16 Actors Who Were Completely Unrecognizable in Roles

Plenty of folks rely on the film industry to provide them with an escape from their day-to-day life. There are countless characters fans look up to for inspiration. The Hollywood film scene is filled with various actors who transform themselves into whatever role they become tasked with. Some actors alter their diet so their physique matches the character they’re playing. Others take it to the extreme and put themselves through daunting scenarios in preparation.

One of the most famous examples of an actor putting their body through harsh conditions was Heath Ledger when he played the Joker in “The Dark Knight.” Ledger spent hours locked inside a hotel room before the movie started shooting. He did so to lose all emotion for humanity. He’s known as one of the greatest method actors in history. Ledger’s character wore tons of makeup during his scenes. Nobody could have recognized Ledger by only seeing him on screen.

Another noteworthy actor who showcased his true talents was Steve Carrell when he played the infamous character John Du Pont in “Foxcatcher.” Carrell became known for his comedic roles in productions like “The Office” and “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy.” However, Carrell was tasked with changing his appearance and becoming a serious actor in “Foxcatcher.” He was nominated for countless awards. For more movie content, click here to read about the greatest movie villains of all time.

To compile this list of actors who were completely unrecognizable in roles, 24/7 Tempo consulted entertainment-related sources. These include Yardbarker, Movie Web, and MSN.

Robert Downey Jr. – “Tropic Thunder”

Robert Downey Jr. has become one of the most recognized actors around the world. The success of Iron Man in the MCU took Downey Jr.’s career to new heights. Before the MCU blew up to what it eventually would, fans saw Downey Jr. in the hit film “Tropic Thunder.” However, Downey Jr. didn’t exactly look how he usually does. The film follows a group of actors who find themselves filming a war movie in a place where an actual war is taking place.

Downey Jr.’s character was a man from Australia who was attempting to portray someone who was black. He’s forced to wear blackface throughout the entire film. While the movie was released in 2008, there were plenty of folks who were up in arms about Downey Jr. wearing blackface. There’s no question the premise of the movie wouldn’t fly today. Thankfully for Downey Jr., most movie fans associate him with the MCU more than “Tropic Thunder.”

Heath Ledger – “The Dark Knight”

Tons of movie fans consider Heath Ledger’s version of the Joker as the greatest villain in cinematic history. Audiences could feel the terror Ledger’s character caused throughout “The Dark Knight.” It felt like the Joker truly didn’t care about anyone or anything. The only reason the Joker was around was so he could cause chaos. He wanted to watch the world fall apart around him. Ledger took the role seriously and did plenty of work to prepare for it.

There are numerous stories about Ledger locking himself in a room to lose all of the humanity he had in him. He wanted to come across as a villain who didn’t care who was in his way. Once he got on set, Ledger was given tons of makeup to conceal his identity. Fans wouldn’t have been able to recognize Ledger in his makeup and how he acted. Ledger died before the movie was released. He was honored with countless awards for his performance, which has lived on for more than a decade.

Christian Bale – “Vice”

One of the most fascinating people to rise in politics is Dick Cheney. He went to Yale, dropped out, and later found himself working as an intern at the White House. His story was so amazing that Adam McKay made a movie out of it in 2018. The man who was given the assignment of portraying Dick Cheney was Christian Bale. Throughout his career, Bale has played strong characters who are physically fit.

Cheney didn’t resemble anyone who Bale played in the past. To prepare for the role, Bale sat in a makeup chair for numerous hours on a daily basis before filming his scenes. The crew who did Bale’s hair and makeup won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Anyone who said they recognized Bale in this role was likely lying through their teeth. Bale also won a Golden Globe for his performance as Cheney.

Steve Carrell – “Foxcatcher”

Few stories that have been turned into movies are as sad as “Foxcatcher.” John du Pont was a wrestling guru and heir to the Du Pont fortune. His dream was to coach wrestling at the highest level. One of the people who du Pont closely associated with was Olympian David Schultz. Du Pont invited Schultz to train at his performance center. One day, du Pont shot and killed Schultz while he was in his driveway.

The story was too fascinating to keep off the big screen. There were numerous different actors under consideration for the role, but it ultimately was given to Steve Carrell. The man who starred as the lovable Michael Scott in “The Office” was seemingly unrecognizable in the role that forced him to be serious. However, Carrell absolutely knocked the gig out of the park. Carrell showed he was more than just a comedian and has since been in other serious roles since “Foxcatcher.”

