Here's What Joaquin Phoenix Had To Say About His "Complicated" Weight Loss For "Joker: Folie À Deux"

2 weeks ago 8

It was a little more "complicated" the second time around.

2019's Joker won a completely transformed Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar for Best Actor.

Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker in a still from the movie "Joker," wearing white face paint with blue and red accents and a red jacket

Joaquin fully changed into the character Arthur Fleck and surprised everyone when he revealed what it took to achieve that appearance.

Joaquin Phoenix dressed as the Joker, wearing a mustard vest, white shirt with patterns, and red tie, performs an expressive dance in a grimy bathroom

When Joker debuted at the 76th Venice Film Festival, he explained that, according to Esquire, he had lost a whopping 52 pounds to portray the character. "The first thing for us was the weight loss," he said. "I think that's really what I started with. And, as it turns out, that then affects your psychology. You start to go mad when you lost that amount of weight in that amount of time."

Joaquin Phoenix in a classic tuxedo and sunglasses on the red carpet, with photographers in the background at a media event

Making his rounds for the press tour, Joaquin was very candid about the weight-loss process and his controversial diet of only lettuce and steamed vegetables.

For the much-anticipated sequel Joker: Folie à Deux, Joaquin again transformed into the sinister character, but the 49-year-old actor has changed his tune when talking about the transformation.

Folie à Deux," releasing in theaters on October 4, 2024

"I'm not going to talk through specifics of the diet, because I just think nobody wants to hear that. But this time, it felt a bit more complicated just because there was so much dance rehearsal that we were doing, which I didn't have last time," Joaquin said at the 81st Venice Film Festival, per Variety.

Joaquin Phoenix on the red carpet wearing a formal black tuxedo with a bow tie and sunglasses

"So it felt a bit more difficult, but it is safe," he continued. "But you're right, I'm now 49, I probably shouldn't do this again. This is probably it for me."

Joaquin Phoenix poses on the red carpet, wearing a black tuxedo and bowtie, touching the back of his neck with one hand, with photographers in the background

Joaquin was joined by his co-star Lady Gaga (real name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta), who portrays a new character, Harleen Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn. Joaquin added that she also underwent a transformation for the film.

Lady Gaga in a harlequin outfit with arms outstretched, likely performing a scene

"Stefani also lost a lot of weight," he said. "I remember when I first met you in rehearsals and then you went away and when you came back, you lost a lot of weight. It was really impressive."

Lady Gaga in an elegant black dress and Joaquin Phoenix in a casual white t-shirt at a press event for the Venice Film Festival

Unlike his openness to discussing the diet and weight loss for Joker in length, Joaquin was more hesitant about his process for the sequel. "I know I was responsible last time for talking about it, but it's difficult to do so that becomes your obsession because you're working the entire time to get to a certain weight," he said.

Joaquin Phoenix on a red carpet wearing a black suit with a bow tie. Photographers with cameras are visible in the background

"So then you end up talking about it, and then it just sounds like an actor going on and on about how much weight they lost. By the end of that run I was so 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. So this time I was like, 'I'm not going to do that.'"

Joaquin Phoenix on the red carpet, wearing a black tuxedo and sunglasses, extending his hand. Background shows a busy, out-of-focus event setting

Unable to resist the urge to bring it up anyway, Joaquin said, "It was 47 pounds," before admitting, "No, I'm joking. I don't know."

Joaquin Phoenix at a media event, smiling, wearing a casual white t-shirt, with a blue background behind him

Director Todd Phillips' Joker: Folie à Deux takes place two years after the events of the original film. Based on the trailer alone, it's set to be a musically inspired trip that will see Joaquin and Lady Gaga fully transformed into unrecognizable, whimsical, and dark characters.

Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga in a dramatic gown with headpiece, and Todd Phillips pose at a red-carpet event

Joker: Folie à Deux is in theaters Oct. 4

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