AceShowbiz -

Russell Crowe is one of those actors who would change shape for his movie roles. The Oscar-winning actor piled on the weight for "The Nice Guys" and has now lost 52 pounds for his next role.

In an interview with Australia's Fitzy & Wippa radio show on Thursday, March 17, Crowe opened up about his dramatic weight loss. "I was [268 pounds] the first week of August last year," he said. "I did a movie called 'The Nice Guys', so I wanted to be the physical juxtaposition of Ryan Gosling." He continued, "I'm clawing my way back from that, so I'm about [216 pounds] at the moment." The actor has been seen biking and jogging as exercise.

Back in 2000, Crowe showed off a ripped physique for his role in "Gladiator". He had to eat six to eight protein-heavy meals a day to bulk up at that time. Just a year before, he was required to lose weight fast to prepare for the role of Big Tobacco exec Jeffrey Wigand in 1999's "The Insider".

In "The Nice Guys", Crowe is playing private eye Jackson Healy who lives in the '70s. Of working with Gosling in the crime comedy, he told the radio hosts, "That kid is a comic genius. He is great company, he is really smart, he loves what he does and he asks all the right questions. Working with him was such a treat."

"The Nice Guys" hits U.S. theaters May 20.