20 Times Of Actors Manifesting Actual Historical People And Getting Praised
Features based on or inspired by historical stories and events are a huge challenge to producers. They need to buy scripts that include creatively interesting, new, and refreshing details and still are historically exact. Above all, the soul of movies and shows are characters that need playing by excellent actors. Portraying a fictional person and a famous real one requires different acting skills.
Many well-known historical people from the 20th century were familiar to the public since they had cameras, TV, radios, and several technologies. Meanwhile, celebrities from previous eras were described only through books and paintings. Henceforth, Hollywood stars need to think a lot and improvise to fit their roles.
In the genre, some won big, and some failed. Let's dip over these times when actors successfully became popular people existing in the past!
Cate Blanchett was so convincing as iconic actress Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator that she later took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
JLo starred as the famous Mexican-American singer killed tragically. This was her first breakthrough role. In 2022, she celebrates the 25th anniversary of this movie’s onscreen.
The young actor learned how to float like a butterfly, and sting like a bee as boxing legend Muhammad Ali for the 2001 sports drama.
Critics and audiences highly praised Redmayne’s performance in this Oscar-nominated movie. The actor won a handful of awards thanks to this role.
The hot vampire from Twilight definitely knew how to rock the famed Spanish painter's iconic facial hair style in the Spanish-British drama Little Ashes.
The 76-year-old actor stepped into the role of South Africa's greatest anti-apartheid revolutionary in the sports drama Invictus, which recounted the tumultuous events surrounding the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Jamie Foxx got us on our feet when he showed off his music skills as rhythm and blues legend Ray Charles in the 2004 biographical film Ray.
Daniel Radcliffe continues to move away from his Harry Potter days in Kill Your Darlings, which tells the story of the great poets of the Beat Generation who come together after the murder of David Kammerer.
The Hollywood superstar entered the world of America's Greatest Pastime in his portrayal of Oakland Athletics baseball manager Billy Beane, who made a name for himself recruiting competitive players on a tight budget.
Leonardo DiCaprio continued to prove he had a knack for period dramas in 2011's J. Edgar, in which he portrays the United State's powerful first Director of the FBI.
Stewart's portrayal of Diana was hailed as one of the most accurate portrayals of the late Princess. For portraying Diana, Stewart was nominated for the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress.
Meryl Streep offered up an impressive and acclaimed performance in her role as the storied former Prime minister of the United Kingdom in The Iron Lady.
Jesse Eisenberg channeled Facebook founder, and now Silicon Valley cultural icon Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network.
Nicole Kidman gets to do both a Hollywood star and a princess in Grace of Monaco, a biopic of Grace Kelly, another of Alfred Hitchcock's muses, and the bride of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco.
Daniel Day-Lewis gave an Academy Award-winning performance in his portrayal of one of the US' most legendary Civil War presidents in the Steven Spielberg-directed Lincoln.
Helena Bonham Carter took her turn playing the ups and downs of iconic actress Elizabeth Taylor in the BBC America TV film Burton & Taylor.
McConaughey starred as real-life AIDS patient Ron Woodruff in Jean-Marc Vallée's Oscar-nominated film Dallas Buyers Club. The actor lost nearly 50 pounds for the role, a stark contrast from his usual chiseled frame.
Chris Hemsworth felt the need speed when he suited up as British race car driver and Formula 1 champion James Hunt in Ron Howard's Rush.
French actress Audrey Tautou was all about fashion, fame, and brand in Coco Before Chanel.
Ashton Kutcher depicted the rise of the tech world's greatest (and most controversial) innovator, Steve Jobs, in Jobs.
What do you think of these flicks? Sound off in the comment box below and discuss this topic with your cinema fellows after hitting the like-share button! If you enjoy it, how about checking out another exciting post on the same subject on our site?
Many well-known historical people from the 20th century were familiar to the public since they had cameras, TV, radios, and several technologies. Meanwhile, celebrities from previous eras were described only through books and paintings. Henceforth, Hollywood stars need to think a lot and improvise to fit their roles.
In the genre, some won big, and some failed. Let's dip over these times when actors successfully became popular people existing in the past!
#1. Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
Cate Blanchett was so convincing as iconic actress Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator that she later took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
#2. Jennifer Lopez as Selena Perez in Selena
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
JLo starred as the famous Mexican-American singer killed tragically. This was her first breakthrough role. In 2022, she celebrates the 25th anniversary of this movie’s onscreen.
