Bell had never worked out before, and she despised it. So, like her character, she took up running and suffered greatly.
She persisted, however. She began meeting with a personal trainer at a gym about two months before filming began, and she sobbed through almost every session.
It was then time for her to put on the running shoes and feel what it was like to force herself out of bed in the morning, prepare a meal, and exercise.
People, according to Bell, don’t talk enough about the emotional toll it takes.
Furthermore, she stated that there are many scenes in movies where a female character loses weight, and then her life is perfect because she is now a size four. She was sick of this standard.
Brittany Runs a Marathon does not sugarcoat the challenges of changing one’s life, whether it is physically, emotionally, or professionally. And Bell’s portrayal is enhanced by the experience she brings to the role, all 40 pounds lighter.
It wasn’t until the film’s end that the actress realized she didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life. But, according to her, it ended up in perfect equilibrium.
Bell stated that running is still enjoyable for her. She does not adhere to her clean diet as strictly as she should.
She also admitted that she used to berate herself for not being consistent with her workouts. That’s when she realized the line between film and reality had become blurred for her.
She had to learn how to give herself a break after that. Because of the impact, Brittany Runs a Marathon has had on her outlook on weight loss, health, and fitness, Bell now has a more nuanced view of method acting.
Jillian Bell’s weight loss journey is one of the most impressive. During a jog around the block in the film Brittany Runs a Marathon, the title character comes to a halt near the front door and decides to make a positive change in her life.
She obsessively frets with her thumbs over her fingers as she stands on the verge of a revelation during this period of uncertainty. However, it is not a tic of the character, but of the actor who plays her.
Jillian Bell explained that when she was nervous, she balled up her hands like Brittany’s character. She felt that doing so gave the person on screen a genuine and authentic dimension.
This isn’t the only quirk Bell has given to her character. She has gone the extra mile, or should we say, ran the extra mile.