Taron Egerton, 36, has revealed how he achieved his leanest and most muscular physique for the Netflix survival thriller 'Apex', in which he stars alongside Charlize Theron. The actor described his character as a 'psychopathic' hunter chasing Theron across the Australian wilderness, requiring a look that was sinewy and functional rather than bulky.
Egerton worked with long-time trainer Jason Walsh on a focused training block. He emphasised that the goal was not a typical Hollywood bulk, but a physique built through movement. 'I wanted to look sinewy, which isn’t something I’ve ever really achieved,' Egerton said. 'Strong in a way that looks like it’s built through movement, not just lifting weights.'
For the first month of training, Egerton did not perform a single bicep curl or chin-up. Instead, he focused on building core strength and stability. 'It was all about building the framework so I could train safely and then get stronger,' he explained. The regimen included high-intensity work such as running and sprinting, which left Egerton feeling 'so athletic' he felt he could 'fly'.
Egerton was clear that his transformation was achieved naturally, without any chemical interventions. He addressed previous rumours about hormone use following his role in 'Blackbird', stating, 'I’ve never done anything like that, and I’d be too frightened to.' Walsh used blood work and metabolic testing to tailor Egerton’s nutrition, adjusting macronutrients and calories to reach the required leanness.
The actor admitted the extreme dieting was not sustainable, saying, 'I was tired, I was fatigued... I wouldn’t advocate that level of dieting for anyone.' For maintenance, Walsh allowed flexibility with whole foods to satiety, ensuring Egerton had enough energy for his high activity levels.
