While Matthew McConaughey has been making headlines for his gaunt look, Jared Leto has been hiding in the shadows.

(Terry Richardson/Art Partner)

Leto, like McConaughey, has been fasting for his role in " Dallas Buyer's Club." Leto, 40, stars as a transsexual woman with AIDS in the film, so he is also shaving his eyebrows and waxing his legs, he told Vulture magazine. But when it comes to his weight, Leto said he's trying to stay healthy.

"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."

Leto has drastically changed his weight for a role before. He famously lost 25 pounds for his role as a drug addict in 2000's "Requiem for a Dream" and gained 60 pounds for his role in "Chapter 27." He told Vulture he's been fasting since he signed on to "Dallas Buyer's Club" three and a half weeks ago and he's OK with it.

"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 said. "It's not necessarily a bad thing."

Leto assured fans Thursday that he's doing fine despite his shocking appearance.

"Thanks for all the concern.. energy a bit low but I'm doing OK over here! XO," he tweeted.

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