Matthew McConaughey has been rightly trumpeted for the role of his career in 'Dallas Buyers Club'.
The actor, always popular but previously known for his deeply-tanned, buff-bodied, rom-com roles, has recently earned a new respect for his creative endeavours, including 'Killer Joe', 'Mud', 'The Wolf of Wall Street' and most of all, this.
Part of his new approach has been the unvain effort of shedding 47 pounds to play Ron Woodruff, with the results leaving him gaunt and almost unrecognisable in pictures from the shoot.
Both he and Jared Leto, who plays Ron's transvestite fellow sufferer Rayon, have been Oscar-nominated for their work in 'The Dallas Buyers Club', a true story of how one rough-riding, hustling, proudly heterosexual man Ron Woodroof was stunned to discover he had contracted HIV, and had to use his whistling ways to circumvent the US health system in the 1980s to secure the right medicines to keep himself and others alive.
Matthew and Jared's physical transformations are only part of the reason they are utterly convincing in their roles, which will hopefully be recognised come Oscar night. 'Best Actor... Matthew McConaughey'... now wouldn't THAT be a turn-up for the books?
WATCH both actors discuss their efforts below. The film is in UK cinemas from Friday 7 February.