Ever see a movie and think, “Wait… that’s them?” Some actors don’t just play a role—they vanish into it entirely, leaving us frantically checking the credits. From radical weight loss to hours spent in the makeup chair, these 14 performances are the most actor makeovers in film and television, ranked from “wow” to “how did they even do that?”
14. Margot Robbie as Queen Elizabeth I – Mary Queen of Scots
Margot Robbie played Queen Elizabeth I, far removed from her typical Hollywood glitz. Wearing ghostly white makeup, fiery red locks, and smallpox scars prosthetics, Robbie was almost unrecognizable. Fun (and macabre) fact: the real Elizabeth wore lead-based white makeup that slowly poisoned her in the long run. Talk about enduring for the role.
13. Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull – Matilda
Emma Thompson became the frightening Miss Trunchbull for Netflix’s Matilda. Prosthetics, a false nose, and a bulky body suit took three hours to be applied every day. Result? Kids on set were actually afraid of her—mission accomplished.
12. John Travolta as Edna Turnblad – Hairspray
Travolta traded his Grease charm for a 30-pound body suit, elaborate wigs, and four hours of daily makeup to play Edna Turnblad. The makeover was so believable, audiences couldn’t help but love every second of his performance.
11. Lily James as Pamela Anderson – Pam & Tommy
Lily James amazed the world wide web with her real-life transformation into Pamela Anderson. Wearing makeup for about four hours a day, James employed prosthetics, wigs, and even imitation tattoos. She said the process was freeing, allowing her to feel confident enough to completely get into character.
10. Nicole Kidman as Virginia Woolf – The Hours
Kidman’s Virginia Woolf depended on subtlety. A prosthetic nose and brown wig changed glamorous actress Kidman into troubled writer Woolf. So realistic was the makeup that she could leave the set without notice.
9. Jared Leto as Paolo Gucci – House of Gucci
Renowned for radical makeovers, Jared Leto became almost unrecognizable as Paolo Gucci. Prosthetics, a bald cap, artificial jowls, and hours of hair coverage transformed him into the eccentric designer.
8. Tilda Swinton as Dr. Josef Klemperer – Suspiria
In Suspiria, Swinton performed three roles, but her most impressive was playing the elderly Dr. Klemperer. Buried under full-body prosthetics, from a tubular neck to hand and facial augmentations, audiences frequently didn’t even realize it was her until the credits started rolling.
7. Sofia Vergara as Griselda Blanco – Griselda
Vergara ditched her signature bombshell look for playing drug queenpin Griselda Blanco. Five wigs, fake teeth, prosthetics, and a new nose aged and overhauled her face completely, allowing her to disappear into the notorious criminal’s character.
6. Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker – The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Chastain’s Oscar-winning performance took as many as seven and a half hours of makeup per day. Prosthetics on her cheeks, lips, and neck looked like the famous televangelist, and the performance was both visually and physically taxing.
5. Anne Hathaway as Fantine – Les Misérables
For her role as Fantine, Hathaway lost 25 pounds and notoriously shaved her head on set. Her physical transformation added depth to the emotional magnitude of her character, with lasting effects on spectators.
4. Matthew McConaughey as Ron Woodroof – Dallas Buyers Club
McConaughey lost almost 50 pounds to portray an AIDS patient, sticking to a rigid diet and losing weight at a rate of 3.5 pounds a week. The outcome was an eerily realistic performance of Ron Woodroof.
3. Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos – Monster
Theron added 30 pounds, shaved her eyebrows off, used prosthetic teeth, and changed her stance and vocal tone to transform into serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Immersion to the point captured her an Academy Award for Best Actress.
2. Heath Ledger as The Joker – The Dark Knight
Ledger retreated for weeks, creating the voice and mannerisms of the Joker alone. His heavy method acting led to insomnia and prescription drug dependence, but resulted in an iconic, posthumously Oscar-winning performance.
1. Christian Bale as Trevor Reznik – The Machinist
At number one, Bale shed 60 pounds for The Machinist, allegedly living on cigarettes and whiskey. His emaciated look alarmed co-stars, making it one of Hollywood’s most drastic—and warning—makeovers.
These performances demonstrate that authentic transformation involves so much more than wigs and cosmetics. Whether it’s long hours in the chair, months of body work, or intense psychological immersion, these actors remind us why we can’t help but look.