At 62, Ralph Fiennes Is In the Best Shape of His Life — Thanks to Bodybuilder Dan Avasilcai

Ralph Fiennes is undergoing a career renaissance — and he's doing it with muscle. The Oscar-nominated actor is not only commanding the screen in a streak of intense, physical roles, but at 62, he’s in better shape than many half his age.

His transformation isn’t accidental. The secret weapon behind Fiennes’ shredded physique is long-time trainer and former bodybuilder Dan Avasilcai, who has quietly sculpted the actor’s fitness since 2014. Based at the iconic Muscle Works Gym in Bethnal Green, London, Avasilcai has helped Fiennes build strength, flexibility, and endurance over the past decade.

The duo first trained together for The King’s Man (2021), where Fiennes performed a daring gorge-walk scene without stunt doubles. That dedication set the tone for a training partnership that has only intensified with time.

But it was 2023’s The Return, a modern adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey, that marked a turning point. Fiennes needed to embody a battle-hardened Odysseus — part warrior, part myth. “He told me he wanted to look like a piece of old rope,” Avasilcai recalls. That meant dropping to an astonishing five percent body fat, supported by a rigorously clean, high-protein diet.

“We planned every calorie and training session with surgical precision,” Avasilcai explains. “At his age, maintaining muscle mass while dropping fat is extremely difficult. It’s about balance — pushing just enough without risking injury.”

For Fiennes, that meant saying goodbye to wine and toast, and hello to 5:30 a.m. weightlifting, twice-daily workouts, and a weekly cheat meal. His nutrition plan centered around lean proteins like salmon, chicken, and steak, accompanied by healthy fats and clean carbs. Every meal was timed to support performance, recovery, and long filming days.

Transitioning from Odysseus to Dr. Kelson in the upcoming 28 Years Later, Fiennes kept the rugged survivalist look but was allowed a bump to nine percent body fat — still elite athlete territory. His new role as a blood-soaked, skull-worshipping scientist demanded strength and agility, without the size of the infected berserkers chasing him.

“Ralph trains like an athlete,” says Avasilcai. “Even now, we’re breaking records. Just this week, he did a 65kg bench press for reps. He never misses a session, even when traveling.”

Their training routine consists of five intense weightlifting sessions a week, targeting one muscle group per day, capped off with HIIT-style core circuits featuring battle ropes, slam balls, and functional bodyweight work. Evening hill runs and weekly ballet for mobility round out the regime.

Fiennes’ favorite move? The classic dip — a full-body staple that keeps him strong, agile, and ready for the demands of physical roles.

With 28 Years Later promising a brutal, post-apocalyptic return to the 28 Days Later universe, Fiennes’ physical transformation has positioned him as a standout, proving age is no barrier when discipline, consistency, and a world-class trainer are in your corner.

“He always wants to push harder,” Avasilcai says. “Sometimes I have to tell him to ease off — just so he doesn’t overdo it. But that’s Ralph. He trains like he acts: all in.”