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Stephen Graham’s glamorous wife Hannah Walters can’t get enough of her husband’s bulging new physique after the actor bulked up for his latest role as a boxer.
The star, 51, delighted fans in August when he unveiled his incredible transformation, after overhauling his physique for a hard-hitting new role in Stephen Knight’s upcoming Disney+ drama A Thousand Blows.
But none are more delighted than actress wife Hannah, 50, who has been married to the Liverpudlian actor since 2008.
‘I’ve known this man since he was 19,’ she told British Airways’ High Life magazine. ‘And, let me tell you. I’m very happy with the results.’
The TV hardman will debut his bulked-up and tattooed physique seasoned fighter Sugar Goodson in the drama, which has been penned by Peaky Blinders creator Stephen Knight, when it is released on Disney+ on February 21.
In the new interview, Stephen reflected on his physical transformation while filming for the highly-anticipated new drama.
Stephen Graham, 51, revealed the secrets to his incredible body transformation after bulking up for new boxing drama – as his wife Hannah Walters delivers her verdict
Stephen (pictured in a new muscly photoshoot) will debut his bulked-up and tattooed physique seasoned fighter Sugar Goodson in the upcoming Disney+ drama
None are more delighted than actress wife Hannah, 50, who has been married to the Liverpudlian actor since 2008. ‘I’ve known this man since he was 19 and, let me tell you. I’m very happy with the results’ (pictured together in April)
The Peaky Blinders star said: ‘I turned 50 during filming, but it’s the fittest I’ve ever been. And probably the best I’ve ever looked.’
The performer also revealed the secrets to his muscular new physique after spending hours enduring gruelling training at the Premier Gym in Leicester.
Despite the hours of physical endurance in the gym lifting heavy weights, it was the change in his diet that he found ‘hard’.
The Line Of Duty actor said: ‘It was a four month process to reach peak condition. We did it all properly. I had blood tests. My diet was laid out.’
‘I followed my workout plan to the letter. I’d smash the gym four times a week doing heavy weightlifting, with boxing training on the other three days.
‘It was a lot but extremely enjoyable. The hard part was the food. I was constantly eating to bulk up. Loads of whey, carbs and protein. Three thousand calories per day. It’s difficult to cram that much down you.’
In the six-part costume drama, which explores the dangerous world of illegal boxing in Victorian London, Stephen stars as local champion Henry ‘Sugar Goodson, who becomes locked in a deadly rivalry with Hezekiah Moscow (Small Axe’s Malachi Kirby), a new arrival from Jamaica.
The actor revealed that he channeled two well-known boxers who inspired his performance.
The actor revealed the secrets to his muscular physique in a new shoot for British Airways ’ High Life magazine
Stephen worked with bodybuilder Rob Thurston to bulk up his physique, enduring exercises including press-ups with heavy weights chained to him a bid to boost his muscles
Stephen reflected on his physical transformation while filming for the highly-anticipated new drama A Thousand Blows on Disney+
He said: ‘I tried to emulate Mike Tyson and Lenny McLean the ‘Guv’nor of unlicensed boxing]. I wanted Tyson’s stature and sheer brutality, combined with Lenny’s snarling, explosive anger.’
‘Win by any means necessary. Elbows. head-butts, anything goes. It’s not a tickling competition, it’s a bare-knuckle fight.’
Despite being a fictionalised series, the drama is based on people who actually lived.
‘The beauty of this show is that it’s rooted in truth. It’s fictionalised but based on real people and events,’ Stephen said.
Wife Hannah, in an executive producer on the series, and also stars as Eliza Moody in the boxing drama. She has previously acted alongside he husband in This Is England and Boiling Point.
Stephen’s next big role is playing Bruce Springsteen’s father Douglas in a new biopic – and he has revealed that he was handpicked by the Born in the USA singer.
The actor revealed that he channeled two well-known boxers who inspired his performance
The actor previously starred in The Line Of Duty, Peaky Blinders and Boiling Point
Stephen said: ‘Jeremy Allen White plays Springsteen and I’m his dad. Douglas. The Boss approved my casting himself. He told our director, I love him, he’s fantastic. I was overwhelmed, thinking “What? Bruce Springsteen knows who lam?” He’d not only seen This Is England but loved my take on Capone in Boardwalk Empire. How mad is that?’
Months before fans got their first glimpse at Stephen’s new role, the star began gruelling preparations by joining forces with Premier Gym.
He shared a video from his first day in the gym back in September 2022, with the caption: ‘Training starts…’
In the clip, Stephen began his regime with cardio work on the rowing machine, before moving onto weightlifting machines, including tricep rope pulling.
The video also showed the star doing press-ups with heavy weights chained his legs, before various arm extension and bicep press machines.
Stephen worked with bodybuilder Rob Thurston to bulk up his physique, enduring exercises including press-ups with heavy weights chained to him a bid to boost his muscles.
Rob himself shared a video of the hard-hitting exercise methods in February 2023, detailing how the star had added muscle mass and stripped back his body fat in preparation to play the boxer.
He captioned the post: ‘Putting in the graft! @stephengraham has made an incredible physical transformation, adding ton of muscle mass and stripping body fat in preparation for his new role in a new series from the creator of Peaky Blinders, Steven Knight.’