JARED LETO HAS JOINED THE DISTURBING WEIGHT LOSS CLUB FOR THE MOVIE DALLAS BUYER'S CLUB

You may remember seeing the photos of an emaciated Matthew McConaughey for his upcoming movie DALLAS BUYER'S CLUB. The film follows Ron Woodroof, "a tough Texas electrician who was diagnosed with AIDS in 1986 and given six months to live. Unwilling to accept the doctors diagnosis Woodruff became frustrated by the lack of medical options. He found alternative drugs that created a lucrative smuggling business and made those same drugs available to other AIDS patients. However Woodruff died in 1992."

Joining McConaughey in the drastic weight loss for the movie is actor Jared Leto who unveiled some shocking photos from photographer Terry Richardson. Leto is playing a transsexual in the movie which explains the recent images of him in drag. This will be Leto's first film since 2009 and he appears to be going all out for the role.

Leto told Vulture, "Your body goes through weird stages," he said. "Sometimes it's hard to hold on to water. But for me, it's not about the most weight I can lose, it's more to represent the character. I'm focused on what it means to be a transsexual woman." That includes plucking his eyebrows and waxing his legs. But before anyone worries about his gaunt state or lack of facial hair, he is quick to add that fasting has other benefits besides giving him a girlish figure. "Historically, people have done it for pursuit of self, to achieve a meditative state, so I'm hoping for that, and not the other things." he laughed. "It's not necessarily a bad thing."

It remains to be seen if the movie will be any good, but you have to applaud these two for going as far as humanly possible, literally, for their craft, Check out the weight loss and drag images below.

DALLAS BUYER'S CLUB has no set release, but we will likely see it some time in the next year.

Jennifer Hudson Joins List of Oscar Performers

The singer and Oscar winner for “Dreamgirls” will appear in one of several musical sequences planned for the show

Jennifer Hudson has joined the list of what is appearing to be a very music-heavy Academy Awards show, Oscar producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced Tuesday.

The actress and singer, who won an Oscar for 2006’s “Dreamgirls,” will join a roster of performers that already includes Adam Levine, Tim McGraw, John Legend and Common, Rita Ora and Tegan and Sara with the Lonely Island, all of whom will be performing the nominated songs.

Anna Kendrick and Jack Black, whose performances were announced in recent days, are also part of the talent pool and host Neil Patrick Harris, who will perform a song written for the show by“Frozen” songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristin Anderson-Lopez.

Also read: Anna Kendrick Set for Special Oscar Performance

In the press release announcing Hudson’s booking, Zadan and Meron said they are creating “several musical sequences” for the show.

The 87th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, Feb. 22 at the Dolby Theatre in the Hollywood & Highland Complex.

JARED LETO JOINS WWF TO FIGHT FOR AFRICA'S RHINOS

Actor and Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto has joined the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as a global ambassador following his recent trip to South Africa to help raise awareness about wildlife crime and the rhino poaching crisis. 

“My latest adventure in South Africa was as mind-blowing as always. Being that close to majestic creatures like rhinos and elephants reminds me of the deep connection and important responsibility we have to protect and shepherd these fragile species and their habitats," Leto says of the trip.

South Africa is the epicenter of the poaching war as it’s home to over 90 percent of the world’s rhino population. Coveted as an ingredient in Asian traditional medicine, the horns can fetch up to $65,000 a kilo – a hefty price tag that makes them more valuable than gold.

Leto's South African itinerary included accompanying scientists and local veterinarians for the collaring of three southern white rhinos as part of a translocation programme. These same three animals, along with roughly 100 others, will be moved from poaching hotspots to secret, secure locations later this year to help with breeding efforts.

"We must join together and protect these powerful yet extremely vulnerable animals from all the senseless slaughter and double our efforts to restore their populations across Africa and Asia," Leto said.

Raven-Symone Joins 'The View' as Co-Host

Raven-Symone has been tapped as the new co-host of The View!

The 29-year-old actress/producer joins the panel alongside moderator Whoopi Goldberg and co-hosts Nicolle Wallace and Rosie Perez.

“The Disney Company has made another one of my dreams come true! Being a part of The View family will be a wonderful growing experience for me,” Raven-Symone said after 37 appearances as guest co-host. “The cast and crew are warm and welcoming and has made the transition into daytime talk easier. I have a lot to learn within this new arena, but being the apprentice of these spectacular women will only make me a better person and talk show host. I want to thank ABC, ABC News and The Disney Company for believing in me and my potential! Let’s have some fun!”

