Henry Cavill’s dedication to portraying Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s The Witcher went far beyond learning swordplay and mastering the character’s gravelly voice. For the show’s most iconic shirtless moment—the steamy bathtub scene that paid homage to the beloved “Tub Geralt” from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt—the actor pushed his body to dangerous extremes in pursuit of perfection.
Cavill revealed in interviews that to achieve the hyper-defined, vascular physique fans expected from the video game’s muscle-bound monster hunter, he deliberately dehydrated himself over several days before filming topless sequences. The process was grueling: starting four days out, he limited himself to about 1.5 liters of water on the first day, dropping to just half a liter on the second, and then consuming zero water on the third day. Shooting typically happened on the fourth day, meaning he remained severely dehydrated throughout the scene.
The goal? To strip away subcutaneous water weight, making his skin appear thinner and tighter so every ridge of muscle popped under the lights. Cavill described the sensation vividly: by the final day of no fluids, his body became so sensitive that he could supposedly detect the scent of water from a significant distance. “You get to the point where you can smell water nearby,” he explained, highlighting just how miserable the regimen felt. Hunger from dieting was one thing, but this level of dehydration crossed into another realm of discomfort entirely.
This wasn’t a one-off stunt. Cavill applied the same tactic for multiple shirtless moments across the series, ensuring Geralt looked as imposing and battle-hardened as possible. Fans of the games immediately recognized the bathtub scene as a direct nod to the memorable in-game cutscene where Geralt lounges in a too-small tub, feet propped up, exuding raw charisma. While the Netflix version adjusted slightly (due to the tub’s shape preventing the exact feet-up pose from the game), Cavill’s commitment made it feel authentic and larger-than-life.
The actor’s approach underscores the intense physical demands Hollywood places on stars embodying fantasy icons. Cavill, already known for his rigorous training regimens from roles like Superman, combined heavy weightlifting, strict nutrition, and this extreme water manipulation to deliver a Geralt who looked every bit the mutated witcher. He emphasized that fitness served practical purposes—stunt work required strength and endurance—but the visual payoff for shirtless scenes clearly motivated the extra effort.
Experts caution that intentional dehydration like this carries real risks, including dizziness, organ strain, and potential collapse if prolonged. Cavill managed it under supervision and for short periods, but he never encouraged anyone to replicate it. Still, the results spoke for themselves: the bathtub scene became one of Season 1’s most talked-about moments, cementing Cavill’s Geralt as a fan-favorite embodiment of the character.
Years later, the anecdote remains a testament to the lengths actors go for authenticity in fantasy adaptations. Cavill didn’t just play the role—he physically transformed into the legend, one dehydrated day at a time.
