Good movies/TV shows that had women muscle up for their roles?

Ezekiel

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Considerably, I mean. There's Aliens, Million Dollar Baby, Edge of Tomorrow. What else? The mercenary actress in The Mandalorian was already a fitness model.
 

Thaluikhain

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Mutant X featured Victoria Pratt as a main character the whole way through, and she was a fitness model, but she plays a character that's always wearing a big coat to look cool so you can't tell she's muscley.

Also, not sure if you'd call it a good show.
 

Gordon_4

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Considerably, I mean. There's Aliens, Million Dollar Baby, Edge of Tomorrow. What else? The mercenary actress in The Mandalorian was already a fitness model.
Gina Carano is a career martial artist and American gladiator, not a fitness model.

And the easiest answer to this question is of course, Linda Hamilton's transformation for Terminator 2: Judgement Day's version of Sarah Connor. Unfortunately the circumstances behind it were rather unsavory.
 
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Ezekiel

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Gina Carano is a career martial artist and American gladiator, not a fitness model.

And the easiest answer to this question is of course, Linda Hamilton's transformation for Terminator 2: Judgement Day's version of Sarah Connor. Unfortunately the circumstances behind it were rather unsavory.
Wikipedia says fitness model and martial artist. I didn't look further than that, nor really care.

Wasn't sure if Terminator 2 would be considered one, but I guess yeah.
 

Casual Shinji

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I wouldn't call Emily Blunt in Edge of Tomorrow a considerable muscle build-up. Her arms looked a bit more defined, but that was about it. Not that I'm saying Blunt didn't obviously put the work in to looking in shape, but there's only so much a woman in Hollywood is allowed or will allow herself to add to her musculature before it is deemed unappealing. Which is why we'll likely never get a live-action Wonder Woman who actually looks like an amazon. After all, how can Wonder Woman look attractive if she looks "manly", right?

But yeah, Linda Hamilton in T2 is the most "extreme" example, since she looks appropriately prison ripped for her character.
 

Ezekiel

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I wouldn't call Emily Blunt in Edge of Tomorrow a considerable muscle build-up. Her arms looked a bit more defined, but that was about it. Not that I'm saying Blunt didn't obviously put the work in to looking in shape, but there's only so much a woman in Hollywood is allowed or will allow herself to add to her musculature before it is deemed unappealing. Which is why we'll likely never get a live-action Wonder Woman who actually looks like an amazon. After all, how can Wonder Woman look attractive if she looks "manly", right?

But yeah, Linda Hamilton in T2 is the most "extreme" example, since she looks appropriately prison ripped for her character.
I guess that's fair. I can't do this, though.



Edit: Actually, that's pretty admirable, considering other examples like Scarlett as Kusanagi. I don't care that she's a cyborg. More artificial muscle still means more power. You rarely see someone like Blunt.
 
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Bob_McMillan

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I was definitely going to mention Emily Blunt in Edge of Tomorrow. I mean, she didn't NEED to be ripped, that's the point of the exoskeleton. That she got in such good shape anyway is commendable (although from what I remember, that planking scene of hers was done with wires). Also, she was pregnant for a good portion of shooting. What a great actress, hope she gets more action roles.

There's also Michelle Rodriguez from Fast and Furious. Debatable if they're good movies, but I can enjoy them.
 

Chimpzy

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Maybe Charlize Theron for Mad Max Fury Road? Not the most extreme example perhaps, but she is known for bulking up, either muscle or fat, or slimming down for roles.

Other than that, Grace Jones, but I'd say that doesn't count since she was already muscular beforehand. Also, pretty debatable if the movies she was in are good.
 

Gordon_4

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I guess that's fair. I can't do this, though.



Edit: Actually, that's pretty admirable, considering other examples like Scarlett as Kusanagi. I don't care that she's a cyborg. More artificial muscle still means more power. You rarely see someone like Blunt.
Fuckin' woof. Can I have a movie about the Angel of Verdun please? Because I'd dig an action movie about a power armour wearing warrior woman who uses a rotorblade like a fucking greatsword.
 

gorfias

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Gina Carano is a career martial artist and American gladiator, not a fitness model.

And the easiest answer to this question is of course, Linda Hamilton's transformation for Terminator 2: Judgement Day's version of Sarah Connor. Unfortunately the circumstances behind it were rather unsavory.
Surprised TC didn't give it to her. The unsavory circumstances: you mean where why Sarah bulks up, or real life conflict with James Cameron? I hear it is a bear working for him. She said something to the effect that she said to his face that he is great with tech. But people? Not so much.

TC mentions Aliens. I wonder if he is speaking of Ripleybo or Vasquez. Vasquez was so bulked up, she is asked by a fellow male marine, "have you ever been mistaken for a man?" to which she replies, "No. Have you?" The actress is the same one that plays John Connor's foster mom in T2.
 

