The Stunning Transformation Of Will Poulter

He used to just be known around the internet as "the actor with the eyebrows," or the guy who makes out with Jennifer Aniston in "We're the Millers," but a lot has changed for Will Poulter in recent years. After co-starring with the "Friends" alum (as well as Jason Sudeikis) in his breakout role, he continued paving his way, eventually working up to highly acclaimed and star-studded projects such as "The Revenant," "Midsommar," and "Dopesick," for which he was nominated for an Emmy, and an episode of "The Bear."

Now, having made a name for himself, Poulter has been introduced to the blockbuster Marvel Universe, appearing in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" as Adam Warlock and debuting one of the best celebrity fitness transformations to date. If there's one thing we all know about the franchise, it's that the films and series are endless, making 2023 the year that Poulter likely set himself up for monumental fame and fortune.

With such a sudden launch into the spotlight and a filmography that just keeps on growing, many have wondered how the actor's life has led him to such profound recognition and opportunities to work with some of the biggest names in the industry. We'll dive into the stunning transformation of Will Poulter, from his humble days as a West London schoolboy to his remarkable celebrity status today. 

Although Will Poulter had been involved in drama classes at school, as well as an after-school comedy club, it wasn't until he landed his first on-screen role at the age of 13 that he realized acting was something he wanted to make his career. Poulter was cast as Lee Carter in the 2007 coming of age film "Son of Rambow," which centers around two young boys in the early 1980s as they make their own "First Blood"-inspired movie.

In an interview with The Guardian, Poulter explained that because he had been so unhappy in school, the role gave him a lot to look forward to. "I came back every day saying, 'This is what I'm going to do for the rest of my life!' And my parents were a bit like, 'Chill, chill, chill.' But then they looked at my grades and were like, 'It's probably a good thing that Will is going off and doing this alternative summer camp,'" he said.

Poulter and his co-star, Bill Milner, were both nominated for their performances by the London Critics Circle Film Awards for young British performer of the year. They also received nods from the British Independent Film Awards, with each of them nominated for most promising newcomer, giving Poulter his first taste of what was to come.

He may be incredibly talented, but as it turns out, acting was a form of escape for Will Poulter when he first started out. He would become so heavily invested in his characters that "[i]t felt like a reprieve from being who I was on a day-to-day basis," he told The Guardian. However, Poulter's tendency to dive headfirst into his roles, he determined, became detrimental to his mental health, and he felt like he had avoided developing his own personality in the process.

While he's chosen a particularly difficult career, Poulter says that he's gotten better at dealing with the psychological toll it can take. In a discussion with The New York Times in 2023, he explained, "[Acting] can be stressful, it can be painful, and plainly speaking, it can be difficult to do and a strain on your mental health, but I also think it's very necessary to reflect on your own psyche and think about its impact on the world around you. It's a lovely psychoanalytical journey that I'm really enjoying." Although he doesn't seem to be as keen on escaping into his characters as he once was, Poulter still wows audiences regularly with his sheer talent and ability to showcase complex characters and their arcs.

Not only has Poulter strived to normalize discussions around mental health, but he was also appointed as ambassador of Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing, and Hounslow Mind (HFEH Mind), a non-profit organization focusing on mental health. In July 2023, students of Chiswick School hosted Mind ambassador Temi Tyrese, who gave a lecture on how to keep mentally well. Little did they know that Marvel's own Poulter was waiting to surprise them, and he too spoke to the students about mental wellness.

Aside from his time spent working with Mind, the actor is also passionate about other important initiatives, including Alzheimer's research. In May 2023, Poulter read the children's book "Elmer and the Gift" during Dementia Action Week in support of Alzheimer's Research U.K. The story incorporates themes of patience and understanding when communicating with a family member who has dementia, and there are talking points in the back of the book that help adults speak to their children about the condition. After his reading, Poulter commented, "Sadly, thousands of families are impacted by dementia every day and talking about it at any age is incredibly difficult. I loved reading 'Elmer and the Gift' in support of Alzheimer's Research U.K. and I hope it will help adults start these important conversations with little ones."

The roles an actor decides to play can say a lot about who they are, their interests, and what kind of career they want to have. When it comes to Will Poulter, his work has ranged from goofy comedies to dystopian action flicks and dramas with societal commentary. Speaking with The Guardian, he confirmed that he does feel a sort of personal responsibility to contribute to social movements — such as Black Lives Matter or #MeToo — through his work. Poulter said that as a straight white male, "[T]here's a personal responsibility to make sure I'm contributing to those conversations and those movements positively, and that I'm not being a bystander."

Having a social conscience as an actor is important to Poulter, as he told Numéro in April 2023, "I really do gravitate toward projects with a sociopolitical angle. Just because I feel there's a real opportunity with the job that I'm in and with the people that I work with, in the role of storytelling to reflect on society and hopefully impact people's perspective, and in a positive way, motivate progressive action." However, he explained that he doesn't want to put across that he's some sort of activist, either. "If I was an activist, I'd quit my job and commit to activism full time, and that's not something I do," Poulter remarked.

There are countless celebrities who were unrecognizable even five years ago, whether it's because of plastic surgery, a major weight loss, or in Will Poulter's case, beefing up to play a superhero in a movie. By all accounts, the actor's glow-up has been truly impressive, having grown up and transformed into the latest Hollywood heartthrob. In spite of the extra attention he's been getting, Poulter has downplayed his transformation, telling The New York Times, "People are acting like I played Kenny Miller in 2013 and then woke up and now I look like I do, like there was some strange and mystical explanation behind it. I just grew up, like every other human being on Earth."

Poulter has also been treading carefully when the subject of his physique comes up. He got into serious shape before filming "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," and the media became obsessed with his diet and fitness routine. With rumors flying, one of his mom's friends had even wondered if his transformation was the result of plastic surgery. As Poulter explained in his New York Times interview, "I'm being kind of careful in the words, but if you're going to promote the process by which you achieved said body goal, I think you have to be fully transparent about how you got there."