Let’s face it: one of the most satisfying things to watch in movies or TV shows is an actor who can effortlessly become their character as if it is their second nature. The real feat is not simply memorizing the lines—although that is required—it is the ability to fool the audience into believing that they are that particular person, whether it is a cruel, evil character, a sad one, or even a comedic character. The ability to move between different characters is what separates the legends from the rest. Therefore, a toast to those 10 actors whose transformation has amazed us all and proves that, quite literally, they can do anything.
10. Lupita Nyong’o
Lupita does not act—she reinvents. From her heartbreaking Oscar-winning turn in 12 Years a Slave, to black-sequelizing and action-hero-ing in Black Panther, to double-duty in Us as the traumatized mother and her monstrous alter ego, she’s demonstrated all facets of her ability. Throw in her voice work in Star Wars, and it’s evident she’s taken over every genre in which she ventures.
9. Ralph Fiennes
Few actors switch on a dime faster than Ralph Fiennes. He’s been downright frightening in Schindler’s List, darkly comedic in The Grand Budapest Hotel, and downright iconic as Lord Voldemort. Period drama, comedy, fantasy—call it, he nails it. The man has spent thirty years demonstrating he can do anything.
8. Frances McDormand
Frances McDormand shuns flamboyant makeovers—she grounds each role in rough-and-tumble reality. Whether as the stubbornly determined cop in Fargo, a hitchhiker in Nomadland, or an attempt at Shakespeare’s Macbeth, she disappears into her characters. And the older she gets, the more daring and nuanced her performances are.
7. Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett is basically the queen of acting royalty. One day she’s Queen Elizabeth I, the next day she’s Bob Dylan, and somewhere in between she’s a Middle-earth elf. She moves from prestige drama to fantasy blockbusters to quirky indies with a sense of complete nonchalance. And she has her own production company, too—because why confine yourself to acting when you can reorient the whole industry?
6. Tilda Swinton
If there’s one word to describe Tilda Swinton, it is “otherworldly.” She’s done everything from three distinct characters in Suspiria to mystical creatures in a fantasy blockbuster, to tough, no-nonsense performances in indie dramas. With her roots in experimental theater, she’s made a living out of pushing boundaries with transformations. Tilda doesn’t play a role—she becomes it.
5. Robin Williams
Robin Williams was lightning on screen. He could seamlessly shift from manic comedy in Mrs. Doubtfire to inspiring pathos in Dead Poets Society to eerie shadow in One Hour Photo without taking a breath. Add his legendary voiceovers (Aladdin’s Genie, anyone?) and it becomes clear that there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish. His range wasn’t just talent—it was God-given.
4. Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron has never shown she’s not willing to go anywhere a role requires her to. She took home an Oscar for her terrifying transformation in Monster, stunned the world as Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road, aced satire in Bombshell, and even discovered her sense of humor in Arrested Development. Drama, action, comedy—she beats them all.
3. Daniel Day-Lewis
Daniel Day-Lewis goes to extremes with method acting, and the payoff is unforgettable. He became Lincoln, frightened audiences as a merciless oil tycoon in There Will Be Blood, and fully immersed himself in every era and part he portrayed. Every performance feels like a one-off because he doesn’t simply play parts—he inhabits them.
2. Meryl Streep
What else is there to say about Meryl Streep? She’s the gold standard. With her chameleon abilities at disappearing masterfully into accents and feelings, she’s taken over from biopics (The Iron Lady) to musicals (Mamma Mia!) to devastating dramas (Sophie’s Choice). Her record-breaking number of Oscar nominations is self-explanatory. She can actually do anything—and make it look easy.
1. Christian Bale
Christian Bale is arguably the greatest shape-shifter. He’s bulked up to play Batman, wasted away for The Machinist, dressed up as a suave sociopath for American Psycho, and added heart to Little Women. His ability to physically and emotionally transform with every character allows each performance to be distinct from the last. Bale’s body of work is, in short, a masterclass in range.
These are the performers who remind us why we love television and film in the first place: you have no idea what they’re going to do next. They don’t simply act; they become the characters, leaving us stunned by them every time. If you like acting at its best, these are the actors who have set the standard.