Plenty of actors have undergone intense transformations for a certain role. They asked for the help of professional makeup artists to truly capture the look of a character, whether it’s a superhero or villain. From putting on heavy prosthetics to shaving their heads, movie stars became unrecognizable for their roles. Moreover, some actors are required to lose or gain substantial amounts of weight to fit their characters’ looks.
Colin Farrell is a case in point. For his role as The Penguin in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, he wears pounds of prosthetics. When his footage was released in a trailer, many wondered whether or not it was actually Farrell. The special thing about Farrell’s Penguin is more his voice than any facial features.
Not only he but many other actors whose complete dedication to their craft made them become unrecognizable. If you’re curious about them, scroll down to see. You also can see more in these articles:
7 Times Actors Underwent A Dramatic Transformation To Embed Their Role and
11 Actresses That Have The Guts To Sacrifice Their Beauty For A Role.
#1 Joaquín Phoenix — Joker (2019)
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For his performance in “Joker”, Joaquín Phoenix lost over 50 pounds. During the drastic transformation process, he followed medical guidance to make sure he was still healthy.
#2 Cate Blanchett — I’m Not There (2007)
Source: Matrix Media Group/face to face/FaceToFace/REPORTER/East News, © I'm Not There / Killer Films and co-producers
In the musical drama movie, actress Cate Blanchett transformed herself into legendary singer Bon Dylan. She revealed, “I just strapped those breasts down and went for it.”
#3 Jared Leto — Chapter 27 (2007)
Source: © jaredleto / Instagram, © Peace Arch Entertainment Group and co-producer
To fulfill the role of Mark David Chapman, Leto gained almost 70 pounds by eating pizza, pasta, and ice cream. He ate a lot that at the end of the shoot, his feet were suffering and he needed a wheelchair to traverse long distances.
#4 Cameron Diaz — Being John Malkovich (1999)
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The movie starred Cameron Diaz as Lotte Schwartz who is incredibly dissatisfied with her life and feels trapped in her marriage with Craig. In the movie, she appeared with brown eyes, curly brown hair, and almost without makeup.
#5 Zac Efron for the upcoming movie, The Iron Claw
Source: East News, © MEGA / GC Images / Getty Images
In “The Iron Claw”, the actor portrayed Kevin Von Erich, a former pro wrestler. During the filming, he was spotted looking bulked up and donning a shocking bowl cut.
#6 Elle Fanning — 3 Generations (2015)
Source: © Elle Fanning / instagram, © 3 Generations / Big Beach Films and co-producers
To play a transgender teen, the actress willingly cut her long golden blonde locks.
#7 Michael Fassbender — Hunger (2008)
Source: © 300 / Legendary Pictures and co-producers, © Hunger / Film4 and co-producers
Michael Fassbender had a chance to depict the real-life person Bobby Sands. For his role, he dropped 35 pounds. The number was even more shocking for people who saw him in the epic movie “300” (2006).
#8 Thomas Brodie-Sangster — Death of a Superhero (2011)
Source: © Mark Cuthbert / UK Press / Getty Images, © Death of a Superhero / Bavaria Pictures and co-producers
In the movie, Thomas Brodie-Sangster took on the role of 1 15-year-old Donald Clarke. Because the character is terminally ill, he had to shave his hair and eyebrows completely.
#9 Emma Thompson — Wit (2001)
Source: Mary Evans/AF Archive/Graham Whitby Boot/East News, © Wit / HBO Films and co-producer
The actress underwent a drastic transformation in the movie “Wit”. She portrayed Vivian Bearing, a professor who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The actress had to shave her hair and eyebrows.
#10 David Harbour — Stranger Things (2016-present)
Source: © Stranger Things / Netflix and co-producers, © Stranger Things / Netflix and co-producers
David Harbour’s return to the fourth season of Stanger Things shocked viewers due to his thin body. He lost over 70 pounds for the role.