Acting is a job that takes incredible amounts of skill and dedication. Actors and actresses not only memorize the lines but also transform their bodies to embody their roles. While some have to sacrifice their figures for extreme weight gain, some go on dieting for months for a role-proper weight loss. After all, to authentically portray a storyline, it’s important to commit to their roles 100%, and changing their appearances can help a deal by making everything much closer and more realistic to the heart. On the other hand, actors underwent metamorphoses to portray their characters.
For example, Rooney Mara received several facial piercings and shaved her head to play “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, or George Clooney ditched his clean-shaven appearance for an award-winning part in “Syriana”.
Keep scrolling down to see them. Click
here,
here, and
here to see more.
#1 Marion Cotillard — La Vie En Rose (2007)
Source: © face to face/FaceToFace/REPORTER/East News, © La Môme / Légende Films and co-producers
To play Edith Piaf, Marion Cotillard shaved her eyebrows and worked to change her voice. The actress was totally immersed in her character and it took several months to free herself from the role. In an interview, she shared, “I went to Peru to Machu Picchu and did ancient shamanic ceremonies to cleanse myself”.
#2 Vincent Cassel — Mesrine: Killer Instinct (2008)
Source: © ZUMAPRESS.com/MEGA/Mega Agency/East News, © Mesrine : l'instinct de mort / La Petite Reine and co-producers
For his role in “Mesrine: Killer Instinct”, Vincent Cassel had to gain 44 pounds in 4 months. It took him 9 months during the filming stage to get back to his regular shape.
#3 Guillaume Canet — Rock’n Roll (2017)
Source: © Isopix/East News, © Rock'n Roll / Trésor Films and co-producers
For the role in “Rock’n Roll”, Guillaume Canet undergoes an existential crisis and abuses cosmetic surgery. He appears onscreen with a heavily retouched face and full inflated muscles. Prostheses that were made by make-up artist Oliver Alfonso helped him fulfill his role.
#4 Alain Chabat — Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
Source: © Serge Arnal/Starface/STARFACE PHOTO/East News, © Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets / EuropaCorp and co-producers
It’s hard to recognize Alain Chabat in “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets”. To fulfill his role, he grew his hair and beard and then kept the beard look to shoot the movie “Santa & Cie”.
#5 Gérard Depardieu — Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar (1999)
Source: © arp/ Depositphotos.com, © Astérix & Obélix contre César / AMLF and co-producers
Gérard Depardieu took on the role of Obelix in the film. That picturesque mustache and those redheaded braids were faithful to his character.
#6 Omar Sy — X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Source: © AFP/EAST NEWS, © X-Men : Days of Future Past / Twentieth Century Fox and co-producers
In the movie “X-Men: Days of Future Past” (2014), Omar Sy appeared as Bishop, a mutant from the feature. He had to wear red contact lenses, dreadlocks, and a scar on his face to play this role. In an interview, he joked, “Doctor X’s chair is easier to use because it moves forward by itself”.
#7 Gérard Darmon — Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002)
Source: © SOLAL/SIPA/EAST NEWS/East News, © Astérix & Obélix : Mission Cléopâtre / Canal+ and co-producers
To portray the Machiavellian Amonbofis in “Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra” (2002), Darmon transformed his gray into a unique hairstyle. He added a long triangular beard that resembles a viper’s tongue.
#8 Vincent Cassel — Beauty and the Beast (2014)
Source: © Invision/Invision/East News, © La Belle et la Bête / Eskwad and co-producers
This Beast’s fur makes us not recognize Vincent Cassel. It’s shocking that he didn’t wear masks or makeup. He shared that he lost 22 pounds while filming.
#9 Maïwenn Le Besco — The Fifth Element (1997)
Source: © Marechal Aurore/ABACA/Acaba/East News, © The Fifth Element / Gaumont and co-producers
Diva Plavalaguna, one of Luc Besson’s most cultured characters, was portrayed by Le Besco. It’s not easy for her to play this role. He had to train to sing, wear a pretty heavy alien head, and even sit on a special chair to avoid damaging her dress.
#10 Pierre Niney — Through the Fire (2018)
Source: © imago/PanoramiC/EAST NEWS
Source: © Sauver ou périr / Single Man Productions and co-producers
In “Through the Fire”, Pierre Niney portrayed a young fighter who suffers severe burns during his first assignment. To prepare for the role, he spent 4 months at a station physically training with firefighters. At that time, he gained 20 pounds of muscle and for the second part of the film, he had to quickly lose this weight.