Johnny Depp – “Black Mass”

There’s no denying that Johnny Depp has played a wide range of characters throughout his life. One of the most memorable roles took place in “Black Mass.” Depp had always talked about how fascinated he was with the mobster Whitey Bulger. The gangster spent roughly 16 years on the run after his former FBI handler told him law enforcement was on their way to arrest him. Bulger was facing a RICO charge and would likely spend the rest of his life in jail if caught.

Depp couldn’t have been more excited to portray Bulger and depict what his life was like. Like Christian Bale in “Vice,” Depp spent hours in a makeup chair before hitting the sets for his scenes. Depp was forced to hide his recognizable hair since Bulger was bald. He was nominated for countless awards for his efforts as Bulger. The real Bulger died in prison in 2018 after being sentenced to two life terms in prison.

Ralph Fiennes – Harry Potter franchise

Few movie franchises have had the same worldwide impact that the Harry Potter series had. The story followed a young boy who survived after someone attempted to murder him as a baby. His attacker was Lord Voldemort. Throughout the series, Potter and his crew must figure out how to stop Voldemort from coming back and reigning terror on the wizard world. Some characters in the Harry Potter franchise looked like their normal selves. Others… not so much.

Ralph Fiennes was the man given the assignment of Lord Voldemort. Arguably his character’s most defining physical trait was having no nose. Obviously, Fiennes has a nose in the real world. He also has hair and a fantastic beard, neither of which Voldemort has. There was tons of CGI and makeup done on Fiennes’ body while shooting the Harry Potter franchise. Odds are, you wouldn’t be able to tell Fiennes was Voldemort simply by looking at him.

Jared Leto – “Chapter 27”

Another true story to captivate folks around the world was the murder of John Lennon. The Beatles drummer was shot outside of his apartment by Mark David Chapman, a crazed fan who had an obsession with Lennon. The story was good enough to make into a movie. Jared Leto, one of the most physically fit actors in the business was tasked with portraying Chapman. The real-life assailant wasn’t in as great of shape as Leto, which meant Leto was forced to transform his body.

Leto famously ate pints of ice cream with oil and other unhealthy things while preparing for the role. He gained roughly 60 pounds in preparation. His face was bulgy and he truly suffered in real life from what he did to himself. Once filming was done, Leto took around a year before he felt like his body was back to normal. There were periods of time when Leto needed a wheelchair to get around because of the drastic weight gain.

Tom Cruise – “Tropic Thunder”

Robert Downey Jr. wasn’t the only unrecognizable actor in “Tropic Thunder.” Worldwide sensation Tom Cruise took on the role of Les Grossman, the producer of the fake film that was being shot in the wilderness. Unlike Cruise, Grossman had a terrible hairline and a scruffy beard. He didn’t have the same level of appeal Cruise has in the real world. Grossman also had a quick temper with those on set who he was working with.

Cruise’s physical change isn’t as talked about because of what Robert Downey Jr. had done to himself during the film. He also was a minor character in the film relative to everyone else. There were countless stars in real life in “Tropic Thunder.” Cruise still has become a household name because of the Mission Impossible franchise and other various films. Even though Cruise wasn’t the headliner of the film, he sure made an impact on it.

Collin Farrell – “The Batman”

Superhero movies have taken over the world over the last decade. While the MCU is largely to thank, there are still tons of Batman films that aided the rise in superhero popularity. “The Batman” was first released in 2022, as Robert Pattinson became the newest actor to take on the role. While plenty of fans still recognized Pattinson, there was one villain in the film that nearly nobody recognized at first glance.

After countless hours in a makeup chair, Collin Farrell turned himself into the Penguin for the film. The Penguin’s face is filled with scars. He clearly doesn’t follow the same diet and workout plan Farrell does, either. However, Farrell did such a great job playing the villain that a new television series following the Penguin was announced. This will be one of the first major television roles Farrell has had in his career.

Eddie Murphy – “Coming to America”

Few actors in history have gotten the same amount of laughs as Eddie Murphy. The talented comedian has been on shows like “Saturday Night Live” where he’d get nearly everyone to burst out in tears from laughter. One of his most memorable films was the 1980 hit “Coming to America.” Rather than play one character, Murphy took on the challenge of playing four different men. Each character had a vastly different role in the movie.

One of the many personas Murphy portrayed was named Saul. He was a Jewish barber who worked hard in his daily life. Saul was a white man. That meant Murphy needed to have tons of makeup and work done to his physical appearance since he’s an African American in real life. The movie has lived on for nearly 40 years since its initial release. Murphy was praised for the success he had in taking on four different characters in one film.

