Top 10 Unrecognizable Actors in Movies
Even the most famous faces can be disguised with a little movie magic. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for Top 10 Unrecognizable Actors in Movies. For this list, we're only looking at actors who were physically present in the film, so voice acting is excluded.
Special thanks to our users Jacob Koopmann and Emmy Jones for submitting the idea on our Interactive Suggestion Tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comsuggest
#10: Michael Keaton as Betelgeuse “Beetlejuice” (1988)
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Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice… Our favorite zany-haired ghost for hire didn’t get his famous undead fashion without a little work. In a sharp contrast to the painfully long time usually spent in the makeup chair, it seems like all Keaton had to do to scare and sometimes sicken his audience was don an electric green wig and paint on his chalky white face and black eyes. A distant cousin of the Joker, by chance? Not quite so serious, though!
#9: Gary Oldman as Jean Baptiste Emanuel Zorg “The Fifth Element” (1997)
There are very few roles in the world that Gary Oldman can’t play, and he’s nearly unrecognizable in all of them. As industrialist and weapons dealer Zorg, a slicked comb over and signature bad guy goatee set the tone for the smirking villain, with Oldman’s accent and tinted contacts finishing off the look. Meanwhile, a devil may care attitude and some outer space-styled facial hair pairs with Oldman’s snazzy pinstripe to make this man - bent on the destruction of a planet – truly a villain to remember.
#8: Jared Leto as Mark David Chapman “Chapter 27” (2007)
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Though it must’ve been a challenge for the actor/singer to slip into the mind of the man who murdered one of music’s most beloved figures, we can’t ignore the physical trials Jared Leto underwent to portray Mark David Chapman in this biographical film. Packing on close to 70 pounds by drinking a microwaved mixture of ice cream, soy sauce and olive oil, Leto’s uncanny resemblance to Chapman certainly helped to convince any potential non-believers of his ability to play the part. Despite mixed reviews for the film itself, there’s no denying “Chapter 27” wouldn’t have had the same impact it did without Leto’s commitment to transforming his body and disappearing into the role.
#7: Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort “Harry Potter” franchise (2001-11)
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He Who Must Not Be Named is certainly one of the most famous baddies out there, and probably the brunt of the most “got your nose!” jokes. Ralph Fiennes combined both gelatin over his eyebrows and forehead with computer magic to make that pesky nose disappear and pull off the signature snake-like facial features of Harry Potter’s arch-nemesis. Looking at the dark wizard, you’d never guess the man behind him is a soft-spoken Englishman though - complete with a nose!
#6: Heath Ledger as The Joker “The Dark Knight” (2008)
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As the Clown Prince of Crime, Heath Ledger’s Joker stood out among others who’d played the role in part due to the very different style of makeup used. Instead of carefully drawn out classic clown makeup, Ledger’s white, black, and red was deranged and chaotic. With prosthetic scars along the sides of his mouth and slapped on makeup topped with greasy green hair, Ledger’s look was every bit as crazy as the supervillain was.
#5: Steve Carell as John du Pont “Foxcatcher” (2014)
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As the demented millionaire who pushes the sport of wrestling just a bit too far, Steve Carell was almost uncannily similar to the real John E. du Pont. A hooked nose, false forehead and lower lip changed the features in Carell’s face, while his skin tone was lightened considerably with makeup and his eyes were darkened with tinted contacts. The stoic facial expression worn throughout the film added to Carell’s character’s unstable appearance, and was a far cry from the funnyman we’re all used to.
#4: Dustin Hoffman as Captain James Hook “Hook” (1991)
Anyone who knows someone who’s shaved his beard knows that a little facial hair can go a long way in disguising someone’s appearance. With an elaborate moustache and eyebrows so thick they almost had a casting credit of their own, Dustin Hoffman was hardly recognizable as the scheming captain. A curly, cascading black wig and hours worth of contouring and shading makeup disguised Hoffman’s face and transformed him into the swashbuckling nemesis of Peter Pan. And though Glenn Close made an unrecognizable appearance as a male pirate named Gutless in the flick, it’s the titular character that we justifiably have to give props to here.
#3: Emma Thompson as Nanny McPhee “Nanny McPhee” (2005)
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Forget Mary Poppins, Nanny McPhee really knows how to tame a house full of hellions without losing her cool composure. With a bulbous fake nose, prosthetic ears and protruding teeth, Emma Thompson’s stoic expression throughout the film made us all sit up just a little bit straighter in our seats. Hours spent in the makeup chair adjusting the details of her face and adding the wart that did most of the intimidating turned the British actress into a nanny who scared the dickens out of us – though she still had a heart of gold.
#2: Tom Cruise as Les Grossman “Tropic Thunder” (2008)
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Tom Cruise may have gone a little off the deep end in recent years, but that certainly worked to his advantage in the role of the slightly psychotic studio executive in this satirical action comedy. With his strange dancing, fat suit embedded with real human hairs - ew - prosthetic hands and receding hairline, Cruise was almost completely unrecognizable, with many disbelieving the fact he’d even appeared in the movie after its release. It’s a far jump from action star to sweaty corporate boss, that’s for sure… Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - Mike Myers as Dr. Evil “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery” (1997) - Christian Bale as Trevor Reznik “The Machinist” (2004) - Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes “Kick-Ass 2” (2013) - Johnny Depp as James ‘Whitey’ Bulger “Black Mass” (2015)
#1: Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos “Monster” (2003)
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Transformations are always more shocking when they’re done by models… at least in this case it was! Charlize Theron gained over 30 pounds for the serial killer role, shaving off her eyebrows and donning prosthetic teeth to bear an uncanny resemblance to the real Aileen Wuornos. Blotchy makeup set the tone for her unstable personality and tendency to explode with anger, with the actress receiving high praise for her dramatic change and dedication to becoming another person entirely for her role. The role ultimately won Theron the Academy Award for Best Actress, among several other trophies. Do you agree with our list? What actors shocked you with their transformations? For more incredible top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe and visit WatchMojo.com.
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