Jake Gyllenhaal is everyone's favorite all-American boy next door, albeit with a lot more talent. Known for his many roles in films such as Donnie Darko, The Day After Tomorrow, and Brokeback Mountain — as well as for his habit of casually chilling on the NYC subway —Gyllenhaal has had an expansive career. In his latest film Southpaw, the actor plays a boxer who loses everything and has to fight (literally) to get life back. Gyllenhaal made a huge transformation for the role, adopting a rigorous training routine and packing on muscle. He also sports several large tattoos in the movie, which might be dismaying to those who picture him as a perpetual baby-faced teenager. But are the tattoos on Jake Gyllenhaal in Southpaw real?
Those of you who aren't fans of the ink need not worry — the tattoos are fake. Gyllenhaal told PopSugar, "There were specific things in the script about tattoos that he had. On one arm he has a tattoo that says 'father and the other says fighter', and that was in the script. The details of all those things, how they look and where they're placed — that came from both me and Antoine [Fuqua, the director]." Gyllenhaal went on to say that despite sporting tats for the role, he doesn't think he'll start getting any large amount of tattoos himself. Probably a smart career move, although he admittedly pulls the look off really well. Here are five other memorable tattoos from movies — some are great, and some? Not so much.
- Ryan Reynolds in Place Beyond The Pines
Playing a rough-around-the edges motorcycle stuntman was a huge leap from his days of The Notebook, but Gosling still managed to win our hearts. If you're a bird, I'm a bird...
2. Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Mara beat out about half of Hollywood for the coveted role of Lisbeth Salander in the American adaptation of the famous novel. She also underwent the world's most badass makeover, including the famed tattoo.
3. Russell Brand in Forgetting Sarah Marshall
The raunchy British comedian does in fact have several tattoos of his own, including a matching one with former wife Katy Perry. But in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Kirsten Bell calls Brand's character out for his "boosh*t": "Let me tell you something about these tattoos, okay. That is Buddhist, that is Nordic, that is Hindu, that's just gibberish. They are completely conflicting ideologies, and that does not make you a citizen of the world, it makes you full of sh*t!"
4. Theo James in Divergent
Four's tattoo was carefully designed to show the complex emotional nature of the character, as well as looking alluringly touchable. The application took more than three hours. I think I speak on behalf of many when I say thank you, Theo, for your dedication to your art.
5. 3. Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott in Dude, Where's My Car?
The guys play a lovable pair of goons who wake up after a crazy night to discover new tattoos on their backs. But they have a little trouble explaining them to each other: “What does mine say?” “Dude, what about mine?” “Sweet, what about mine?” "Dude, what about mine?" and so forth...
Tattoos can make a major statement, as all of the above prove. No matter what your status is on ink, you have to admit that Jake's transformation in Southpaw is pretty amazing. I'll ask him to tell me more about the tattoos if I ever run into him on the 6 train...
Images: Getty Images; Focus Features; Columbia/MGM; Universal Pictures; Lionsgate; 20th Century Fox
