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Jake Gyllenhaal's Dramatic Weight Loss: My Mom Was Really Worried

Actor lost more than 30 pounds for Nightcrawler

By Marc Malkin Sep 06, 2014 5:37 PMTags
Watch: Jake Gyllenhaal’s Shocking Weight Loss

Jake Gyllenhaal is getting high praise for his work in Nightcrawler.

But I think we can all agree it wasn't his best look.

Gyllenhaal was a vision of skin and bones after losing a startling 30 pounds for his starring role as an underground crime-scene videographer.

When I caught up with him at the movie's premiere last night at the Toronto International Film Festival, I had to ask if his mom became worried—no mother wants to see her handsome young son wither away like that.

Open Road Films

"You're the first person to ask that question and I'd say my mother was worried," Gyllenhaal said. "I would say she just wanted me to be careful. But she also knew and knows how seriously I take what I do and she respects that.

"She knows that I'm a big boy and I could handle myself and that I would stay within the realm of being safe, but yes, she worried," he continued. "She'd be like, 'You're cranky—eat something.'"

Also at the premiere, which included a Grey Goose pre-party at Soho house, were Gyllenhall's co-stars Rene Russo and Riz Ahmed.

"It's incredible what he put his body through," said Russo, whose husband Dan Gilroy wrote and directed the movie. "I actually was worried."

 
Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Open Road Films/AP Images

At the premiere, we also asked Gyllenhaal to show us his abs. Watch the video below to find out how he responded.

 

Watch: Jake Gyllenhaal’s Abs of Steel

Nightcrawler will be in theaters on Oct. 31.