Angelina Jolie didn’t eat much on the set of Unbroken to support her starving actors

TIMES were tough on the set of Angelina Jolie’s war epic Unbroken, and she didn’t let her actors suffer alone, going without food to support them.

ANGELINA Jolie was so committed to the actors on the set of her war epic Unbroken that she didn’t eat much to support their gruelling diets.

Much of the film is set in Japanese prisoner of war camps, and the actors playing inmates had to shed a lot of weight to give the appearance of starvation and the harsh conditions of captivity.

Japanese rock star turned actor, Miyavi, who plays a ruthless guard in one of the camps, said the film’s director, Jolie, did her bit in an extreme showing of solidarity.

“She came to the set every day, giving advice to the actors and she actually didn’t eat much,” he told RadioTimes.com.

“She was so thin because most of the actors were not able to eat because they’re prisoners in the prison camp. So she was so close to us.”

‘So close to us’ ... Jolie speaks with the usually buff Garret Hedlund on the film’s POW camp set. (AP Photo/Universal Pictures, David James)

In charge ... The film marks Jolie’s second time in the director’s chair. (AP Photo/Universal Pictures, David James)

The film tells the story of American Olympic star Louis Zamperini (played by Jack O’Connell), who spent 47 days drifting at sea after his plane was shot down during WWII.

When he was eventually rescued by Japanese troops, he was imprisoned in a war camp.

It was mostly shot in Australia and had its world premiere in Sydney earlier this year.

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Her glamorous side ... Jolie at Sydney Harbour with the film’s stars Jack O’Connell (left) and Miyavi (right).

‘I really respect her professionalism’ ... Jack O’Connell (centre, left) said the director was on the same page as the actors. (AP Photo/Universal Pictures, David James)

O’Connell also had nothing but praise for the extreme lengths Jolie went to as director.

He said the Oscar-winning actress tried out all the stunts he would be required to perform, including spending hours supporting the heavy weight of a woody plant above his head.

‘She did test out all of my stunts before I had to do them. The plank — I’m not sure if that can be regarded as a stunt — but, in any case, she was under it before I turned up on set”

Originally published as Angelina Jolie didn’t eat much on the set of Unbroken to support her starving actors