Austin Butler says his method acting as Elvis left him feeling like he “was dying.” Today, he proves his resilience, showcasing a revitalized self on a fresh magazine cover.
Austin Butler revealed he faced a series of alarming health issues after spending three years immersing himself in Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 Elvis biopic — including a hospitalization for severe abdominal pain and even a frightening episode of temporary blindness on a flight, when he admits he “genuinely thought I was dying.”
Credit: Matthew Brookes for Men’s Health
Following his Golden Globe–winning performance, Butler said he committed to a full health reset, prioritizing both body and mind through intensified training, higher-calorie meals, and a renewed focus on mental wellbeing.
At the height of the Elvis awards run, Butler weighed only 68kg as he began discussions with Darren Aronofsky for his next project, Caught Stealing. Just six months later, he had bulked up by 11kg.
Credit: Matthew Brookes for Men’s Health
“For a long time, I felt that it [preparing for a role] had to be a tortured process, and I would come out the other side broken,” he told the Men’s Health.
“Rather than just putting parts of yourself away and trying to pretend that they don’t exist, it’s like going into the gross bits of yourself — going into the bits that you don’t want to look at — and finding a way of integrating that into the whole.”
For the crime thriller "Caught Stealing", Austin Butler steps into the shoes of Henry “Hank” Thompson, a former ballplayer pulled deep into New York’s criminal underworld. To prepare, he worked with Beth Lewis — the trainer behind Hugh Jackman’s Deadpool & Wolverine physique.
Credit: Matthew Brookes for Men’s Health
With eight films on his slate, Butler’s schedule is busier than ever — yet he insists he’s found a better equilibrium. One lesson came from The Bikeriders co-star Tom Hardy, who once revealed he could still sleep soundly after ending his day with a weighted vest and a marathon of 1,000 box jumps.
“I’m just trying to find little things like that,” Butler said, adding it was often “the mundane little things” that helped, including a moment of peace in the sun on his balcony or phoning a friend.
