Actor's strict regimen to bring sexy '90s movie role to the stage: 'Being in bathers on the beach is very different'

When actor Drew Weston found out he'd landed the role played by Ryan Phillippe in cult movie Cruel Intentions, he knew he'd have to bare his body to thousands of people every night.

The '90s movie, which has been turned into a stage show, famously features poolside bum shots of scheming step-brother Sebastian.

And so, to make sure he could satisfy fans, Weston took on a strict fitness regimen.

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While admitting he was already into fitness, Weston ramped it up for the show, hitting the gym six days a week and eating five meals a day ahead of the show's Melbourne opening.

"I knew I was eventually going to have to be on my underwear on stage. There's moments where I have to flash my bum," he said.

"Being in bathers on the beach is very different to being in bathers in front of 800 people on stage.

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"I cut out gluten bread, alcohol, sugar, fried food... it was very difficult. I have the biggest sweet tooth.

"Basically my meals were protein, so chicken, vegetables and brown rice. Five meals a day of that."

And he's being rewarded with a rapturous reaction to the show, which adds 90s pop songs to the original script.

Numbers include 'Bittersweet Symphony' (The Verve),'Bye Bye Bye' (*NSYNC), 'Sometimes' (Britney Spears), 'Just A Girl' (No Doubt), 'Foolish Games' (Jewel), 'Genie In A Bottle' (Christina Aguilera), 'Candy' (Mandy Moore), 'Kiss Me' (Sixpence None the Richer), 'Iris' (The Goo Goo Dolls), and 'I'll Make Love To You' (Boyz II Men).

It makes for a "fun and sexy night out," Drew, who lives in Sydney's Elizabeth Bay, said, and the audience gets a little over excited at times.

"We've had people who've come four times. We've had people finishing some of the lines," he said.

"Last Friday I was singing 'Iris' and 800 people just started singing along with me."

While Weston himself is too young to remember the movie coming out, he did already know its renowned scenes.

"If you haven't seen the film, you probably know the pop culture references- Sarah Michelle Geller and Selma Blair kissing on the picnic rug and the famous pool scene," he said.

"It was quite a sexual awakening for teenagers at that time - kind of like Euphoria was last year.

"At that time in the '90s it was the first kind of teen high school film that went outside the boundaries. It definitely left its mark."

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The show it Weston's first time on stage in four years, having previously played leads in musicals such as Grease.

Before the pandemic he was working in Canada, where he had landed roles on some of North America's famous Hallmark movies.

And while he's happy touring with the show for the rest of the year, he's keen to return there or to the US.

"I feel very fortunate to be doing anything," he said.

Scheming seductress Kathryn, the role made famous by Sarah Michelle Gellar, is played by Kirby Burgess. Francine Cain is the naive Cecile, played by Selma Blair in the movie.

Cruel Intentions opens in Sydney on June 30 before heading to Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra.