Paul Rudd Reveals Ant-Man Diet: Sparkling Water Becomes Ultimate Treat
Paul Rudd's dedication to his role as Ant-Man is evident in his commitment to a strict diet He reveals that he considered sparkling water as a well-deserved treat for his rigorous efforts to shape his muscles for the big screen
Paul Rudd enjoys portraying Ant-Man, but he doesn't relish the process of transforming into a Marvel superhero. During an episode of the "Off Menu" podcast on Tuesday, November 21, the 54-year-old actor shared his favorite foods and diet preferences with hosts Ed Gamble and James Acaster. While discussing his ideal menu, the hosts inquired about Rudd's water preferences.
During my training for the Ant-Man movie, I was on a strict diet, and my reward was sparkling water," Rudd shared with a laugh. "That's how tough the diet was. I would think, 'Okay, now I can have some sparkling water. I deserve it!'"
He also mentioned that not all sparkling water brands are equal: "Pellegrino is fantastic. I prefer it over Perrier."
Gamble and Acaster were skeptical about whether the sparkling beverage was truly a reward, but Rudd assured them he was serious. "It was great. It wasn't flavored, I wasn't going to go overboard," he explained. "It was a special treat."
Rudd first portrayed the superhero in 2015's Ant-Man, and went on to appear in Captain America: Civil War (2016), Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023). Over the years, Rudd has grown accustomed to the strict diet.
Evangeline Lilly and Paul Rudd in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp.’ Cover Images/INSTAR
“Once you get the hang of it, it’s not that difficult. I’m fine with eating the same boring food all the time because I enjoy those kinds of meals,” he shared. “You start to adapt and feel great. I love waking up feeling energized. It was a new and strange feeling for me.”
Rudd was questioned about whether the cast of Avengers: Endgame discussed their diets and nutrition, and he noticed that he wasn’t getting the same results as Chris Hemsworth despite putting in the same — or even more — effort.
Rudd revealed, "I think people are comparing notes, but I also think I worked out harder and ate better than anyone – and yet I looked worse than all of them. I had to constantly work out and eat perfectly just to look kind of bad, not even great."
He continued, "I remember on Endgame, Chris Hemsworth would always have these Tupperware containers and he’s eating this gruel of just a mash of stuff. He’s working out, and then you stand next to a guy like that, and I just think, ‘Well, what’s the point of any of this?’ Why am I killing myself when that can exist? And then I look at myself and this exists. I can never achieve that.”
Paul Rudd, Kathryn Newton, and Evangeline Lilly in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.’ Moviestore Collection/Cover Images/INSTAR
The star of Only Murders in the Building expressed his satisfaction that his character didn't have to resemble Hemsworth's powerful god of thunder. "I'm glad that I wasn't cast as Thor, but as Ant-Man. Even though I tried to train like Thor, it just didn't quite work," he joked.
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Rest assured, Rudd takes full advantage of his time outside the superhero diet by indulging in candy and carbs. Along with Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton Morgan, he is a co-owner of Samuel’s Sweet Shop in Rhinebeck, New York. He revealed that everything bagels with cream cheese and bread baskets are some of his preferred food items.
"Whenever I'm at a restaurant and they bring out that steaming basket of bread and you pour the olive oil in the dish ... come on, who needs a dish anyway? I'll take the sourdough bread as my main and a bagel on the side," he joked.
