14 Celebrities Who Looked Unrecognizable For A Movie Or TV Role

Prosthetic makeup can turn a normal person into a different creature that goes beyond our expectations. That’s the reason why we can’t recognize our favorite actors in some roles that required a special look. For example, Oscar Isaac portrayed a centuries-old villain in 1980s Egypt in X-Men: Apocalypse or Karen Gillan as bionic supervillain Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy. These celebrities Looked Unrecognizable for their roles.
These characters’ looks may directly affect the success of a movie. And to make sure everything goes as planned, an extra measure is sometimes needed to complete the transformation. The prosthetic makeup in films is like magic, and make-up artists are for sure magic casters. With their magical hands, they can turn a woman into a man, a slender body into chubby, and even a human into a monster.
Today, we’ve compiled a list of actors who looks unrecognizable in a movie or TV role. Let us know the transformation that impresses you most! These unrecognizable celebrities for a film or television role are must-see. 

#1 Oscar Isaac in X-Men: Apocalypse

Source: X-Men: Apocalypse / Marvel Entertainment and co-producers, Invision / Invision / East News

People seem annoyed when waking up every morning. So it’s no doubt that he looked angry after thousands of years of awakening. For actor Oscar Isaac, he might have an additional reason to make his character more convincing due to the heavy makeup and an uncomfortable costume to play a centuries-old villain in 1980s Egypt in X-Men: Apocalypse.
And this comic-accurate getup has high-heeled boots, extensive prosthetic makeup, and other prosthetics. Although the actor once revealed the experience was “excruciating,” yet, he pulled off an incredible performance.

#2 Karen Gillan in Guardians of the Galaxy

Source: Image supplied by Capital Pictures / EAST NEWS,  SharpShooter / Depositphotos.com

To transform Karen Gillan into the bionic Nebula, the film crew used not only bright blue metallic makeup but also a lot of prosthetics. Karen Gillan had to shave her head and say goodbye to her real-life beauty to obtain the ideal appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy. The makeup crew took 15 minutes to put the makeup on and 30 minutes to remove it from Karen, with 5 different layers.

#3 Chris Evans in Avengers: Endgame

Source: ChrisEvans / Twitter, chrisevans / Instagram

Things will go wrong without their leader calling the shots in every mission and The Avengers are not an exception. When Captain America went back in time and rewrite his life in Endgame, the older captain gave his shield to his successor, the Falcon.
Originally, the crew decided to give the role a try with elderly actors, but they didn’t quite fit, so Chris Evans portrayed Old Man Cap. The captain just nailed it with convincing makeup and amazing acting skills.

#4 Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose

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Marion Cotillard didn’t spare any time from transforming into famous singer Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose. Besides the unique facial makeup mixed with acrylic and latex prosthetics she had to wear to mimic Edith’s look, she also donned a bodysuit to show bulkier.

#5 Renée Zellweger in Judy

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It goes without saying that a Hollywood legend like Judy Garland deserved an exceptional biopic, and award-winning actress Renée Zellweger pulled it off skillfully. Renée must don a dark wig to match Judy’s hair, a set of fake teeth, brown contact lenses, and thick false lashes to look like the adult Judy. These totally paid off since Renée acclaimed praise for her portrayal and even won an Oscar in 2020.

#6 Tilda Swinton in The Grand Budapest Hotel

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Tilda Swinton rapidly changed her looks when appearing in her famous roles. And one of them was playing Madame D. in The Grand Budapest Hotel. In order to help Tilda familiar with a wealthy old lady, the makeup team utilized rubber silicone to mimic aging skin and more details like bright lipstick and a few liver spots.

#7 Danny DeVito in Batman Returns

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Being one of Batman’s villains required a cartoonish look for the actors. In the comics, Oscar Cobblepot (The Penguin) has a small stature and a thin nose looking like a penguin’s beak. To obtain this over-the-top look, Danny DeVito had to undergo many facial prosthetic makeups, including fake teeth, and excessive applications to get the ideal bad guy ensemble.

#8 Eddie Murphy in Coming 2 America

Source: Coming 2 America / Paramount Pictures and co-producers, Kristin Callahan / Everett Collection / East News

Aside from portraying Prince Akeem, Eddie Murphy has played several characters up his sleeve in Coming to America and its sequel, Coming 2 America. Every character had distinctive facial characteristics that made the crew a little bit confused when it was time for Eddie to switch to another role. In fact, each look had 15 to 20 pieces of prosthetics, and a dozen of wigs prepared.

#9 James McAvoy in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Source: Walt Disney Co. / Courtesy Everett Collection / East News, PopularImages / Depositphotos.com

James McAvoy was almost unrecognizable when he first appeared onscreen as the fawn Mr. Tumnus in the first installment of The Chronicles of Narnia. James had to spend hours on prosthetic makeup, including a live cast and ear extensions to look alike Tumnus’ goat-like ears, fake hair, and hooves.

#10 Jessica Chastain in The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Source: Searchlight Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection / East News, Stuart Hardy / ABACAPRESS.COM / Abaca / East News

Portraying a renowned television personality challenged Jessica Chastain, but it couldn’t stop her from achieving Best Actress at the 2022 Oscars. The silicon cheeks, nose, and chin truly allowed Jessica to transform into Tammy Faye Bakker. Amazingly, the makeup and prosthetics crew also won an Oscar for their excellent work.

#11 Anjelica Huston in The Addams Family

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When it comes to the Addams Family films, they are full of memorable moments and appearances. One of the most iconic characters is the family matriarch Morticia, portrayed by actress Anjelica Huston.
Still, to perfect that campy, ice-cold look by Morticia, Anjelica had to take intense makeup processes with tape to keep her cheekbones more elevated. Even fake lashes and nails were also used to complete the exaggerated get-up.

#12 Charlize Theron in Bombshell

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Becoming an A-lister makes it more difficult to vanish on the screen and appear as a truly new person. Charlize Theron did precisely as she portrayed news anchor Megyn Kelly in the movie Bombshell. The makeup crew actually went with copying Megyn’s facial features including the nose, eyes, and cheekbones. Charlize even had to wear individual lashes just to make the ideal eye shape.

#13 Jamie Campbell Bower in Stranger Things

Source: Stranger Things / Netflix and co-producers, Invision / Invision / East News

The latest season of Stranger Things came with one of the biggest nightmares in Hawkins, Vecna. The character is portrayed by the actor Jamie Campbell Bower, who looks and sounds nothing like her in real life.
The special effect crew resorted to applying 25 pieces of latex and silicone rubber material blued to his body with adhesive instead of using CGI. And it caused nearly 7 and a half hours to finish the application.

#14 Ben Stiller in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

Source: Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb / Twentieth Century Fox and co-producers, Invision / Invision / East News

Ben Stiller not only portrayed the protagonist Larry Daley but also went primal as a caveman who came to life in Night at the Musem: Secret of the Toms. The actor had to undergo prosthetics and a heavy wig to resemble a Neanderthal. And his transformation was even documented in a short named Becoming Laaa.