Oscar-winning actor Ralph Fiennes has revealed the real reason he decided to go fully naked for his new film, The Return.

The actor, 62, also opened up about a gruelling diet and fitness regime for the role that saw him cut out bread, sweets and alcohol.

In the epic movie, the star plays a very toned but underfed Greek hero Odysseus who returns home to his wife Penelope, played by Juliette Binoche, after 20 years.

Speaking at a private screening and Q&A for the film in London’s Mayfair on Thursday, Ralph said: ‘In the script it was clear – the nakedness. In The Odyssey, he throws off his rags, so it was clear that I had to show my body. 

‘I wanted it to be believable as a man who’s fought and sailed and swum and has not eaten very much.’

The Conclave star shows off a remarkable body transformation in the film, directed by Uberto Pasolini. 

Oscar-winning actor Ralph Fiennes (pictured, with trainer Dan Avasilcai in 2023) has revealed the real reason he decided to go fully naked for his new film, The Return

The actor, 62, (pictured, in 2022) also opened up about a gruelling diet and fitness regime for the role that saw him cut out bread, sweets and alcohol

‘Thanks to a wonderful trainer, Dan – we were side by side in getting me into the shape you see,’ Ralph added. ‘But it was a lot of Dan’s knowledge of diet and training. He was very, very precise!’

Fitness guru Dan Avasilcai, who had previously worked with the actor on The King’s Man in 2021, shared a striking pH๏τo of Ralph’s newly ripped physique for the role on Instagram in 2023, prompting a wave of admiration from fans.

Ralph spent two and a half months before shooting to get into shape for the role. 

His regime involved cutting out a variety of foods, as well as booze, and upping his intake of protein-rich meals, complex carbohydrates and vegetables. 

The In Bruges star was also in the gym every day lifting weights and running to strip his body of almost all fat.

Ralph added: ‘On top of that, it’s the scars – it’s the whole look: the beard, the hair. I definitely locked onto the beggar that Homer writes. 

‘In this version we leant into the beggar: the man who arrives emaciated and starved and also internally emaciated. 

‘That interior evisceration – his sense of self has been smashed. And that was something it offered, which I loved.’

In the epic movie, the star plays a very toned but underfed Greek hero Odysseus who returns home to his wife Penelope, played by Juliette Binoche, after 20 years

He said he was also thrilled to be joined on screen again by Juliette, 61, with whom he had acted before in Wuthering Heights in 1992 and The English Patient in 1996.

‘I’d been close to the project for some time but there was a moment when [director] Uberto [Pasolini] asked me if I would like to direct it,’ Ralph explained. 

‘We went on a trip together to Ithaca and Kefalonia and to the southern coast of Turkey and Majorca and we talked about it and it became quite clear to me that Uberto was steeped not only in the Odyssey but in his film. 

‘He knew what he wanted the film to be and I was keen to play Odysseus.

‘It went on the backburner until about four years ago. Uberto said, “Ralph! Are you going to play Odysseus?” I said “yes, and you have to direct your film”.

‘Then he said, “who is going to play Penelope?” And now there is a funny thing – I think he said Juliette, and he thinks I said Juliette. 

‘We sort of both said together: “Juliette!”

‘We approached her and in the best way that these things can happen, Juliette, who I’d stayed close to for many years, read Roberto’s screenplay and said yes.’

Fitness guru Dan Avasilcai (pictured, third right, on Thursday), who had previously worked with the actor on The King’s Man in 2021, came in for heavy praise from Ralph

Ralph said recently of their friendship: ‘I feel our friendship has just got deeper. I feel Juliette sees me. 

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‘All my faults, all the things… Over the years, she’s become a mother of two children and has a life that I’m aware of, but I don’t know her children. 

‘We’ve met as friends and seen each other in our various plays. That’s terribly meaningful to me, when she comes to see me and I see her onstage, and it’s always wonderful. It feels like a really strong friendship.

‘We’ll have to do a play together. We’ve talked about it. I think we just need to find the right thing that moves us, and the right director. 

‘But I’d like to think that would be our next reunion: onstage.’