He’s the hunky Australian star who rose to fame as the pretty-boy character of Joel Samuels in Neighbours over two decades ago.
After exiting the beloved soap in 2002, he built his international profile in the UK-based cop drama The Bill.
And now Sydney-born Daniel MacPherson has debuted a new buff look, which is a far cry from his days as a fresh-faced performer.
The 46-year-old is virtually impossible to recognise in Russell Crowe’s new fight film, Beast.
For the film, Daniel hid his famously handsome visage behind a light beard and cropped his hair.
Scenes in the trailer show the ripped actor stripped to the waist, revealing a muscular torso, huge pecs and bulky arms.
Daniel MacPherson is hunky Australian star who rose to fame as the pretty-boy character of Joel Samuels in Neighbours over two decades ago. Pictured on Neighbours
And now Sydney-born Daniel McPherson has debuted a new buff look for the new Aussie film Beast. Pictured: A scene from the film in which the former soapie actor plays a mixed martial arts champ who comes out of retirement to help his family
In the violent action movie, Daniel plays a mixed martial arts fighter and one-time champion, who comes out of retirement in order to help out his family.
Russell Crowe plays his coach, while Luke Hemsworth and Amy Shark, in her big-screen debut, also feature in the cast.
Former South Sydney Rabbitohs champ George Burgess also plays an important role.
Daniel packed on 10kg of muscle for the role, according to Esquire and ‘lived’ like a fighter, which included hours of MMA training.
‘There’s this enormous physical challenge in making everybody in the world believe that you’re an MMA fighter,’ he told the magazine.
‘I was doing my own training. I was doing my own washing. I was doing my own cooking. Everything was a grind, but that’s what it needed.’
His ‘training’ took on an unusual twist, with the Aussie actor travelling to Thailand for ‘fight’ camps with semi-pro MMA competitors.
It comes after Daniel recently shared a behind-the-scenes story about how he suffered a painful injury at the hands of footy great Burgess.
The 46-year-old (right) is virtually impossible to recognise in the violent sports film
Russell Crowe plays his coach while Luke Hemsworth and Amy Shark, in her big screen debut, also feature. Pictured: The Oscar winner in a scene from the film
The one-time soapie favourite said they were filming in front of 10,000 people when he took the injury.
Burgess plays Daniel’s best friend in the film, but while shooting the final fight scene, the actor revealed he suffered a torn adductor muscle and a broken hip.
‘George Burgess picked me up in The Octagon in Thailand, which was shot in front of 10,000 people and tore my adductor and fractured my pelvis,’ MacPherson told Nick, Lutsy and Susie O’Neil on Nova’s Breakfast.
‘I already had a broken nose and already had a few other bits and pieces.
‘Around 12 months later, I’m slowly putting my body back together.’
Daniel, who hosted Dancing with the Stars for several years, was full of praise for the English former rugby league star, who is the brother of fellow Souths stars, Sam, Tom and Luke.
‘Mate, he’s brilliant. He’s an actor!’ He said.
‘He plays my best mate in the film. He’s a fantastic actor! He’s a natural actor. It’s in him. He’s lovely. He’s going to come up great in the film.’
Beast drops on Stan on June 4.
