14 Actors Who Went to Extreme Lengths to Physically Transform for a Role

Sometimes, stepping into a role means more than just acting — it requires a complete physical transformation. From gaining or losing weight to changing hairstyles or even altering facial features, some actors become almost unrecognizable. In this brightside documentary, we’ll explore the most extreme makeovers that showcase the dedication and commitment actors bring to their craft.

Lily-Rose Depp in Werwulf

The first footage from the set of Werwuf, set to release in 2026, has surfaced. Lily-Rose Depp looks completely unrecognizable. Besides her medieval costume, her character also has a noticeable facial deformity.

Naomi Grossman in American Horror Story: Freak Show

Naomi Grossman became well-known after playing Pepper in American Horror Story: Asylum, even if the story of her character was actually told in American Horror Story: Freak Show. To bring this peculiar character to life, besides shaving her head, the actress had to spend many hours with makeup artists and get several prostheses placed. The result was amazing, and Grossman was definitely unrecognizable.

Jessica Chastain in The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Portraying a well-known TV figure was no easy task for Jessica Chastain, yet she succeeded so well that she earned the 2022 Oscar for Best Actress. With the help of silicone cheeks, a reshaped nose, and an altered chin, she was convincingly transformed into Tammy Faye Bakker. The incredible work by the makeup and prosthetics team also earned them an Academy Award for their craftsmanship.

Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose

French actress Marion Cotillard is fully committed to her transformation into legendary singer Edith Piaf for La Vie en Rose. In addition to detailed facial makeup combined with acrylic and latex prosthetics to recreate Piaf’s distinctive features, she also wore a padded bodysuit to achieve a fuller, more realistic physique.

Tilda Swinton in The Grand Budapest Hotel

Tilda Swinton is known for completely disappearing into her roles, and her performance as Madame D. in The Grand Budapest Hotel was no exception. To transform her into a glamorous elderly aristocrat, the makeup team applied silicone prosthetics to create realistic aged skin and complemented the look with details like bold lipstick and liver spots.

Renée Zellweger in Judy

A screen icon like Judy Garland needed a powerful biopic presence, and Renée Zellweger delivered just that with her acclaimed performance. To resemble the older Judy, she wore a dark wig, brown contact lenses, false lashes, and a set of artificial teeth that helped complete the transformation. The effort was worth it — Renée received rave reviews and ultimately won the Oscar in 2020.

Charlize Theron in Bombshell

Being a top-tier Hollywood star can make it difficult to disappear into a role, but Charlize Theron managed to transform completely when she portrayed news anchor Megyn Kelly in Bombshell. The makeup artists focused on recreating Megyn’s distinctive features — from her cheekbones and nose to the shape of her eyes. Charlize even wore individually applied eyelashes to perfectly match the anchor’s eye look.

Karen Gillan in Guardians of the Galaxy

The transformation into the cyber-enhanced Nebula required far more than striking metallic-blue makeup and extensive prosthetics. Karen Gillan even chose to shave her head, parting with her iconic red hair to fully embody the character in Guardians of the Galaxy. The makeup process was intense — it took the team about 15 minutes to apply and around 30 minutes to remove, with five separate layers involved in the full look.

Danny DeVito in Batman Returns

Transforming into one of Batman’s iconic villains required a stylized, almost comic-book approach to the characters’ appearances. In the original comics, Oswald Cobblepot — better known as The Penguin — is depicted as short and sharp-featured, with a beak-like nose. To achieve this exaggerated look, Danny DeVito went through extensive makeup sessions involving facial prosthetics, artificial teeth, and heavy makeup, creating a truly memorable on-screen antagonist.

Jamie Campbell Bower in Stranger Things

The previous season of Stranger Things brought a terrifying new villain to Hawkins — Vecna. Behind the monstrous appearance is actor Jamie Campbell Bower, who looks and speaks completely differently outside of the character.

Eddie Murphy in Coming 2 America

Eddie Murphy didn’t just portray Prince Akeem in Coming to America and its sequel — he took on multiple roles throughout the films. Every character had distinct facial features, which made things challenging for the makeup team whenever Eddie needed to transform into someone new. In total, each persona required between 15 and 20 separate prosthetic pieces, along with numerous wigs ready for quick changes.

Anjelica Huston in The Addams Family

The Addams Family films are packed with unforgettable visuals and scenes, and still have a huge fan base today. Among the most memorable characters is the elegant family matriarch, Morticia, brought to life by actress Anjelica Huston.

Ben Stiller in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

Catching a cameo from a film’s main star is always a treat. In Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, Ben Stiller didn’t just play the lead, Larry Daley—he also transformed into a caveman brought to life. To pull off the Neanderthal look, Ben wore prosthetics and a bulky wig, and his full transformation was even featured in the short Becoming Laaa.

Demi Moore in The Substance

Demi Moore surprised fans by sharing a behind-the-scenes snap from the set of the highly anticipated film Substance. The ever-youthful and fit actress looked completely unrecognizable in her new transformation.

Chris Hemsworth in In The Heart of the Sea

In his early career, Chris Hemsworth underwent a striking physical transformation for In the Heart of the Sea, where he looked notably leaner compared to his usual muscular self, resembling a slimmer version of Thor. Hemsworth revealed he restricted his daily caloric intake to just 500 calories, a fraction of the typical 2,000-calorie daily diet. He complemented this extreme calorie reduction with nearly daily workouts, and his diet primarily comprised boiled eggs, salad, and minimal variety.

Here, you can discover the mistakes and bloopers that accidentally made it into movies.