Editing Jared Leto (section)

===2006–2008: ''Lonely Hearts'', ''Chapter 27'', and filmmaking===
[[File:Jaredletoinconcert2006.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Leto performing in Charlotte, North Carolina in December 2006]]
In 2006, Leto appeared in the neo-noir crime drama ''[[Lonely Hearts (2006 film)|Lonely Hearts]]'', the true story of the notorious "lonely hearts killers" of the 1940s, [[Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck]]. Playing Fernandez, he co-starred with [[Salma Hayek]] who played the role of Beck. The film received mixed reviews from critics; however, Leto's acting was widely praised; Heather Huntington from [[Reelz]] wrote that his "layered performance as the nattily dressing dandy with no remorse is truly impressive."<ref>{{cite web|last=Huntington |first=Heather |title=Lonely Hearts (2006) |url=http://www.reelz.com/movie/224133/lonely-hearts/reviews/ |publisher=[[Reelz]] |date=April 13, 2007 |access-date=January 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216033846/http://www.reelz.com/movie/224133/lonely-hearts/reviews/ |archive-date=December 16, 2013 }}</ref>

The same year, Leto directed the music video for "[[The Kill]]", a song by Thirty Seconds to Mars. At a press release, he stated that an "insanely obnoxious Danish albino" named Bartholomew Cubbins directed the video.<ref>{{cite web|last=Edwards|first=Gavin|title=He was a she: Jared Leto is lured out of retirement|url=http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/he-was-a-she-jared-leto-is-lured-out-of-retirment-29900126.html|work=Irish Independent|date=January 12, 2014|access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref> He later explained his decision to direct with a pseudonym saying, "I really wanted people to be able to enjoy and experience the video without having any more preconceived notions or distractions, and just to let it be what it was. It wasn't important for me to lay claim to it in that way."<ref>{{cite web|last=Goodman|first=Justine|title=30 Seconds From Fame|url=http://www.yrbmagazine.com/|work=YRB Magazine|access-date=March 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070127104759/http://www.yrbmagazine.com/|archive-date=January 27, 2007}}</ref> [[Bartholomew Cubbins]] is a recurring character in the [[Dr. Seuss]] universe and one of Leto's favorite characters created by the writer.<ref>{{cite web|last=Goldman|first=Andrew|title=Jared Leto's Worst-Kept Secret|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/09/magazine/jared-letos-worst-kept-secret.html|work=The New York Times|date=June 7, 2013|access-date=March 23, 2014}}</ref> "The Kill" was inspired by themes of isolation and insanity present in the [[Stanley Kubrick]]-directed psychological horror film ''[[The Shining (film)|The Shining]]'' (1980). Leto said, "The idea of isolation, identity, and self discovery were all elements present in the song. I thought this light homage was a good starting point and it soon grew to include many more elements outside of Kubrick's original piece."<ref>{{cite web|last=Lichtenstein|first=Julie|title=30 Seconds To Mars' "A Beautiful Lie" Builds With Video and Tour Momentum|url=http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/30-SECONDS-TO-MARS-A-BEAUTIFUL-LIE-Builds-With-Video-and-Tour-Momentum-687742.htm|publisher=[[Marketwired]]|date=May 2, 2006|access-date=March 21, 2014|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623165733/http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/30-seconds-to-mars-a-beautiful-lie-builds-with-video-and-tour-momentum-687742.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The short film received a largely positive response and numerous accolades, including an [[MTV Video Music Award]].<ref>{{cite web|title=30 Seconds To Mars Video 'The Kill' Wins Fan-Driven MTV2 Award at 2006 MTV Video Music Awards|publisher=[[PR Newswire]]|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/30-seconds-to-mars-video-the-kill-wins-fan-driven-mtv2-award-at-2006-mtv-video-music-awards-55751962.html|date=September 1, 2006|access-date=August 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227092739/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/30-seconds-to-mars-video-the-kill-wins-fan-driven-mtv2-award-at-2006-mtv-video-music-awards-55751962.html|archive-date=December 27, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Leto next directed a short film for "[[From Yesterday]]". It was filmed in the [[Forbidden City]] and became the first ever American music video shot in the People's Republic of China in its entirety. Hundreds of costumed extras were employed for the shoot, inspired by the empires of ancient Chinese dynasties.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/56648/30-seconds-to-mars-visits-china-for-new-video|title=30 Seconds To Mars Visits China For New Video|last=Cohen|first=Jonathan|date=November 15, 2006|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=July 26, 2011}}</ref> Leto drew inspiration from [[Bernardo Bertolucci]]'s historical drama ''[[The Last Emperor]]'' (1987) as well as the work of [[Akira Kurosawa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1549363/is-time-running-out-for-30-seconds-to-mars-jared-leto-opens-up/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230184048/http://www.mtv.com/news/1549363/is-time-running-out-for-30-seconds-to-mars-jared-leto-opens-up/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 30, 2014|title=Is Time Running Out For 30 Seconds To Mars? Jared Leto Opens Up|last=Moss|first=Corey|date=January 8, 2007|work=[[MTV]]|publisher=[[Viacom Media Networks]]|access-date=March 22, 2014}}</ref>