#3. Will Smith as Muhammad Ali in Ali
Source: Columbia Pictures
The young actor learned how to float like a butterfly, and sting like a bee as boxing legend Muhammad Ali for the 2001 sports drama.
#4. Eddie Redmayne And Felicity Jones ss Stephen Hawking with his wife Jane Wilde in The Theory Of Everything
Source: Universal Pictures
Critics and audiences highly praised Redmayne’s performance in this Oscar-nominated movie. The actor won a handful of awards thanks to this role.
#5. Robert Pattinson as Salvador Dalí in Little Ashes
Source: SOROlla Films | Kaleidoscope Entertainment
The hot vampire from Twilight definitely knew how to rock the famed Spanish painter's iconic facial hair style in the Spanish-British drama Little Ashes.
#6. Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela in Invictus
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
The 76-year-old actor stepped into the role of South Africa's greatest anti-apartheid revolutionary in the sports drama Invictus, which recounted the tumultuous events surrounding the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
#7. Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles in Ray
Source: Universal Pictures
Jamie Foxx got us on our feet when he showed off his music skills as rhythm and blues legend Ray Charles in the 2004 biographical film Ray.
#8. Daniel Radcliffe as Allen Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings
Source: Sony Pictures
Daniel Radcliffe continues to move away from his Harry Potter days in Kill Your Darlings, which tells the story of the great poets of the Beat Generation who come together after the murder of David Kammerer.
#9. Brad Pitt as Billy Beane
Source: Columbia Pictures
The Hollywood superstar entered the world of America's Greatest Pastime in his portrayal of Oakland Athletics baseball manager Billy Beane, who made a name for himself recruiting competitive players on a tight budget.
#10. Leonardo DiCaprio as J. Edgar Hoover in J. Edgar
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
Leonardo DiCaprio continued to prove he had a knack for period dramas in 2011's J. Edgar, in which he portrays the United State's powerful first Director of the FBI.
#11. Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana in Spencer
Source: Neon and Topic Studios
Stewart's portrayal of Diana was hailed as one of the most accurate portrayals of the late Princess. For portraying Diana, Stewart was nominated for the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress.
#12. Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady
Source: 20th Century Fox
Meryl Streep offered up an impressive and acclaimed performance in her role as the storied former Prime minister of the United Kingdom in The Iron Lady.
#13. Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network
Source: Columbia Pictures
Jesse Eisenberg channeled Facebook founder, and now Silicon Valley cultural icon Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network.
#14. Nicole Kidman as Grace Kelly in Grace of Monaco
Source: Bauer Griffin, The Weinstein Company
Nicole Kidman gets to do both a Hollywood star and a princess in Grace of Monaco, a biopic of Grace Kelly, another of Alfred Hitchcock's muses, and the bride of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco.
#15. Daniel Day-Lewis as President Lincoln
Source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Daniel Day-Lewis gave an Academy Award-winning performance in his portrayal of one of the US' most legendary Civil War presidents in the Steven Spielberg-directed Lincoln.
#16. Helena Bonham Carter as Elizabeth Taylor in Burton & Taylor
Source: BBC, Bauer Griffin
Helena Bonham Carter took her turn playing the ups and downs of iconic actress Elizabeth Taylor in the BBC America TV film Burton & Taylor.
#17. Matthew McConaughey as Ron Woodruff
Source: Focus Features
McConaughey starred as real-life AIDS patient Ron Woodruff in Jean-Marc Vallée's Oscar-nominated film Dallas Buyers Club. The actor lost nearly 50 pounds for the role, a stark contrast from his usual chiseled frame.
#18. Chris Hemsworth as James Hunt in Rush
Source: Universal Pictures
Chris Hemsworth felt the need speed when he suited up as British race car driver and Formula 1 champion James Hunt in Ron Howard's Rush.
#19. Audrey Tautou as Coco Chanel in Coco Before Chanel
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
French actress Audrey Tautou was all about fashion, fame, and brand in Coco Before Chanel.
#20. Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs in Jobs
Source: Open Road Films, GettyImages
Ashton Kutcher depicted the rise of the tech world's greatest (and most controversial) innovator, Steve Jobs, in Jobs.
What do you think of these flicks? Sound off in the comment box below and discuss this topic with your cinema fellows after hitting the like-share button! If you enjoy it, how about checking out another exciting post on the same subject on our site?
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