Jake Gyllenhaal becomes the latest actor to take his new role to the extreme by losing a significant twenty pounds for crime drama 'Nightcrawler'.

The 'Brokeback Mountain' star looked alarmingly different as he appeared on the red carpet at the 17th Annual Hollywood Film Awards on Monday (October 21st 2013), his usual padded cheeks now sunken and definitely looking a far cry from the bulky frame he adopted for 2010 adventure flick 'Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time'. In his new film 'Nightcrawler', due for release in 2014, he plays Lou; a freelance crime journalist who finds himself amidst the treacherous world of corruption hidden by the glitzy front of LA.

Jake Gyllenhaal on the set of 'Nightcrawler'
Jake looks a shadow of the bulky figure he had in 2010

'I knew that [Lou] was literally and figuratively hungry', Jake told Us Weekly, and added that his method of getting into character was making sure he was 'always a bit hungry'. And while 'Prince Of Persia' saw him on a strict diet and fitness routine to keep his muscle definition as pristine as possible, he admitted that 'there really was no technique' with 'Nightcrawler'. 'I just love this movie. That's how I did it.'

He revealed to People on Monday that he lost 'probably a little over 20 pounds, something like that' (which is around about a stone and a half), though he shrugged off his transformation as just his regular process or preparation. 'It's not different than getting into character for anything', he said. 'It's more about believing where you are and being present where you are. Who's to say what the process is? I have a strange one . but I love what I do.'

Jake Gyllenhaal on the set of 'Nightcrawler' in LA
Jake is no stranger to strict diets for role preparation

Jake is not the only one who's been skipping meals for movies either recently; Matthew Mcconaughey lost around 40 pounds for his role as HIV-stricken Ron Woodroof in 'Dallas Buyers Club', while Anne Hathaway dropped 25 pounds to play hungry prostitute Fantine in 'Les Miserables'.

Matthew McConaughey looking skinny in New York
Matthew McConaughey shocked the world last year with his dramatic transformation