August 20, 2025, 2:34 pm | Read time: 7 minutes
In his role as Elvis Presley, Austin Butler became a superstar. But the price was evidently very high, as he now reveals. The actor struggled with physical and mental issues afterward, yet pushed through with new projects instead of taking a break. The consequences included extreme discomfort, leading to burnout. Eventually, it became clear: Austin Butler needed to change his life and approach to training and film preparation. FITBOOK explains what he is doing differently now to protect himself.
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For his portrayal of Elvis Presley, Austin Butler received a Golden Globe Award in 2023. He impressed not only with his acting skills but also with his physical fitness. In a previous FITBOOK article, we explained how he prepared for the role of a lifetime. Now, the 34-year-old actor revealed in an article in the men’s magazine Men’s Health the extreme impact this period had on him.
How Austin Butler’s Burnout Happened
Often, it’s the combination of many factors that drives people into burnout. For Austin Butler, it was initially the role of Elvis Presley: From preparation to the completion of filming in 2021, he practically lived in this role for three years. He gave up his own identity to fully immerse himself in the role of the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” For Butler, acting had always meant alienating himself from body and mind to be authentically perceived as another personality.
After filming ended, there was suddenly a big void, as he reported to Men’s Health: “And then it’s over after three years. And then you ask yourself: Wait a minute, what do I focus on now? What do I read? What do I watch? What do I like? Plus, I haven’t talked to my friends in ages. Who do I call?”
Virus, Foot Pain, Migraine, and Blindness
The end of “Elvis” was not only a mental challenge. The strain also caught up with Austin Butler physically. Shortly after filming ended, he contracted a viral illness. He was hospitalized with appendicitis-like symptoms and spent a week in bed. In the following months, he experienced further unusual and extremely troubling symptoms.
On his way to his next project—since, of course, the actor didn’t slow down—the physical symptoms worsened. In the interview, he reported waking up with excruciating migraines and experiencing temporary blindness! At the same time, he felt a paradoxical sense of euphoria. A moment when he thought he might die. But instead of seeking help or at least taking a break, Butler waited for his eyesight to slowly return and went to the set to begin work on the film “The Bikeriders.” He attributed the extreme symptoms to lack of sleep.
No wonder Austin Butler’s health didn’t initially improve. During the press tour for “Dune 2,” he suddenly experienced severe foot pain. And even in this case, he ignored his suffering and powered through. For eight months, he walked with curled toes to avoid worsening the pain. Only a doctor in New York discovered that the actor had had a piece of glass the size of a grain of rice in his foot the whole time.
All of this combined meant not only physical strain but also psychological burdens that increasingly exhausted Austin Butler.
How Hard He Trained for “Elvis” and “Dune 2”
Although the role of Elvis had already demanded everything from Austin Butler, he pushed himself to his limits and felt unwell for a long time afterward, the actor then plunged into further physically demanding film projects. These include, as already mentioned, “The Bikeriders” and his role as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in “Dune 2″—as well as work on the yet-to-be-released crime film “Enemies.”
For “Elvis,” Butler had to master two challenges: He needed to build muscle mass and improve his agility to mimic the legendary hip swing of the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” This involved not only three days of strength training per week but also karate training with a movement coach. At one point, he dislocated his shoulder and his kneecap popped out, as he reported. Then he had to quickly gain body mass to portray the musician in his final, overweight phase of life. That doesn’t sound like a healthy approach.
For his villain role in the blockbuster “Dune 2,” Austin Butler gained 11 kilograms of muscle mass in a short time. Celebrity trainer and former Navy Seal Duffy Gaver helped him with an old-school workout. Every day included full-body exercises like pull-ups, push-ups, squats, and deadlifts. The motto for weightlifting was: “Always add more weight!” The result was impressive, though hard-earned. Typically, it takes about a month to gain a kilogram of muscle mass.
For “Enemies,” he recently trained six to seven days a week. His diet consisted of omelets, chicken, and kebab. Occasionally, a steak made it onto his plate. The goal was, among other things, to achieve a chiseled chin and sharp cheekbones.
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What He Is Doing Differently Now
It’s clear that Austin Butler has taken on too much in recent years and has been too hard on himself. About his roles, he says: “For a long time, I felt it had to be a torturous process and I would emerge broken at the end.” No wonder each role demanded everything from him—in a negative sense. But in the current interview with the men’s magazine, he seems rested, despite having a full filming schedule. The filming of his new movie “Enemies” was recently completed. Instead of lounging around, movement helped him better cope with stress and strain.
Like many people after a stressful workday, Butler sometimes had trouble falling asleep. He used to watch a movie to relax. Now he prefers to go to the gym and run on the treadmill. He sets a steep incline and walks uphill for half an hour. How effective this “incline walking” method is for burning fat was explained in a previous FITBOOK article. Afterward, he relaxes in the sauna. A cold shower afterward, and a restful sleep is ensured. He adopted this method from Tom Hardy—his “The Bikeriders” co-star—he explains in the interview with the men’s magazine.
“I just try to find these little things,” says Butler. When he wakes up, he goes to his balcony to soak up some sun. “Sometimes it’s the everyday little things.” Indeed, these small moments help slow down our daily lives by allowing us to take breaks. In the past, it was the cigarette break for many people; today, it can be a few minutes on a park bench in the sun.
The Little Moments of Happiness
As brief as these moments of respite in everyday life may be, for the actor, they mark a radical shift toward more balance. Since his early youth, he has worked obsessively on his career and body. The rewards for his efforts are an Oscar nomination, a Golden Globe Award, and an enviably fit physique. But a healthy and happy psyche also needs breaks and the little moments of happiness that are consciously perceived. Ambitious career-driven people often forget this and sometimes focus too much on success, as was the case with Austin Butler. How mindfulness training can help better manage stress is explained in this article: “How Mindfulness Training Helps Manage Stress Better.”
The actor is also inspired by other colleagues on his path to more balance. For example, by actress Laura Dern. “We felt like soulmates,” he says about their first meeting. She taught him that he doesn’t have to completely give up his life when playing dark roles or discovering his dark self. “She helps me realize more and more that you can come out on the other side and maybe parts of you have been healed, synthesized, and processed. In a way, it can be therapeutic.” So Austin Butler now tries to protect himself from another burnout through more balance between work and relaxation and better self-awareness. His training is no longer just about building muscle but also about unwinding and winding down after a busy day.