Brendan Fraser was one of the heartthrobs of the ‘90s thanks to a string of roles that began with George of the Jungle. The comedy was based on an animated series of the same name and Fraser brought to life the titular character who himself was a spoof of Tarzan.
Clad in only a loin cloth, and climbing trees in many scenes, the actor ensured that he spent a lot of time in the gym to create George’s buff physique. But as Fraser has now revealed—25 years later—it came at quite a cost.
While taking part in Variety’s Actors on Actors series, he discussed the filming with Airheads co-star Adam Sandler.
“I was waxed. Starved of carbohydrates,” The Mummy star admitted. “I would drive home after work and stop to get something to eat. I needed some cash one day, and I went to the ATM, and I couldn’t remember my PIN number because my brain was misfiring. Banging on the thing. I didn’t eat that night.”
Withholding certain nutrients can cause a condition called cerebral atrophy that can affect concentration, memory, cognitive flexibility, and fear responses. Carbs are the main source of energy for the brain and also protect it against damage from free radicals.
