Jurnee Smollett‘s latest project required a little extra character work in the gym to fully embody her role.
While discussing her Marine-turned-arson investigator Michelle Calderone in the Apple TV+ series Smoke, new episodes available to stream Thursdays, the Emmy nominee recently opened up about the physical transformation she underwent for the part.
“She’s someone who uses working out as an escape, and she tries to push herself pretty hard,” she told People. “She’s running away from a lot of her emotions and pours it into different aspects of her life working out, but overworking out toxic relationships. She’s a workaholic and very ambitious. So, I knew physically that Michelle needed to have more of a muscular presence than I personally did.”
Smollett added, “I did put on initially 15 pounds, and by the end of shooting, I was up to 20 pounds, because I wanted that part to feel more truthful. She’s a loner. She’s a lone wolf. And so, yeah, she has a little bit of body dysmorphia.”
Inspired by true events, Smoke stars Smollett as troubled detective Michelle Calderon, who pursues the trails of two serial arsonists with the help of enigmatic arson investigator Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton).
The pair stars alongside Rafe Spall, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Hannah Emily Anderson, Anna Chlumsky, Adina Porter, Greg Kinnear and John Leguizamo in the show created by Dennis Lehane.
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