16 Actors Who Portrayed Real People With Remarkable Accuracy

When an actor brings a real-life person to the screen, viewers expect nothing less than an authentic portrayal. The actor needs to look, move, and behave just like the individual they’re embodying. While some fall short and end up presenting a caricatured or exaggerated version, others immerse themselves so deeply in their roles that their performances are nothing short of extraordinary — worthy of a standing ovation.

1. Sandra Bullock — Leigh Anne Tuohy (The Blind Side, 2009)

2. Olivia Colman — Anne, Queen of Great Britain (The Favourite, 2018)

3. Christian Bale — Ken Miles (Ford v Ferrari, 2019)

4. Margot Robbie — Sharon Tate (Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood, 2019)

5. Pierre Niney — Yves Saint Laurent (Yves Saint Laurent, 2014)

6. Ralph Fiennes — Charles Dickens (The Invisible Woman, 2013)

7. Gwilym Lee — Brian May (Bohemian Rhapsody, 2018)

8. Taron Egerton — Elton John (Rocketman, 2019)

9. Anya Taylor-Joy — Irene Curie (Radioactive, 2019)

10. Jonathan Rhys Meyers — Elvis Presley (Elvis, 2005)

11. Keira Knightley — Colette (Colette, 2018)

12. Nicholas Hoult — J. R. R. Tolkien (Tolkien, 2019)

13. Timothée Chalamet — Henry V of England (The King, 2019)

14. Zac Efron — Ted Bundy (Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, 2019)

15. Octavia Spencer — Madam C. J. Walker (Self Made, 2020)

16. Angelina Jolie — Christine Collins (Changeling, 2008)

Bonus: Rose DeWitt Bukater (Titanic, 1997)

Few realize that the inspiration for Rose Dewitt Bukater came from the artist Beatrice Wood. It was her remarkable life story, spanning 105 eventful years, that motivated director James Cameron to create a romantic and strong-willed heroine for Titanic.

Be sure to check out our other article, where we highlight actors who are so comfortable playing one type of character that it’s become their signature move.