Nicholas Braun only ate 'candy and coffee' to get into character for 'Zola'
- Nicholas Braun ate candy and coffee to prepare for his character in "Zola," according to GQ.
- "I was just on this really weird, thin, kind of manic energy," he said.
- Braun plays Derrek in the movie, inspired by a viral Twitter thread about two strippers in Florida.
Nicholas Braun ate only "candy and coffee" to get in character for his upcoming movie "Zola," where he plays the pathetic boyfriend of a stripper.
"Zola," based on a 2015 viral Twitter thread, tells the story of strippers Aziah "Zola" Wells King (Taylour Paige) and Stefani (Riley Keough) who head to Florida from Michigan to earn money by dancing at strip clubs.
According to the thread, the two also got into some unexpected trouble as their trip down south takes a dramatic turn.
In a GQ interview published on Tuesday, Braun opened up about preparing for the role of Stefani's boyfriend, Derrek.
"I felt this relationship was kind of eating him up," Braun told GQ reporter Ben Allen about the character.
"I was just on this really weird, thin, kind of manic energy," he added, commenting on the physical transformation he went through to play Derrek, including eating a diet rich in only coffee and candy.
Allen wrote in the profile that in addition to losing weight, likely thanks to his unusual diet, Braun also put "lesions on his skin."
Braun's hard work paid off, according to the GQ reporter, as the actor delivers an impressive performance as Derrek in "Zola."
"He is hilarious and a little devastating as this comically tragic man," Allen wrote.
Braun is best-known for playing Greg Hirsch on the HBO drama "Succession," whose season three is currently in production.
The actor was especially tight-lipped about what viewers can expect from the show that centers on the wealthy Roy family as they run, some times unsuccessfully, a media empire. He did, however, give an update on how his character, the unsuspecting cousin Greg and his boss-bestie, Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen).
"Tom and Greg's relationship continues to be rocky," he told the magazine. "And there's a deep love for one another under it all. That's all I can say."
Braun's portrayal of Derrek is very different from the wealthy Roy family member, at least as far as outward appearances go. While Derrek is seen wearing ill-fitted jeans in the trailer for "Zola," well-ironed button-down shirts are more of Greg's style.
Braun seemed to confirm that the differences between these two characters made for an interesting acting experience, calling "Zola" "the craziest movie I've ever been a part of" in an Instagram post in March.
"Sooooo hyped for you to see," Braun wrote in the caption of the IGTV post, featuring the movie's trailer.
Co-starring Colman Domingo and directed by Janicza Bravo, "Zola" premieres in theaters on June 30.