David Harbor’s role as Sheriff Jim Hopper is considered one of the most popular in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things. Now he reveals why he starved himself for season four and why he never wants to do it again.
«Stranger Things» is one of the most successful series of recent years and has already broken several Netflix records. David Harbor plays one of the main roles as Sheriff Jim Hopper and is considered one of the most popular characters, especially in the USA. Hopper showed just how serious he is about his role when he lost 80 pounds for the current fourth season of Stranger Things. But that was anything but a pleasure for the series star.
Emaciated instead of well trained
When it comes to male stars, body transformation is usually understood to mean «trading» their flab for muscle. Such as Hollywood star Chris Pratt. But for Stranger Things actor Jim Hopper, it was all about weight loss.
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«I’ve lost about 80 pounds since season three – I was about 270 pounds at the time and when I was filming (season four) I was about 190,» Harbor told the UK edition of the men’s magazine GQ. The reason for this: he wanted to portray his character Jim Hopper authentically. Because this is held in the fourth season of Stranger Things in a Russian labor camp.
David Harbor fasted and practiced Pilates
But how do you manage to lose 36 kilograms? Well, Harbor tackled both diet and exercise. For one, he used intermittent fasting to eat fewer calories throughout the day. And second, he did Pilates. So instead of relying on strength and endurance training, he used total body exercises to burn body fat. The weight loss process lasted eight months. And it seems to have been anything but a pleasure.
The pounds lost are back
But it’s not a real success story. Because the lost pounds are back for the actor. The reason for this: His new role as Santa Claus in the film «Violent Night», which will be released at the end of the year. So eight months of starvation just to give his character Jim Hopper more credibility in Stranger Things. «I don’t think I’ll ever do that again,» he was quoted as saying by the American celebrity magazine «People». Because of course such an extreme weight loss and subsequent weight gain are a burden on the body and psyche.
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But actually the actor feels good in his own skin and wishes for more «strong» actors in Hollywood films instead of just slim and toned bodies on the screen. “I want people to be comfortable in their bodies and love their bodies. I’m tired of always seeing these hunger hooks – both women and men. But Hollywood sets these incredible standards. I don’t find these people sexy anymore,» David Harbor was quoted as saying by People. However, he does not support obesity, because that in turn is unhealthy. A healthy middle ground is the right way for him – as so often in life.