15 Times Actors Were Unrecognizable in Movies and TV
After we recently saw the trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, we couldn’t quite place the villain in the orange bob, so we did a little digging. Luckily “digging” is pretty easy these days, and after the name Glenn Close popped up a split second later, we were honestly quite shocked.
We’re glad that there was a trailer to spark our hunt, because whipping our phones out during the movie would’ve been a serious faux pas. We wouldn’t be able to help ourselves. To help scratch our never-ending itch for movie trivia, we got our shovels out again for a slightly deeper dig into other movies with other unrecognizable actors.
Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle
Lionsgate
With fake, bright white teeth, thin eyebrows, and facial prosthetics, an orange bob, fake lashes, and bright red lipstick, we’re wondering how long this whole process took each morning!
Christian Bale in ‘Vice’
Annapurna Pictures
To add some weight, take away some hair, and even make his head bigger, Bale reportedly spent four to eight hours in makeup each day. The film won an Academy Award for Best Make-Up and Hairstyling, and Bale won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
Tilda Swinton as Dr. Klemperer in ‘Suspiria’
Amazon Studios
Completely unrecognizable as the doctor, she wasn't even credited for the role. Swinton insisted that Dr. Klemperer was played by Professor Lutz Ebersdorf, but she eventually admitted the truth.
Steve Carell in ‘Foxcatcher’
Sony Pictures
His amazing performance plus a physical transformation (most notably facial features like an artificial nose) earned Carell earned both Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for his portrayal of John Du Pont.
Tom Cruise’s hands in ‘Tropic Thunder’
Paramount Pictures
Okay, so Tom Cruise's face might be recognizable as producer Les Grossman, but the noticeable chest hair, balding head, and of course, fat hands hide the rest of him pretty well. Those fat, hairy arms and giant prosthetic hands were Tom Cruise's ideas when he was offered the role.
Colin Farrell as the Penguin in ‘The Batman’
Warner Bros. & DC Films
Possibly the most unrecognizable transformation, Colin Farrell was referred to by crew members as "scary" or "weird," which was a huge compliment to the makeup crew. They received an Oscar nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort
Wikipedia
Even though Fiennes spent several agonizing hours in makeup, his infamous nose was digitally replaced down to practically nothing in post-production. He went on to rant about what a miserable experience it was in makeup.
Eddie Murphy as Saul in ‘Coming to America’
Paramount Pictures
Known for playing multiple roles in movies, it’s often pretty clear which characters he’s playing. The Jewish barbershop customer who respects a man to make his own decisions was actually a pretty solid transformation. He even reappeared in 2021's Coming 2 America.
Gary Oldman in ‘Darkest Hour’
Universal Pictures
The fuller face, aged skin and thinning hair obfuscated Oldman's features. He also carried around roughly half of his then-body weight in makeup and prosthetic materials and got deep into Winston Churchill, which all helped him win an Oscar.
Charlize Theron in ‘Monster’
Newmarket Films
The 2003 role that won her a Best Actress Oscar is remembered as much for her appearance as her performance itself. In becoming real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos, she gained 30 pounds and transformed her face into something far from a “Charlize Theron” face.
Donnie Wahlberg in ‘The Sixth Sense’
Buena Vista Pictures
Desperate to prove himself to M. Night Shyamalan, Wahlberg lost 43 pounds and went deep into his twisted role of Vincent Grey. He said, “Every day for years people would say, ‘Dude, I didn't know that was you.’”
Glenn Close in ‘Hook’
TriStar Pictures
A well-known movie tidbit by now, Glenn Close played the pirate who was sent to the "boo box.” During production, some people on set thought Close was a real man. She said, "The script girl tried to hit on me." Hook received an Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup, but lost to Terminator 2: Judgement Day.
Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok in ‘Nosferatu’
Focus Features
Skarsgård wore a total of 62 prosthetic pieces, with the application process taking up to six hours daily. He then collaborated with an opera singer to lower his voice by an octave and worked with a movement coach to develop his distinct and deliberate movements.
Amy Madigan as Gladys in ‘Weapons’
Warner Bros.
Prosthetics made Madigan's nose more "beak-like," and elongated her earlobes. A special contact lens narrowed her pupils, her eyebrows were blocked out to change her overall face shape, and they tested about 20 wigs to find the perfect shade and style for Gladys's fiery hair.
Donald Glover as Teddy Perkins in ‘Atlanta’
FX
Season 2’s “Teddy Perkins” earned Glover an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy. Perkins even made an appearance at the ceremony, but Glover was also there, so the actor playing Perkins that night remains a mystery. The episode credits Teddy Perkins as himself.
