Rachel McAdams and Jake Gyllenhaal in Southpaw. Photo: Everett Collection

Audiences are buzzing about Jake Gyllenhaal’s transformation—both physical and emotional—into heavyweight champion Billy Hope in the upcoming film Southpaw. The actor put on 15 pounds of muscle, as well as a dozen tattoos and a serious snarl, but he wasn’t the only one to hop into the ring while prepping for his role. Rachel McAdams, who plays Hope’s loyal wife, Maureen, took plenty of turns sparring with professional boxing trainer, Terry Claybon. She liked boxing so much, in fact, that The Notebook actress walked away from the set with her own pink boxing gloves, and has used the sport to prep for future projects, such as her current role of angsty police woman Ani Bezzerides in HBO’s True Detective.