Charles Melton says he ‘ate a lot of childhood snacks’ and gained 40-pounds to play Joe Yoo for ‘May December’

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Charles Melton is known for playing the high school jock Reggie Mantle on 'Riverdale', but for his latest role, he had to transform into a suburban father with a scandalous past.

The 33-year-old actor gained 40 pounds to play Joe Yoo in the Netflix drama 'May December', opposite Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman.

How did Charles Melton achieve his weight gain for Joe Yoo role?

Melton told W magazine that he enjoyed eating whatever he wanted to prepare for the role of Joe who is married to a woman 23 years older than him who grooms and abuses him. 

“I ate a lot of favorite childhood snacks like Gushers, Fruit Roll-Ups, ice cream, pizza with popcorn on it,” he said, adding “It was great.”

He also explained that he and director Todd Haynes discussed the character’s personality and how it would affect his appearance.

“Joe has this softness to him,” Melton said, adding “The director, Todd Haynes, and I talked about what Joe would feel like, and it gave me an open opportunity to eat whatever I wanted.”

The controversial story behind 'May December'

'May December' is based on a true story of a couple who became famous after their affair was exposed when Joe was 13 and Gracie was 36. They met while working at a pet store and eventually got married and had three children.

The film follows their life 20 years later when an actress (Portman) visits them to research her role as Gracie in a movie about their relationship.

Melton shared that getting the role in the film was a gift, but he had no feeling he would get the role. On being asked if he had an inkling of getting the role in the movie, "I don't think I had a feeling."

"I remember after the six-week process of auditioning and doing the chemistry read, talking to my team and just telling them, "This is the greatest experience in my career."

"Because I kind of discovered a way to work that I've never really had the chance to do. So that was the gift."

Charles Melton’s performance as Joe Yoo has earned him rave reviews

Melton’s performance as Joe has earned him rave reviews and several award nominations, including a Gotham Award, a Critics Choice Award, and a Golden Globe.

Melton is not the only actor who has changed his body for a role. Many other stars have gained or lost weight, or undergone other physical transformations, to portray different characters.

Some examples are Christian Bale, Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Renee Zellweger, and Jared Leto.