1776Reporting
Dave Bautista’s transformation from a bulky WWE wrestler to a slimmed-down actor has captured attention for its intensity and honesty. The 54-year-old star has been open about his weight loss journey, and how it’s impacting his life, both on and off camera.
In an interview on Chris Van Vliet’s YouTube channel, Bautista admitted, “I started slimming down because I just got fat.” The actor explained that his weight gain was originally for a role, but it spiraled out of control. “I got really big for a role, and it was uncomfortably big… I was around 315 pounds, and I put the weight on really fast. … I packed it on with French fries and pancakes.”
The role he’s referring to is for the 2023 film Knock at the Cabin, a psychological horror where Bautista’s massive size was part of the character’s presence. Reflecting on his physical condition during the shoot, Bautista admitted, “Looking back at it, I probably overdid it. I was probably a little too big.”
Shedding the extra pounds has been no easy feat. Bautista revealed that it took a long time to lose the weight he gained so quickly. Yet, despite the challenges, the more he slimmed down, the better he felt. Not just physically, but in how he appeared on screen. “I also noticed the more I trimmed down, the better I looked on camera and the better I looked next to other actors.”
At his current weight, the 6’4” actor still feels like he stands out in a crowd of Hollywood peers. Even after slimming down to 240 pounds, Bautista says, “Next to your typical actor I look like a gorilla, and it’s distracting.”
His fans, noticing the drastic change, began voicing their concerns on social media, worried he might be pushing himself too hard. Bautista admitted that staying lean has been difficult. “I’ll probably lose a few more pounds. I’m basically killing myself to be this trim. I mean, I am training hard,” he said, adding that his calories are “pretty restricted.” The actor disclosed that he’s following a diet of about 2,500 calories a day and practices intermittent fasting. To maintain his physique, Bautista also avoids eating 3-4 hours before bedtime.
This transformation isn’t just about the physical. Bautista is also evolving as an actor, moving away from the kind of roles that made him famous. After nearly a decade as Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Bautista has hung up the character’s iconic makeup and prosthetics. “I’m so grateful for Drax. I love him. But there’s a relief [that it’s over],” Bautista told GQ Magazine. “It wasn’t all pleasant. It was hard playing that role. The makeup process was beating me down. And I just don’t know if I want Drax to be my legacy – it’s a silly performance, and I want to do more dramatic stuff.”
The former wrestler has his sights set on bigger, more complex roles. Despite his fame, Bautista insists he isn’t chasing the Hollywood spotlight. “Honestly, I could give a f— [about being a movie star],” he bluntly stated. “I don’t live a great big glamorous life. I live here in Tampa. I don’t care about the spotlight, I don’t care about fame. I just want to be a better actor.”
His journey, both in terms of fitness and acting, highlights Bautista’s relentless drive to push beyond expectations. From heavyweight champion to serious actor, Bautista continues to evolve, proving that transformation—both on the outside and the inside—is part of the bigger story he’s telling.
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