Movies - TV
Holt McCallany Put His Body Through the Wringer Preparing For Mindhunter
By MIYAKO PLEINES
To get into character to play 40-something FBI Agent Bill Tench in “Mindhunter,” Holt McCallany gained 25 pounds and took up smoking. As the actor explained to Men’s Journal, Tench was someone who "drinks too much, eats crappy food, is on the road 40 weeks a year, and whose only exercise is an occasional round of golf,” so his physicality had to reflect that.
As someone who was usually active and athletic, gaining weight was certainly challenging for McCallany, but it was the smoking that was the biggest challenge. He mentioned how since the show was set in the '70s, Tench was constantly smoking and that “we went through so many packs on the show, there were times when I was lightheaded."
While McCallany considered all of this necessary to portray his character as authentically as possible, he did admit that he couldn’t wait to return to his healthier habits once the show wrapped. He stated, “I'm determined to get myself back in top shape the minute the director says cut."