Top 10 Actors Who Look NOTHING Like Their Characters

“Fargo” (2014-)

This Scottish actor received an Emmy nomination for his dual performance in Season 3 of “Fargo.” McGregor plays brothers Emmit and Ray Stussy. Although McGregor changes his accent as Emmit, the role doesn’t entail much of a physical transformation. Ray is another story. Not only does he sound different, but there are few traces of McGregor behind Ray’s scruffy mustache, receding hairline, and beer belly. These jarring differences overshadow the subtler touches like how Emmit has brown eyes while Ray’s are blue. McGregor is so unrecognizable as Ray that we struggle to believe it’s him. We have an even harder time believing somebody like Ray could land a knockout like Nikki, although it makes a little more sense knowing he’s her parole officer.

“Family Matters” (1989-98)

We all joke about Clark Kent’s “disguise” when he isn’t Superman. To be fair, a pair of oversized glasses can go a long way. Just look at Steve Urkel. Yes, actor Jaleel White puts on a high-pitched, nasally voice, but it wouldn’t have the same impact without those geeky spectacles. White played a significant role in perfecting Urkel’s look, borrowing the glasses from his father. The change is complete with a pair of suspenders and the dorky walk that White supplied the character. Audiences realized just how different Urkel is from his actor with the introduction of Stefan Urquelle, who shares more in common with White. When Stefan pretends to be Steve in one episode, it feels like a meta-commentary on White’s transformation.

“The Handmaid’s Tale” (2016-)

When you meet ​​Madeline Brewer, the first thing you’ll notice is that she has two eyes. Although many Handmaids blend in with each other due to their red ensembles, Janine Lindo sticks out with no right eye. Before Gilead, Janine wasn’t afraid to advocate for herself. Once she spoke out against her oppressors, Janine lost more than an eye. Brewer’s transformation goes beyond a prosthetic. Much of the performance is in Brewer’s body language. We can tell that this is a woman living in constant fear, torn between surviving and giving up. Fellow Handmaid June inspires Janine to keep fighting. Janine may never be the same - physically or mentally - but the person she used to be is still behind the eyepatch, eager to break free.

“Yellowjackets” (2021-)

The “Yellowjackets” casting directors had their work cut out for them. Not only did they have to assemble a young cast to play a high school soccer team, but they also had to find actresses to play their older counterparts. We have no trouble buying Sammi Hanratty as a teenage Christina Ricci. Ironically, though, neither actress looks anything like Misty Quigley. Misty’s untamable blonde hair reflects her unpredictable nature while thick glasses conceal something more devious within. Ricci and Hanratty noticed that people treated them differently after they put their glasses and wigs on. In a way, this helped them to better understand Misty’s actions. Misty has always been treated as the oddball out, influencing her to take extreme measures.

“American Horror Story” (2011-)

Pepper is the first “American Horror Story” character to appear in more than one season. Living with microcephaly, the character is instantly recognizable to fans. Yet, they probably wouldn’t recognize actress Naomi Grossman. Although she isn’t microcephalic in real life, Grossman met people with this condition to prepare for the role. In addition to shaving her head, Grossman would have to undergo over two hours in the makeup chair to change her ears, nose, and forehead. She also wore a pair of fake teeth, altering the way Grossman spoke, and a contact lens that made it difficult for her to see in one eye. Grossman didn’t know what she was getting into when she auditioned. She didn’t even know she was auditioning for Pepper.

“Farscape” (1999-2003)

If you were a cast member of this cult sci-fi series, chances are you were either a puppet or hidden under layers of makeup. For Gigi Edgley, it was the latter. As Chiana, this Australian actress first encountered the Moya crew in Season 1. Part of the Nebari species, Chiana was supposed to die after one episode, but got upgraded to a regular by Season 2. This meant Edgley would spend more hours in the makeup chair (about three-and-a-half daily), disappearing behind that white hair, bulging contact lenses, and grey skin. Edgley didn’t want Chiana to come across as a human wearing alien makeup. She sought to play up the creature angle, creating an even greater divide between the actress and character.

“Ugly Betty” (2006-10)

America Ferrera wasn’t a complete unknown when she landed the lead role in “Ugly Betty.” For many audiences, though, Betty Suarez was their introduction to Ferrera. It wasn’t until Ferrera started picking up awards for her acclaimed performance that more people saw her without the red glasses, unkempt hair, and braces, the latter of which often caused the actress to drool. The makeup and wardrobe departments went the extra mile to make Ferrera appear “ugly.” The results were admittedly more “adorkable” than “ugly,” which we think was always the intention. However you’d describe Betty’s looks, she’s a far cry from Ferrera. Even as Betty tweaks her appearance throughout the series, she shares only a marginal resemblance to the actress who brought her to life.

“House of the Dragon” (2022-)

It was jarring when we first saw Emilia Clarke without her Khaleesi wig. Of all the actors who have played Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy might be the hardest to recognize outside of hair, makeup, and costume. Part of that’s because D’Arcy regularly changes their appearance. When D’Arcy attends an event, you rarely know what to expect. One night, D’Arcy might sport a brunette look. The next, they’ll rock blue hair and eye makeup. Beach blonde and bright red are just some of the other hair colors that D’Arcy has adopted. Whenever they’re in character as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, though, D'Arcy embraces the Targaryen look with platinum blonde hair, pale skin, and an intense glare that practically breathes fire through the eyes.

“The Penguin” (2024)


Although Colin Farrell debuted as Oswald Cobb in “The Batman” movie, “The Penguin” miniseries is where the character gets fleshed out. Speaking of flesh, we see a lot more of Oz in this show. Not just his body, but his soul - or what few shreds remain as he rises through the ranks. Farrell and company take what’s traditionally an over-the-top comic book villain, crafting a Penguin who could seemingly exist in the real world. Think Tony Soprano, but with even worse mother issues. Farrell may’ve sounded like an unconventional choice for the role. Yet, the outcome is a testament to his towering performance and the god-tier makeup. If you look deep enough into Oz’s eyes, maybe you’ll find a hint of Farrell - but nowhere else!

“Atlanta” (2016-22)

No, we aren’t talking about Earn Marks, the protagonist that Donald Glover regularly played on “Atlanta.” We’re talking about another Glover character who only appeared on the show once, but took on a life of his own. In the market for a new piano, LaKeith Stanfield’s Darius meets the reclusive Teddy Perkins. Imagine if Michael Jackson and Baby Jane Hudson had a child. The product would be Mr. Perkins, a deeply unsettling individual whose artificial face provides a gateway into his disturbed mind. The episode’s credits read, “Teddy Perkins as himself.” In reality, it was Glover, who proved so convincing that even some other people on set didn’t know it was him. Glover didn’t just transform. He actually made us believe Teddy Perkins was real.


Which actor do you think looks nothing like their character? Let us know in the comments.