Zac Efron reveals he gained 15 pounds of muscle for the role of Iron Claw pro wrestler, but his ‘obsessive’ training regimen left him ‘withdrawn’ and ‘very lonely’

Zac Efron has revealed how his ‘obsession’ with transforming into a pro wrestler for Iron Claw left him feeling ‘withdrawn’.

The actor, 36, plays Kevin Von Eric in the film that sees the Eric brothers make wrestling history in the 1980s.

Ahead of the film’s release on December 22, Zac showed off his muscular figure in his interview with Variety.

The High School musical star put on a whopping 15 pounds of muscle for the role and trained several times a day.

‘It was a unique focus for a month and your life disappears during the preparation. That need to be perfect…became an obsession,” Zac admitted.

The actor, 36, plays Kevin Von Eric in the film that sees the Eric brothers make wrestling history in the 1980s

“I was able to combine old-school bodybuilding and Olympic lifting, and really get that specific look of professional wrestlers,” Zac explained, but it was “really hard.”

Zac also revealed that he would actually wrestle during the filming of the matches, which lasted seven to fifteen minutes, multiple times a day on consecutive days in a week.

The actor explained that the physical transformation helped him get into the role, but he found himself “withdrawing” like his character.

Zac explained that the physical transformation helped him settle into his role, but he found himself “withdrawing” just like his character.

“It was an unforeseen ally,” he said. ‘With all that weight you don’t feel normal.

“And the muscle soreness that came later was tremendous,” he admitted.

‘During the preparation it is one thing to scab that; you don’t have to be super social. I noticed that I was quite withdrawn’.

The High School Musical alumnus said his perfectionist tendencies often get the better of him and he has to remind himself that “life is way too short.”

Zac, left, transformed his body so much that he was unrecognizable compared to his naturally slim physique (right in 2019)

Ahead of the film’s release on December 22, Zac showed off his toned figure during a photo shoot

The High School musical star put on a whopping 15 pounds of muscle for the role and worked out several times a day

Zac revealed that he would wrestle while filming the matches, which lasted seven to 15 minutes, several times a day on consecutive days in a week.

“I was able to combine old-school bodybuilding and Olympic lifting, and really get that specific look of professional wrestlers,” Zac explained, but it was “really hard.”

The former Disney star spoke about starring in 17 Again with late Friends actor Matthew Perry and how his shock death has affected him

Read the full story in Variety – available now

“We have to have fun,” he said. ‘I have to remind myself that this should be fun.

“From now on, if a perfectionist is the thorn in your side, then it’s like life is way too short.”

Speaking from his own experience, he said growing up in the entertainment industry can be difficult and “lonely” because “what you go through matters little.”

“The goal is always the next mission, the next movie, and making sure everyone else is really happy,” he added. ‘It can be very lonely sometimes.’

The former Disney star – who paid tribute to Matthew Perry as he unveiled his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – also spoke about starring in 17 Again with the late Friends actor and how his shock death has affected him.

“It’s really important to reach out to friends and maintain relationships where you can talk and share stories,” he said, adding that he had the opportunity to do this with Perry in recent years.

“I cherish the time we shared together dearly,” he continued. “I thought about him a lot, every day.”