10+ Movie Stars Whose Complete Dedication to Their Craft Made Them Become Unrecognizable

Some actors and actresses completely lose themselves in the roles they’re playing and the result becomes a masterpiece. And a big part of portraying a polar opposite character to what they really are is the physical transformation that they will have to undergo. And if we do a side-by-side comparison, we’ll find it nearly impossible to believe that these two are actually the very same person.

Jared Leto — Chapter 27 (2007)

Leto gained almost 70 pounds to play the role of Mark David Chapman. He did this by eating pizza, pasta, and melted ice cream mixed with olive oil and soy sauce. The actor revealed that toward the end of the shoot his feet were suffering and that he had to be in a wheelchair any time he needed to traverse long distances. He noted ’’My body was in shock from the amount of weight I gained.’’

Cate Blanchett — I’m Not There (2007)

Glamorous actress Cate Blanchett had to completely transform herself in order to look like the legendary singer-songwriter Bon Dylan in this musical drama film. She revealed that she kept it simple while preparing for the role. The actress explained ’’I just strapped those breasts down and went for it.’’

Joaquín Phoenix — Joker (2019)

The origin story of Joker led Joaquín Phoenix to lose more than 50 pounds to portray the main character, Arthur Fleck. Throughout the dramatic transformation process, the star sought medical guidance to ensure he was still safe and healthy.

Cameron Diaz — Being John Malkovich (1999)

Shortly after her debut as an actress in the movie The Mask (1994), Cameron Diaz played Lotte Schwartz alongside John Cusack in Being John Malkovich. In the movie, Diaz adopted a very different look, sporting brown contact lenses, curly brown hair, and barely any makeup.

Zac Efron for the upcoming movie, The Iron Claw

Zac Efron is set to play Kevin Von Erich, a former pro wrestler, in the upcoming movie, The Iron Claw. While the film is still in production, the actor was spotted looking bulked up and donning a shocking bowl cut.

Elle Fanning — 3 Generations (2015)

The actress played the role of a transgender teen and to do so she cut her long golden blonde locks.

Michael Fassbender — Hunger (2008)

Hunger is a historical drama about a hunger strike, and for the film, Michael Fassbender had to drop 35 pounds to depict the real-life person, Bobby Sands. The weight loss is especially shocking for those who remember the actor in the epic movie, 300 (2006), in which he displayed a muscled physique.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster — Death of a Superhero (2011)

The Irish drama, Death of a Superhero, stars Thomas Brodie-Sangster in the role of 15-year-old Donald Clarke. The character is terminally ill, and to portray him, the actor shaved his hair and eyebrows completely.

Emma Thompson — Wit (2001)

Emma Thompson is someone we’re used to seeing completely transformed, thinking back on her roles on Nanny McPhee (2005) and in the Harry Potter saga. However, in 2001, she changed drastically for a more dramatic performance in the film Wit. In the movie, she portrayed Vivian Bearing, a professor whose life takes a turn after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The actress shaved her head and bleached her eyebrows for the role.

David Harbour — Stranger Things (2016-present)

After 3 successful seasons as Jim Hopper in Netflix’s hit show, Stranger Things, and a dramatic season finale, fans were left wondering if David Harbour would be back for the fourth season. However, his return to the series was an even bigger surprise when he showed up significantly thinner. In preparation for the new turn in his character’s story, Harbour lost over 70 pounds.

Tom Hanks — Philadelphia (1993)

In Philadelphia, Tom Hanks helps tell the story of a gay man who was fired after discovering he had AIDS. For the role of Andrew Beckett, Hanks lost 26 pounds, and the performance eventually earned him an Oscar.

What other actors have you seen transform for a role recently?