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Media Coverage / James McAvoy on WANTED
"I had a great guy called Glenn Chapman who is a guy from Newcastle, who was really good. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have gotten through the whole movie."
FHM Online
Luckily his personal trainer was on hand to see him through to the end:
"He really forced me to do it for the next three months, and I'm glad he did because I don't think I'd have been able to get through this if I hadn't been fit. The way I am naturally I just wasn't fit enough."
Entertainment Wise 18/06/08
"....it was good for a change to be forced to do it (work out) and to have a personal trainer....to have somebody there being a drill sergeant and making you do things was really, really a good experience."
Hollywood.com 29/06/08
"I'm glad I did it. I'm glad I did it. There were times where I just wanted to stop and do nothing else. But I had a great trainer called Glenn Chapman who was a proper drill sergeant for me. quite a lot. And it's good though because apart from the physical aesthetic they wanted their action hero to be a bit more buff and all that, I wouldn't have got through four and a half months had I not be fitter and more healthy and in better shape than I usually am. I think I was capable of doing all the things in the film but not consistently with the high level intensity being sustained over four and a half months. Because every day was like a 12, 13, maybe 14 hour day and a lot of it was taken up with stunts. That was quite gruelling so I needed to be in better shape than I usually am."
IESB.net - Movie news 19/06/08
"I wouldn't have done it quite as well on my own, otherwise... And if it wasn't for him being a really good mild-mannered drill sergeant, I don't think I would have made it through the film. It was important for me to be fit for this film because, physically, my stamina was so tested. I kind of felt capable doing all the stunts, but over 4 1/2 months, your stamina is kind of stretched."
Buzzine Culture and Entertainment
"I didn't really know what I was letting myself in for! The 16-year-old boy inside of you goes: "Yeah, do an action film!" I never go down the gym but to have a reason to do it is quite exciting and to have someone force you to do it is quite advantageous. So, for six weeks before we made the film I did that and I loved it. Four weeks in, I was still feeling great.
But at about the fifth week in, I was doing stunts for 12 hours a day, and then going to the gym for 90 minutes at night and I was like: "You know what, you can stick this!"
But my trainer, Glenn Chapman, who really is brilliant and who kicked seven tonnes of poo out of me every day, really forced me to do every day for the next three months - and I'm glad he did because I wouldn't have been able to get through this film if I hadn't been fit."
Orange Film Interview (orange.co.uk)
When actor James McAvoy signed on for the part of assassin WesleyGibson in Wanted hisbiggest challenge wasn't keeping his hands off costar Angelina Jolie, it was to bulk up enough to convince everyone he was an action hero.
To tune up his torso, the star of Last King of Scotland turned to north London actor-turned-personal trainer Glenn Chapman, a man who specialises in intensive one-to-one training.
And what works for his celebrity clients can work for you, too. In this exclusive interview Chapman reveals his top tips for beefing up your six-pack -- fast.
LONDON LITE
"His clients and friends describe Glenn Chapman as passionate, enthusiastic... and the enforcer of gruelling, yet highly effective exercise sessions. My first impression of the Stockton-bred, London-based personal trainer is of a down-to-earth, approachable chap, who's not afraid of a challenge. Especially when that challenge involves preparing actors for
physically tough film roles in a nearly impossible short space of time. To date, the 36-year-old's biggest claim to fame is training James McAvoy .... for the role, Glenn literally had to transform the 62kg, slight actor into 73kg of pure, ripped muscle in a matter of eight weeks."
FITNESS LIFE MAGAZINE
I write a regular fitness column in the Mail On Sunday's Health Section and have various articles featured on www.dailymail.co.uk.