Charlize Theron – “Monster”

The story of Aileen Wuornos is nothing short of heart-shattering. After an unimaginable childhood, Wuornos dropped out of school and began surviving by selling her body. She then was arrested in connection with several murders of men who had attempted to solicit her services. After going to trial, Wuornos was found guilty of six murders and was sentenced to death. Her execution was carried out in 2002.

Charlize Theron went out for the role of Wuornos when her life was turned into a movie. While Theron is mainly known as one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood, she turned into someone nobody recognized. She spent plenty of time in the hair and makeup chair as she became a serial killer. Theron won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film. It’s a stark reminder to avoid taking life for granted.

50 Cent – “All Things Fall Apart”

Cancer is a disease that runs rampant in nearly every family around the world. Most cancer patients lose tons of weight during their intense chemotherapy treatments. One movie that follows the sad story of a former football player as he faces his newest battle is “All Things Fall Apart.” The main character in the movie is played by 50 Cent, who’s well-known in the entertainment industry for his amazing physique.

For the role of Deon, 50 Cent started off at his normal weight. His character was a college running back who had dreams of playing in the NFL. As the film progressed, 50 Cent lost weight in real life to maintain the accuracy of what his character was going through. When all was said and done, 50 Cent lost around 60 pounds in real life to play the character. He had doctors and physicians with him as he lost the weight to ensure he was still healthy.

Margot Robbie – “Mary, Queen of Scots”

Fans are going to flock to any movie that has the name Margot Robbie beside it. The Australian actress turns heads in nearly every film she makes. She first made waves in “The Wolf of Wall Street” when she crushed it as a young actress beside the legendary Leonardo DiCaprio. As time has gone on, Robbie has used her visual appeal to her advantage in gaining roles. However, there are some roles where Robbie hides her looks.

In “Mary, Queen of Scots,” Robbie took on the titular role. Throughout the film, Robbie wears tons of makeup and even changes her nose to have a red tint. Her accent is hidden and audiences struggle to see that it truly is Robbie behind the makeup. Robbie has shown an affection for going out for roles that are based on true stories. Even though she’s one of the most well-known actresses in the world, Robbie is still a history buff.

Gary Oldman – “Darkest Hour”

Few actors can say they’ve experienced being in two different successful movie franchises. Gary Oldman has become known for his roles in The Dark Knight trilogy as Detective Jim Gordon and as Sirius Black in the Harry Potter franchise. However, one role that fans of Oldman couldn’t recognize him in at first was “Darkest Hour.” In this film, Oldman played famed British war general Winston Churchill.

Oldman is in relatively decent shape and is known for having great hair that sits atop his head. Churchill was one of the larger war generals during World War II and was bald. While it took Oldman hours to get into character, fans couldn’t get enough of how amazing his performance was. Oldman was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actor for his efforts in “Darkest Hour.” Fans are still holding out hope for another movie that includes Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Cameron Diaz – “Being John Malkovich”

Cameron Diaz has become known for her show-stopping looks over the years. Her blonde hair is seemingly instantly recognizable, as is her infectious personality. In the film “Being John Malkovich,” Diaz plays Lotte Schwartz, the wife of a man who’s dreaming of making it as a puppeteer in New York City. Lotte loves pets and is enamored by nearly every animal that walks into the room. Diaz got rid of her recognizable blonde hair for the film, which took away from how fans normally saw her.

Diaz’s character was always frizzy and looked like she couldn’t keep it together for more than five minutes before it all came untangled. That’s a stark contrast to how fans have seen Diaz evolve as an actress over the years. While it was one of her first roles, Diaz still knocked it out of the park. The film put her on the map and she was even nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

Cate Blanchett – “I’m Not There”

“I’m Not There” explores the life of Bob Dylan and some of the other notable musicians in his circle. The true names of the musicians aren’t used so that they remain anonymous, but the stories are true. Cate Blanchett takes on the persona of Jude Quinn, a former folk singer who’s accused of selling out. Blanchett is a woman who’s tasked with playing a male role in this film. She wears her hair in different ways and deepens her voice to make it seem real.

Quinn hangs out with members of various rock bands and lives the high life. However, Quinn is booed during performances, as fans don’t appreciate him anymore. Blanchett knocks the role out of the park and does so seemingly hidden behind a different gender for the picture. For more movie content, click here to read about the 20 best action films of all time.

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