22 February 2015
Newsdesk
In this week's Billboard cover story double threat actor and musician Jared Leto talks packing on the pounds to play the Joker in the all-star comic-book supervillain movie Suicide Squad, the success of his rock band 30 Seconds to Mars and why he is "terminally dissatisfied."
Leto opens up about yo-yoing between weight classes for his upcoming role as the Joker, his second film role in seven years.
"It can be an incredibly rewarding, but also destructive, thing to do," he says of yo-yoing between weight classes for a role. "Your body changes forever." He has had a lot of actors call him for advice on extreme weight regimens, he says, "and I always try to talk people out of it."
He continues to share why he was drawn to playing role.
" The opportunity to take on this nearly Shakespearean character -- that's what graphic novels and comic books are becoming, right?" Leto tells Billboard.
Lastly, he talks keeping his acting and music career separate, contrary to what many other artists are doing.
"When we first signed a record deal in '98, it was like breaking a commandment." he says, explaining that he was wary of how people were judged for trying to cross over. "Now, if you can talk, you put an album out."