In 2007, Leto starred in the biographical film ''[[Chapter 27]]''. He portrayed [[Mark David Chapman]], a fanatic fan of [[The Beatles]] and the murderer of [[John Lennon]]. Leto prepared for his role by relying on interviews with Chapman and on audiotapes recorded by a librarian the actor met during a visit to the inmate's hometown. Leto gained 67 pounds to approximate the killer's physique.<ref>{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Sam|title=Jared Leto in 'Chapter 27'|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-performanceweb3apr03-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=January 29, 2014}}</ref> The abruptness of his weight gain gave him [[gout]]. He was forced to use a wheelchair due to the stress the sudden increase in weight put on his body.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reynolds|first=Simon|title=Leto's weight gain forced him into wheelchair|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a92312/letos-weight-gain-forced-him-into-wheelchair.html|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|date=March 26, 2008|access-date=January 29, 2014}}</ref> After the shooting of the film, he quickly went on a [[liquid diet]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Leto's Bizarre Ice-Cream And Soy Sauce Diet|url=http://hub.contactmusic.com/news-article/letos-bizarre-ice-cream-and-soy-sauce-diet_08_05_2006|publisher=[[Contactmusic.com]]|date=May 8, 2006|access-date=January 29, 2014}}</ref> ''Chapter 27'' premiered at the 2007 [[Sundance Film Festival]]. Despite divided critical opinion on the film as a whole, Leto's performance was widely praised.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Film-clips-3217575.php#page-2|title=Chapter 27|first=Joel|last=Selvin|date=April 18, 2008|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=September 30, 2011}}</ref> [[Owen Gleiberman]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' considered his acting "a genuine transformation, as the actor submerges himself in Chapman's couch-potato flab and red-rimmed eyes.&nbsp;... Leto disappears inside this angry, mouth-breathing psycho geek with a conviction that had me hanging on his every delusion."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2008/04/10/chapter-27/|title=Chapter 27 (2008)|first=Owen|last=Gleiberman|date=April 10, 2008|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=September 30, 2011|archive-date=April 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414194626/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20190188,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Leto's next short film was "[[A Beautiful Lie (song)|A Beautiful Lie]]" (2008), which he directed under the pseudonym of Angakok Panipaq. The music video was filmed 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Greenland. Determined to offset the impact that filming would have on the environment, Leto worked with the [[Natural Resources Defense Council]] to develop strategies that would minimize fuel consumption on the shoot.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jared Leto Is Back With A New Video And Global Cause |url=http://www.melodic.net/?page=news&id=9861 |work=[[Melodic (magazine)|Melodic]] |first=Johan |last=Wippsson |date=March 6, 2008 |access-date=April 21, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923010902/http://www.melodic.net/?page=news&id=9861 |archive-date=September 23, 2013 }}</ref> Upon release, "A Beautiful Lie" was met with widespread critical acclaim, resulting in various accolades, including the [[MTV Europe Music Award for Best Video]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Paine|first=Andre|title=American Acts Win Big At MTV EMAs|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1043562/american-acts-win-big-at-mtv-emas|magazine=Billboard|date=November 7, 2008|access-date=March 23, 2014}}</ref> Proceeds from the video's sales benefited the Natural Resources Defense Council.<ref>{{cite web|title=30 Seconds To Mars 'A Beautiful Lie'|url=http://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/30-seconds-to-mars-a-beautiful-lie|work=[[Rock Sound]]|date=January 30, 2008|access-date=July 26, 2011|archive-date=August 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818152453/https://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/30-seconds-to-mars-a-beautiful-lie|url-status=dead}}</ref> The same year, Leto remixed a version of the song "[[The Only One (The Cure song)|The Only One]]" by [[The Cure]] for their extended play ''[[Hypnagogic States]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Adams |first=Bill |title=Hypnagogic States |url=http://groundcontrolmag.com/detail/3/1211/ |work=Ground Control |date=September 18, 2008 |access-date=March 12, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104015458/http://groundcontrolmag.com/detail/3/1211/ |archive-date=November 4, 2010 }}</ref>