Ricky Whittle

American Gods star Ricky Whittle snapped in Los Angeles by portrait photographer and film director Allan Amato.

The former Hollyoaks actor has really hit the big time stateside taking the lead role in Neil Gaiman’s American Gods.

Ricky told Men’s Fitness about the difficult lifestyle changes he made while honing his body to play Shadow Moon in the hit US show.

“I’d eat all day. Food became a chore. I didn’t eat because I was hungry, I ate because it was time. At the start it was great — pizza, sweets, burgers — but once you have to cut out all the crap and carbs it becomes tough. You’re eating dry chicken, brown rice and broccoli, five, six time a day. It’s real mental discipline.”

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