“Raven-Symone is a welcome addition to The View,” said creator and Executive Producer Barbara Walters. “She is happy, amusing and well informed, and has already brought a unique perspective to the program that has resonated with our audience.”

Jared Leto Joins WWF As Global Ambassador

The WWF announced today that Oscar winner Jared Leto has joined their organization as a Global Ambassador, tackling the world’s most pressing environmental issues.

The “30 Seconds to Mars” musician recently returned from a trip with the WWF to South Africa where he witnessed firsthand the atrocities of the rhino poaching crisis.

While in South Africa, Leto was able to tag and collar three southern white rhinos as part of a translocation program in which they, plus 100 others, will be moved from high poaching areas to undisclosed locations to help with breeding efforts.

Leto’s involvement with the cause couldn’t come at a better time. Despite efforts from global conservation organizations, like the WWF, a total of 1,215 rhinos were illegally killed in South Africa in 2014, a 21 percent increase from 1,004 killed in 2013.

In a statement, Leto said: “My latest adventure in South Africa was as mind-blowing as always. Being that close to majestic creatures like rhinos and elephants reminds me of the deep connection and important responsibility we have to protect and shepherd these fragile species and their habitats. I’m committed and passionate about doing all I can to help ensure that these endangered animals survive, and will continue to encourage others to get into action as well.”

Leto’s dedication to animal causes is well-known. Last year, PETA crowned the long-haired star as its Sexiest Vegetarian of 2014 and he’s been a huge animal advocate for many years.

“We must join together and protect these powerful yet extremely vulnerable animals from all the senseless slaughter and double our efforts to restore their populations across Africa and Asia,” said Leto. “It can and—with a focused global effort—will be done. I’m honored to join with WWF and the global conservation community and do my part. I hope you will too.”

Leto’s announcement comes at the one-year anniversary of President Obama‘s National Strategy for Combatting Wildlife Trafficking, a three-pronged plan that includes toughening domestic and global enforcement, reducing demand for illegally traded wildlife at home and abroad and strengthening international partnerships to combat wildlife poaching.

We congratulate Jared on his new role, and wish him, and the rhinos, much success.

Academy Award-Winning Actor Jared Leto Joins WWF as Global Ambassador

Academy Award-winning actor, musician and director Jared Leto is now a WWF global ambassador. In this role, Leto will work with WWF to raise awareness of the most urgent, critical issues facing our planet.

Leto recently traveled to South Africa with WWF to learn first-hand about wildlife crime and specifically the rhino poaching crisis and WWF’s efforts to save rhino populations on two continents.

“My latest adventure in South Africa was as mind-blowing as always,” Leto said. “Being that close to majestic creatures like rhinos and elephants reminds me of the deep connection and important responsibility we have to protect and shepherd these fragile species and their habitats. I’m committed and passionate about doing all I can to help ensure that these endangered animals survive, and will continue to encourage others to get into action as well. We must join together and protect these powerful yet extremely vulnerable animals from all the senseless slaughter and double our efforts to restore their populations across Africa and Asia. It can and—with a focused global effort—will be done. I’m honored to join with WWF and the global conservation community and do my part. I hope you will too.”

While in South Africa, Leto joined WWF Black Rhino Range Expansion Project veterinarian Dr. Jacques Flamand and other biologists and scientists with the andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve to tag and collar three southern white rhinos as part of a translocation program. Later this year, those three rhinos and roughly 100 others will be moved from high poaching areas to undisclosed locations to help with breeding efforts.

During his trip, Leto presented wildlife rangers with notecards written by children from across the United States with words of thanks and encouragement for their brave role in safeguarding wildlife.

WWF works to protect existing rhino populations and their habitat, partners with communities and governments to create policies that encourage local people to protect rhinos, and leads campaigns in Asia to reduce demand for rhino horn. As a result, several rhino species have begun to recover, including both white and black rhino numbers in South Africa.

“The world needs to wake up to the fact that we're losing rhinos, elephants and other critically important species, said Carter Roberts, president and CEO of WWF-US. “Their recovery lies in our hands. We need strong voices that can mobilize the efforts of many and I’m grateful to Jared Leto for lending his reputation and passion to the cause.”