Ezekiel

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TC mentions Aliens. I wonder if he is speaking of Ripleybo or Vasquez. Vasquez was so bulked up, she is asked by a fellow male marine, "have you ever been mistaken for a man?" to which she replies, "No. Have you?" The actress is the same one that plays John Connor's foster mom in T2.
Obviously Vasquez. Don't remember much muscle on Ripley.
 
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Chimpzy

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Obviously Vasquez. Don't remember much muscle on Ripley.
Iirc, they wanted a muscular latina for Vasquez, but Jenette Goldstein was the only actress who showed up for audition who was ripped enough, so she got the part and they dyed her hair and put her in brownface makeup.

Tho whether to the credit of the makeup artists or Goldstein's acting, if I hadn't read that latter part in an interview decades after the fact, I would've never guessed.
 

Thaluikhain

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Iirc, they wanted a muscular latina for Vasquez, but Jenette Goldstein was the only actress who showed up for audition who was ripped enough, so she got the part and they dyed her hair and put her in brownface makeup.

Tho whether to the credit of the makeup artists or Goldstein's acting, if I hadn't read that latter part in an interview decades after the fact, I would've never guessed.
Wait what? Also never had guessed that, but wiki says much the same.
 

gorfias

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Relatively new interview w/ Jenette Goldstein
 

Gordon_4

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Surprised TC didn't give it to her. The unsavory circumstances: you mean where why Sarah bulks up, or real life conflict with James Cameron? I hear it is a bear working for him. She said something to the effect that she said to his face that he is great with tech. But people? Not so much.

TC mentions Aliens. I wonder if he is speaking of Ripleybo or Vasquez. Vasquez was so bulked up, she is asked by a fellow male marine, "have you ever been mistaken for a man?" to which she replies, "No. Have you?" The actress is the same one that plays John Connor's foster mom in T2.
Okay that bit of - classic - banter is just that; banter. It may also be a minor in-joke to the fact that Jenette Goldstein is a very well endowed woman. Even with her marine gunner’s arms, you would need to be blind to mistake her for a man.

I’m serious, she even runs a boutique women’s bra store for women with large breasts. Their motto is “The Alphabet Starts with D”
 
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gorfias

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Okay that bit of - classic - banter is just that; banter. It may also be a minor in-joke to the fact that Jenette Goldstein is a very well endowed woman. Even with her marine gunner’s arms, you would need to be blind to mistake her for a man.

I’m serious, she even runs a boutique women’s bra store for women with large breasts. Their motto is “The Alphabet Starts with D”
Good on her! Once in a while I've checked on the losers of American Idol, and they'll write that they are touring and I'm like... do people that taste fame find it impossible to walk away? A person that came in 5th on American Idol 15 years ago is, "touring?" And yet, she has moved on to do something creative and industrious.

ITMT: Don't think the butt of the banter is her: she's calling into question, I think it was Bill Paxton's, masculinity. It was a funny line.

EDIT: Heh, online!
 

Gordon_4

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Good on her! Once in a while I've checked on the losers of American Idol, and they'll write that they are touring and I'm like... do people that taste fame find it impossible to walk away? A person that came in 5th on American Idol 15 years ago is, "touring?" And yet, she has moved on to do something creative and industrious.

ITMT: Don't think the butt of the banter is her: she's calling into question, I think it was Bill Paxton's, masculinity. It was a funny line.

EDIT: Heh, online!
Dude I can practically quote the scene on the Sulaco verbatim. I know who got burned in that exchange - it was definitely Hudson. I’m merely suggesting the impetus for the joke was irony because of Goldstein’s good figure. Or her hiring was just good coincidence for the gag.

As for other examples, I dunno, did Charlize Theron get a bit bulkier to play Imperator Furiosa? Like that seems like a role that would need some muscle.
 
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gorfias

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bulking.jpg
Dude I can practically quote the scene on the Sulaco verbatim. I know who got burned in that exchange - it was definitely Hudson. I’m merely suggesting the impetus for the joke was irony because of Goldstein’s good figure. Or her hiring was just good coincidence for the gag.

As for other examples, I dunno, did Charlize Theron get a bit bulkier to play Imperator Furiosa? Like that seems like a role that would need some muscle.
Furiosa is fit but I think Vasquez in a different league:
 

Ezekiel

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Yeah, she was fit, but I wouldn't put Furiosa with any of the other women mentioned.





Not that it wasn't a good performance. I wouldn't have replaced her with anyone. Besides, what do you need to be muscular for being a road warrior?

Still, seems like the more famous an actress is, the less she will have to do that for an action role. No producer cares if superstar Scarlett Johansson muscles up for Ghost in the Shell. Kind of an annoying double standard.