Sometimes, I am amazed at the lengths actors are willing to go to to portray a role. Remember Charlize Theron in Monster? She was hardly recognizable!
Anne Hathaway underwent significant weight loss for her portrayal of Fantine in the 2012 film adaptation of Les Misérables. She lost about 25 pounds (11 kg) to realistically depict the character of Fantine, a struggling, sickly, impoverished woman.
Antonia Campbell-Hughes’s Dramatic Transformation for 3096 Days
Back in 2012, Antonia Campbell-Hughes was one actress who made headlines for drastically losing weight for a movie role. The then-20-year-old actress shocked everyone at the 56th BFI London Film Fest with her appearance on the red carpet, looking incredibly thin and seemingly malnourished.
Antonia Campbell-Hughes attended the premiere of ‘Frankenweenie 3D’ at the 56th BFI London Film Festival in a dress from Alberta Ferretti’s Spring 2013 collection (Credit: Lia Toby / WENN)
Embodying the Role: Antonia’s Physical Commitment
Her slender appearance was attributed to her weight loss for a role where she portrays Natascha Kampusch, an Austrian held in captivity for eight years.
Antonia Campbell-Hughes portrayed Natascha Kampusch in 3096 Days (German: 3096 Tage), a 2013 German drama film directed by Sherry Hormann. She lost 29 kilograms for her role, a challenging physical transformation to portray Kampusch’s ordeal authentically.
Thure Lindhardt played the role of Wolfgang Priklopil, while Antonia Campbell-Hughes portrayed Natascha Kampusch in the 2013 German drama film 3096 Days (Credit: Midget Entertainment)
She told the Evening Standard she was committed to suffering as much as Kampusch did. Campbell-Hughes kept a photo of Lara Flynn Boyle from 1998 on her fridge to aid in her weight loss.
When filming, Campbell-Hughes was 30 years old, while Natascha Kampusch was only 18 when she escaped from her captor.
“The one thing that I have been adamant about is that I am playing a character in a script,” Campbell-Hughes said. “It’s not a biopic or a case study. But playing someone real, you feel you have to give a bit more. There was an understanding from the beginning that I would suffer as much as she did.”
“Constant tirades of screaming, they shave their heads, keep them naked. Parts of my head have been shaved. I’ve been naked for the last two months, pretty much.”
Antonia Campbell-Hughes’s outfit featured a light blue chiffon dress with lace embroidery on sheer illusion panels (Credit: Lia Toby / WENN)
A Controversial Red Carpet Appearance
Well, bony frame aside, she did wear quite a beautiful dress. That sheer powder blue number looks dreamy and delicate, and it will undoubtedly look beautiful on someone who is healthy (and meatier).
Antonia Campbell-Hughes shocked in a sheer blue Alberta Ferretti dress at the 2012 London Film Festival (Credit: Lia Toby / WENN)
Unfortunately for Antonia, wearing the dress only magnified just how thin and anorexic she was. Coupled with the chunky two-tone wedges, it was pretty much a fail.
Antonia Campbell-Hughes styled her blue dress with nude pumps featuring a black embellished platform (Credit: Lia Toby / WENN)
Antonia Campbell-Hughes showed off her dramatic weight loss at the premiere of ‘Frankenweenie’ at the opening of the BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 10, 2012, in London, England (Credit: Lia Toby / WENN)
Alternative Styling Options for Antonia
For the gals interested, Antonia’s dress is from Alberta Ferretti’s Spring 2013 collection. No word yet on when it’s coming out in stores, but here it is up close:
Alberta Ferretti Spring 2013 Dress
Antonia would have been better off in a light-colored shift dress with sleeves. Such a silhouette would have covered her extra-tiny limbs and made her appear at least 5 to 10 pounds heavier. These dresses would have done the trick:
Jenni Kayne Raglan Dress, $650 / Ella Moss Tiara Dress, $248 / Josh Goot Open Back Tee Dress, $565