not the first time that the rapper has been in that condition, revealing that when he was shot in the jaw in 2000, he could only drink liquids and his weight dropped to 157 lbs (71 kg).
Speaking to the Associated Press in 2010, he admitted: “This time it was a lot tougher for me.
“I had to discipline myself not … to actually have myself be in the physical state to convey the energy I felt. It’s a passion project for me.”
50 Cent went on to explain: “I actually got on the computer, when it started getting difficult, I was looking to see what their experience was like and I got a chance to see all of the interviews they had at different time periods when they were doing promotion for the projects.”
But soon after the film wrapped, the star was back in the gym to put those pounds back on.
After all, he is known for that muscular physique - think the 'In Da Club' music video.
When photos of 50 Cent on set were released, rumours spread that it was a hoax which he was quick to shut down, saying at the time: "I was starving," when announcing that he would be back on tour after the film wrapped.
"I've been eating. I'll be back in shape in no time!"
Following Things Fall Apart's release, 50 Cent followed it up with roles in films such as Southpaw and Den of Thieves, which were both huge hits at the box office.
In addition, the critically acclaimed and popular TV series Power (2014-2020) proved his acting ability and firmly put respect on his name in the acting world.
Joshua Nair