Diksha Sundriyal
In ‘Nuremberg,’ Russell Crowe takes on the role of Hermann Göring, a high-ranking Nazi official who was an integral part of Hitler’s heinous actions against humanity. The film takes place after the war, with the arrest of Göring and other Nazis, who are put on trial in Nuremberg, forced to confront the severity of their crimes. Most of the story takes place from the point of view of the American psychiatrist, Douglas Kelley, who is brought in to evaluate Göring and other prisoners and keep them from killing themselves in prison. Crowe disappears into the character, presenting an enigmatic and menacing portrayal, which is heightened by the physicality of the character. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Russell Crowe Went Through a Physical Transformation to Play Hermann Göring
In playing the role of Hermann Göring, Russell Crowe prepared himself mentally as well as physically. In real life, Göring was known to have put on a lot of weight, especially towards the final years of his life. This was attributed to his excessive use of morphine, among other things. According to reports, during the Second World War, he weighed approximately 130 kg. As shown in the movie, his weight and his addiction were major causes for his deteriorating physical health. In prison, he was slowly cut off from morphine, mainly because the prosecutors needed him to be of sound mind to attend his own trial. This, along with a significant change in his diet, led him to lose more than 30 kgs. This detail factored into Crowe’s performance.
He revealed that by the end of the filming, he weighed 126 kilos. He noted that this is the most weight he has gained so far. This isn’t the first time that the actor has gained weight for a role. He reportedly gained weight for the 2016 film, ‘The Nice Guys,’ to create a juxtaposition between his and Ryan Gosling’s characters. Following the filming, he lost more than 20 kgs. He also reportedly gained around 35 kg for his role in ‘The Loudest Voice.’ Once the filming for ‘Nuremberg’ was finished, he decided to shed the weight, losing around 26 kg in the process. Apart from the physicality of the character, the actor also had to delve into the complex psychology of Göring, which is a key plot point in the movie. Because Göring’s German identity is a significant part of his personality, Crowe learned German to portray the character authentically.
Rami Malek’s Douglas Kelley sees through Göring’s charming façade and identifies his narcissism, yet he cannot help but be drawn to it. To understand the character, the actor researched his past, where he comes from, and what drives him. Crowe said that he had to tread a fine line, where the character had to come across as someone with a magnetic personality, displaying the reasons for his power, influence, and popularity. But at the same time, his dangerous nature needed to be highlighted as well, revealing how manipulative he can be to get what he wants. Through his odd friendship with Kelley, it becomes clear that despite his friendly and charming demeanor, he cannot change who he truly is, and this is evident in the trial. The physical and mental weight of the role took its toll to some extent. Calling it a haunting experience, Crowe confessed that he was glad when the filming wrapped up.
Read More: Emmy and Edda Göring: What Happened to Hermann Göring’s Wife and Daughter?
