And an actor who portrays a real-life character needs to resemble them. In case they're not exactly a twin of the person they're playing, (and of course, they aren't) some actors seem to have gotten so deeply into the roles that they're somehow starting to resemble them. Every speech, movement, and gesture can bring the character back to life. And if we add awesome hair and makeup to the mix, the likeness is often wonderful.
Today, we have compiled a list of 15 celebrities who have become icons when playing roles. Keep scrolling down and check them out!
#1 James Franco as James Dean in James Dean
Source: Warner Bros/Collection Christophel/East News, © James Dean / Five Mile River Films and co-producers
#2 Saoirse Ronan as Queen Mary Stuart in Mary Queen of Scots
#3 Judi Dench as Queen Victoria in Mrs. Brown
#4 Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody
#5 Michael Douglas as Liberace in Behind the Candelabra
Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS/East News, © Behind the Candelabra / HBO films and co-producer
#6 Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth in The King’s Speech
Source: East News, © The King's Speech / The Weinstein Company and co-producers
#7 Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator
Source: Mary Evans/AF Archive/East News, © The Aviator / Forward Pass and co-producers
#8 Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland in Judy
Source: East News, © Judy / BBC Films and co-producers
#9 Olivia Colman as Queen Anne in The Favourite
#10 Gary Oldman as Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy
#11 Ingrid Bergman as Joan of Arc in the 1948 movie Joan of Arc
#12 Salma Hayek as Frida Kahlo in Frida
Source: Image Barbara Cushing/Everett Collection/EAST NEWS, East News
#13 Anthony Hopkins as Pablo Picasso in Surviving Picasso
Source: AP/East News, © Surviving Picasso / Merchant Ivory Productions and co-producer
#14 Queen Latifah as Bessie Smith in Bessie
Source: AP/East News, © Bessie / HBO Films and co-producers
#15 Sherilyn Fenn as Elizabeth Taylor in Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story
Source: Mary Evans/AF Archive/East News, Courtesy Everett Collection/Everett Collection/East News