15+ Actors Who Became Unrecognizable For A Movie Role, Proving The Power of Makeup

For a particular role, plenty of actors have undergone dramatic transformations. In the past, heavy prosthetics and makeup in a performance have often correlated with a higher chance for awards attention come Oscar season. Sometimes, a thorough transformation is a quick way to understand the depth of an actor’s commitment to a role. In many cases, the audience can’t recognize their favorite actors and are shocked when the secret is revealed.
So, it’s true to say that the success of a movie relies on not only the ability of the mannerisms and persona to completely become someone else but also the believability of the makeup effects.
Colin Farrell is a case in point. In the movie “The Batman”, the actor took his turn wearing pounds of prosthetics for his portrayal of Oswald Copplepot or The Penguin. Even when the trailer was released, many wondered if it was actually Farrell on screen. He is certainly not the only actor who did terrific acting work to match the great efforts of the make-up team.
Below are 16 famous actors who had so much makeup it’s hard to recognize them. Click here, here, and here to see more.

#1 Cate Blanchett in Manifesto

Source: © Manifesto/schiwagofilm, © Polaris/East News

#2 Daniel Radcliffe in Horns

Source: © Horns/mandalay, © Rich Fury/Invision/AP/Fotolink/East News

#3 Halle Berry in Cloud Atlas

Source: © Cloud Atlas/x-filme, © Gilbert Flores/Broadimage/East News

#4 Margot Robbie in Suicide Squad

Source: © Suicide Squad/Warnerbros, © AFP/East News

#5 Bill Skarsgård in It

Source: © It/New Line Cinema, © Arthur Mola/Invision/AP/Fotolink/East News

#6 Sam Worthington in The Titan

Source: © The Titan/motionpicturecapital, © face to face /Reporter/Reporter/East News

#7 Dan Stevens in Beauty and the Beast

Source: © Beauty and the Beast/disney, © Joel Ryan/Invision/AP/Fotolink/East News

#8 Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Source: © Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald/warnerbros, © Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Fotolink/East News

#9 Doug Jones in The Shape of Water

Source: © The Shape of Water/foxsearchlight, © Richard Shotwell /Invision/AP/Fotolink/East News

#10 Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour

Source: © Darkest Hour/workingtitlefilms, © AP/FOTOLINK/East News

#11 Nicholas Hoult in Mad Max: Fury Road

Source: © Mad Max: Fury Road/warnerbros, © Joel Ryan/Invision/AP/Fotolink/East News

#12 Dave Bautista in Guardians of the Galaxy

Source: © Guardians of the Galaxy/marvel, © David Hitchens/Capital Pictures/East News

#13 Richard Brake in Game of Thrones

Source: © Game of Thrones/hbo, © Jean_Nelson/depositphotos

#14 Joel Edgerton in Bright

Source: © Bright/netflix, © East News

#15 Charlize Theron in Monster

Source: © Monster/newmarket, © VILLARD/NIVIERE/SIPA/East News

#16 Jacob Tremblay in Wonder

Source: © Wonder/lionsgate, © Jean_Nelson/depositphotos