Jesse Plemons would think twice about gaining weight for a role in the future after his past experience “messed (him) up a bit”.

The Breaking Bad actor gaining weight to play Kevin Weeks, an enforcer for gangster Whitey Bulger, in the 2015 crime film Black Mass. He probably wouldn’t do the same again today because of the difficulty he faced in trying to lose the pounds afterwards.

“I never imagined getting to play a part like that. (Gaining weight) was a decision I made at that age, given that opportunity for that director – and I was playing a real person. I don’t regret it,” he told The Independent. “But it was very easy to put the weight on, and much more difficult taking it off. I don’t know if it’s something I would do again – because it did mess me up a bit.”

The 36-year-old, who is married to Kirsten Dunst, has embarked on a remarkable physical transformation over the past year or so. He explained to the publication that he became more focused on losing weight after being cast alongside his wife in 2024’s Civil War.

“Being asked to play that character and being unable to see him at my current weight… that kind of snapped me out of it,” he shared. “As well as having young kids. And I just got a handle on it again.”

The Kinds of Kindness star admitted his size “dictated” the range of characters he was being asked to play and began to “seep into (his) own identity”. Following his transformation, he has noticed a difference in the roles he’s being offered.

“Having lost the weight, aside from feeling better, it does feel like I’ve opened another door to potential parts I can play,” he added.

Plemons, who has two children with Dunst, denied taking weight-loss medication last year, insisting he lost weight by intermittent fasting and other lifestyle changes.

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