Inside James McAvoy's intense workout schedule to get into 'action man' shape

James McAvoy put in the hard work at the gym to get in shape for 'Glass'.

James McAvoy admires the "dedication" of Hollywood hunks like Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Hugh Jackman and Chris Hemsworth after he was required to get into action man shape for 'Glass'.

The 39-year-old actor hired personal trainer Magnus Lygdback - who oversaw Gal Godot's regime for the sequel 'Wonder Woman 1984' and Alicia Vikander's exercises for 'Tomb Raider - to help him achieve the required physique for his role as multiple-personality sufferer Kevin Wendell Crumb as he knew he would be spending much of M. Night Shyamalan's movie with his shirt off.

After putting in so much hard work in the gym, McAvoy has nothing but respect for the leading men who have to be in that sort of condition for every movie they make.

In an interview with USA Today, he said: "I was like, 'OK. I'm going to have my shirt off, aren't I?' And (Shyamalan) was like, 'Yep.'

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This is not CGI. This is not green screen. This is not a stunt double. This is @jamesmcavoyrealdeal who threw himself into this role both physically and mentally. - It was an honor to work with James on the physical aspects of "THE BEAST" and it was humbling to be on set to see what he brought to the role. James showed up ready to put in the hours, and the results prove it. - Who saw @GlassMovie this weekend? Who is going to see it? Keep spreading the word and supporting original material like this. - For you hoping to get stronger in the new year, please check out my new "BEAST" program powered by @playbook_app by going to the link in my bio. I am here to help you! - - - - - #glassmovie #thebeast #jamesmcavoy #magnusmethod #magnuslygdback #flex #mondaymotivation

A post shared by Magnus Lygdback (@magnuslygdback) on Jan 21, 2019 at 5:36am PST

"Guys like The Rock and Hugh Jackman and Chris Hemsworth - the guys who keep themselves in that condition every day. That dedication is incredible."

One of Kevin's split personalities is the monstrous Beast and it was that dark, animal-like persona which required him to be in super shape.

He said: "I knew I had to get down in the gym and kind of back up his name. I had to give a little bit of aesthetic credibility to that fear that he's supposed to inspire in people."

"You're in every day working your socks off (acting), and you're also in the gym at five in the morning and then pretty much working out on set whenever you are the Beast to get you all pumped up and get your veins popping and get the relevant muscles swollen for the shot."

"He's not like a supervillain in most movies who is like, 'I look like I've got a six pack and I'm going to destroy the world!' He is not a megalomaniacal, despotic human. He is alien. He is animal. He is other than human. Just standing still as the Beast was tiring in a way that no other character is."