Months after getting into prime shape to star in “The Return,” Ralph Fiennes is showing fans that he’s held on to his ripped physique.
In the film adaptation of Homer’s “Odyssey” directed by Uberto Pasolini, the actor, 62, portrayed Odysseus, the courageous king of Ithaca, who rediscovers his strength after returning home after being lost at sea for 20 years.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Fiennes shocked social media users by showing off how he’s maintained his shredded muscles following the film’s release in December.
The April 11 post featured a shirtless photo of Fiennes rocking the distinguished, salt-and-pepper beard he grew to play the wearied character. He simply captioned the post with a bicep emoji.
Fiennes’ followers on X gushed over the star’s impressive transformation in the comments section.
“Bro looks phenomenal. No matter what, you have to put in a lot of work and dedication for these results,” one person wrote.
Another said, “Was not expecting a Ralph Fiennes thirsty shirtless this morning but am fine with it and impressed. Shredded.”
“Wow! That’s hard work and dedication!!! Incredible work!” someone else added.
The “Harry Potter” alum discussed his rigorous transformation while recently appearing on the U.K. talk show “Lorraine.”
After host Lorraine Kelly commented that Fiennes took his “brutal” metamorphosis “really seriously,” the star said he told his personal trainer Dan Avasilcai that he wanted to “look like a piece of old rope” to take on the role.
Fiennes got candid about what it took to see such major results.
“There was [an] extreme diet with very, very highly controlled carbohydrates. A lot of protein, a lot of weight lifting and running,” he explained during the April 10 episode.
The English actor then joked that at one point during his fitness journey he asked Avasilcai if he “could have a glass of wine,” and was promptly told “no.”
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“You stuck with it … it paid off,” Kelly teased.
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